Upsmd11 From United States, joined May 2003, 688 posts, RR: 4 Posted (3 years 2 months 17 hours ago) and read 924 times:
We have all seen the images of the Pan Am Boeing 707 at Idlewild (JFK) going to London and other western European cities. My curiosity has gotten the best of me as to what airline / aircraft first flew west coast (LAX / SFO) to Europe? Could the B707 do this trip? Was it the 747 / D10 that did it first?
FlyPIJets From United States, joined Oct 2003, 659 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (3 years 2 months 17 hours ago) and read 894 times:
Although not a definitive answer to your question, I have a 1976 TWA timetable that shows nonstop LAX - LON on a 747. TW 760 was eastbound and 761 was westbound. It was daily.
Indio66 From United States, joined Mar 2004, 436 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 years 2 months 13 hours ago) and read 681 times:
For what its worth, in the movie Bullitt!, near the end the suspect (at SFO) changes a TWA ticket (on what looks like a 707) from I believe Rome to Paris. I think the movie was filmed in '68 (one of my favorites).
Ss278 From United States, joined Dec 1999, 45 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 years 2 months 13 hours ago) and read 637 times:
The 707-300B version was the first jet to economically fly U.S. West Coast to Europe nonstop, both ways, year-round. Pan Am began service with this version in 1961 or 1962 IIRC.
The standard staright pipe (707-300) could fly eastbound n/s with a reduced payload.
TWA flew Constellations nonstop on the route for a while in 1958-59 with a scheduled time of 23hrs westbound, and more often than not they would need a fuel stop enroute.
RC135U From United States, joined May 2005, 293 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 2 months 13 hours ago) and read 590 times:
Quoting Ss278 (Reply 6): TWA flew Constellations nonstop on the route for a while in 1958-59 with a scheduled time of 23hrs westbound, and more often than not they would need a fuel stop enroute.
I'll bet no one complained about seat pitch on that Connie, but 23 hours in a
recip is quite a journey. The introduction of the true intercontinental jets
was such a leap in terms of comfort and speed. I have to laugh when I read
here in the forums about how someone was so uncomfortable in the single
aisle 757 on a transatlantic flight. The 707s and DC-8s and VC10s were
quite comfortable despite being (egad!) narrow bodies. I'll allow that present-
day seat pitch is tighter than the "good ole days" but that's not the fault of
the aircraft.
Cedarjet From United Kingdom, joined May 1999, 7029 posts, RR: 44 Reply 8, posted (3 years 2 months 13 hours ago) and read 577 times:
By the early / mid 60s, 707s were doing it nonstop. As someone points out, in the final sequence of Bullitt, you see Pan Am's evening departures taxiing out for London, Paris etc. Those services were well established by then, 1968. It was only the 707-100 that had short legs. The 707-300 could do ten or eleven hours upstairs, easy.
Yes! Senator Obama. We are ready to believe again.
Stirling From Italy, joined Jun 2004, 3943 posts, RR: 25 Reply 9, posted (3 years 2 months 13 hours ago) and read 575 times:
The first "Polar-Shortcut" route flown is generally considered to have been accomplished by none other than SAS (SK) Scandinavian Airlines System.
15 November 1954
A Douglas DC-6B flew in revenue service nonstop from Copenhagen to Los Angeles.
The first exploratory flight occurred on 19 November 1952 on a delivery flight of the DC-6B from the Douglas plant in Southern California.
The route was:
Los Angeles-Thule, Greenland-Copenhagen
TNboy From Australia, joined Mar 2002, 1131 posts, RR: 18 Reply 11, posted (3 years 2 months 12 hours ago) and read 541 times:
Flew 707 on PanAm LAX-LHR in 1961. It was scheduled nonstop, but we had a refuelling stop at Frobisher Bay. Similar on the return trip with the refuelling stop at Winnipeg. Have to say the Frobisher Bay stop, where we were able to disembark, was great!
Cheers
Bill
Timz From United States, joined Sep 1999, 4926 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (3 years 2 months 12 hours ago) and read 490 times:
"
Quoting Stirling (Reply 9): 15 November 1954
A Douglas DC-6B flew in revenue service nonstop from Copenhagen to Los Angeles.
As I recall SAS never claimed to schedule a nonstop prop flight Copenhagen to California, even with DC-7Cs. Or eastward either, I think. Do you have leaving and arriving times for the 1954 flight?
Se210 From United States, joined Feb 2005, 72 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (3 years 2 months 12 hours ago) and read 485 times:
RE: Reply 9
Here's a postcard shot of a SAS DC6B at LAX circa 1954/1955:
Back of postcard reads:
LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
S.A.S. Scandinavian Airlines' giant DC-6B readied at
Los Angeles International Airport for the new regular
transpolar route to Europe via Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States, joined May 2003, 688 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2001, 1560 posts, 
From Italy, joined Jun 2004, 3943 posts, 
From Australia, joined Mar 2002, 1131 posts, 
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