vhqpa From Australia, joined Jul 2005, 1382 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (7 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3140 times:
QF flew PPT-YVR nonstop at one point. I initially thought it was a misprint on the time table but another member has verified that it is correct quite a stretch at 4234 nm.
QF also had custom built 707-138 aircraft (shorter than the standard -120) to enable them to make the NAN-HNL leg with a decent payload
"There you go ladies and gentleman we're through Mach 1 the speed of sound no bumps no bangs... CONCORDE"
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21465 posts, RR: 24 Reply 2, posted (7 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2989 times:
Quoting vhqpa (Reply 1): QF flew PPT-YVR nonstop at one point. I initially thought it was a misprint on the time table but another member has verified that it is correct quite a stretch at 4234 nm.
Not really that long for a 707-320C, but at the time in the '70s it was YVR's longest nonstop route, although not by much. CP's YVR-AMS (4174 nm) and YVR-HND (4091 nm) were next, both with DC-8s then.
HNL-SYD was longer (4403 nm). I have a vague recollection reading somewhere that when Pan Am started nonstop 707 service HNL-SYD it was one of the longest 707 nonstops. I expect QF also used their 707-338Cs HNL-SYD nonstop at some point.
AF's LAX-ORY 707 nonstop (4927 nm) must have been among the longest. Scheduled at 12:00 hrs westbound and 10:50 eastbound.
My own longest 707 nonstops were LAX-LGW-LAX on British Caledonian (4762 nm), LHR-LAX on Pan Am (4741 nm...originated ORY with a stop at LHR...no 5th freedom rights ORY-LHR), and SEA-LHR on Pan Am (4171 nm).
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21465 posts, RR: 24 Reply 4, posted (7 months 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2947 times:
Quoting timz (Reply 3): Don't think anyone flew TYO-LAX nonstop with the 707 until Varig started it... 1980s? As I recall the OAG said it was nonstop both ways.
Their July 1971 timetable doesn't indicate any stops, and eastbound likely wasn't a problem with usual tailwinds (they show block time 9:55 eastbound), but note the westbound schedule. Block time is 13:30 which is longer than any 707 nonstops I can recall. My guess is they allowed time for a fuel stop at ANC which was likely common, and on those occasions when they were able to do it nonstop, they arrived a couple of hours early. The 3.5 hr stop at LAX westbound probably would also have allowed for an ANC stop in that direction without affecting the LAX departure time. http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/rg/rg71/rg71-09.jpg
My first transpacific flight, YVR-HND on a CP DC-8-63 around 1971/72, made an unscheduled fuel stop at ANC due to winds, and YVR-HND is about 700 nm shorter than LAX-HND. If they wanted to carry much cargo, ANC stops were common westbound in those days. Even my first transpacific 747 flight on a CP 747-200 YVR-HND-HKG a couple of years later, also made a fuel stop at ANC, with arrival HND about an hour late.
clydenairways From Ireland, joined Jan 2007, 996 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (7 months 1 week 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2594 times:
I would not use timetables solely as evidence of nonstop flights in the past. Back in those days fuel stops were very common and unless additional passengers embarked at the stop, it was likely that these stops didn't appear in scheduled timetables.
georgiaame From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 867 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (7 months 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2003 times:
August 1969. I flew JFK to Tel Aviv, El Al, non stop, and got a certificate from the airline for traveling the (then?) longest, non stop route on the planet, 5677 miles. Talk about jet lag!
That was my first flight since Northwest 55 (DC-6/DC-7 service), Newark-Pittsburg-Chicago-Detroit-Spokane-Portland 8 years earlier, age 11. And I haven't stopped since. I am probably one of about 10 people on this planet who actually enjoys every commercial flight I'm on. I still can't believe I shelled out $1500. almost 10 years ago to fly Singapore 340-500 non stop, 8700mi. Being able to translocate your body to 7 miles above the earth, have it hurtle in space at virtually the speed of sound, (and survive!) while sipping a gin and tonic or single malt scotch with your shoes off, is a privilege, and honor, and one of the joys of simply being alive in this day and age. Being herded like cattle on SouthWest might not be a highlight of human existence, but hell, it is still nothing less than miraculous!
"Trust, but verify!" An old Russian proverb, quoted often by a modern American hero
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