British Caledonian Airways News Release/Reading/EN

British Caledonian Airways
News release
The British Caledonian Boeing 707 - 320C
The Boeing 707 – 320C was purchased by Caledonian Airways Limited, which in 1970, took over British United Airways to form Caledonian/BUA. The Company changed its name to British Caledonian Airways Limited on 1st September, 1971. Boeing 707 -320C aircraft are the result of a progressive and extremely successful line of large four engine jet aircraft developed by the Boeing company.
There are various ways in which the aircraft can be used – in an all passenger layout, as a freighter or with a mixture of passengers and freight.
In a typical mixed class configuration it can carry 20 first class and 125 economy class passengers. All BCAL’s Boeing have been converted to have the ‘wide- look’ interior and feature in-flight entertainment.
As a freighter, the Boeing 707 – 320C can carry a payload of 38 tons. Each British Caledonian Boeing is fitted with a large freight door, especially constructed to allow palletized loads to be carried. In all, 13 of these pallets can be accommodated. The door through which they are loaded is 85’’ high and 132’’ wide and is fitted on the port side of the aircraft.
Under the specially strengthened floor are four large holds in which is carried the passenger baggage or further quantities of freight.
The aircraft is fitted with four Pratt & Whitney JT3D engines located in pods suspended below the wings. They develop 72,000 lbs. of thrust at take-off. The maximum all-up weight of the aircraft is 336,000 lbs. or over 151 tons or roughly the equivalent of the weight of 22 London buses. Fuel capacity is nearly 20,000 gallons and the maximum range with a normal load is about 6,000 miles. It cruises at 580 miles per hour.
Normally the British Caledonian 707 – 320C carries four crew members on the flight deck – Captain, First Officer, Flight Engineer and Navigator.
Bendix storm warning radar is carried. This is capable of giving warning of bad weather up to a range of 180 miles which enables the crew to take early avoiding action giving the passengers maximum comfort.
The Boeing 707 – 320C has the following vital statistics:
Length - 145 ft. 6 ins.
Wingspan - 145 ft. 9 ins.
Height of tip of fin - 42 ft. 6 ins.
Span aircraft tail plane - 46 ft. 1 in.
Height of cockpit above ground - 18 ft. 3 ins.
Wheel base - 59 ft.
Wing areas totals - 2, 890 st. ft.
In addition to these details, a Boeing 707 – 320C of British Caledonian with Captain Leslie Bruce in command set up a new record on the London – Singapore route. While the aircraft was positioning empty, the 6,257 nautical miles were covered non-stop in a time of 13 hours 16 minutes, 46 seconds. This was faster than the previous record held by the Royal Air Force.