BOEING: Boeing 707 KC-135 and Their Derivatives [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Dominique Breffort (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 8, 2008

Although the Boeing 707 is known worldwide as the machine which took civil aviation from the piston engine era into that of the jet engine, what is very often not known is that its existence was only made possible by the success of its immediate predecessor, the KC - 135, a flying fuel tank used for refueling the strategic B - 52 bomber, also made by Boeing. Although these two models came from the same prototype, the "Dash 80", which first flew in July 1954, they were in fact two radically different machines sharing only a limited number of common features. More than 800 KC - 135s were produced spawning an impressive number of variants and specialized versions, from training astronauts to collecting samples, from transporting headquarters staff to waging electronic warfare. More than 1000 Boeing 707s were built up to the end of the 20th century and also had a long career with various versions and re-engined variants, the last machines coming off the production lines, so the story goes, destined for the military market, in the form of the E - 3 Sentry which will remain in service into the middle of the present century.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 212 pages
• Publisher: Histoire & Collections; Large type edition edition (December 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2352500753
• ISBN-13: 978-2352500759
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Large Print > History

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best aircraft monographs ever done, January 2, 2009

By 

James L. Spingarn "bird&aircraft book lover" (Glen Head, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: BOEING: Boeing 707 KC-135 and Their Derivatives (Hardcover)

If you have any interest in either civil or military aviation or aircraft of the past fifty years, please do yourself a huge favor and buy this book! It is one of the most thorough, interesting monographs on a very special aircraft. The Boeing 707 not only was the plane that truly ushered in commercial jet transportation as we know it today (and most of today's airliners still only have similar performances to this 50 year old wonder, but are quieter and with greater range, and lower fuel burn capabilities).

Not only is every model that ever existed described but likely illustrated with contemporary photos and wonderful artwork. The latter shows each variant in many different airline colors (the civil ones) and the military versions, which were vital in keeping this country free -- and I do not exaggerate -- and defensively prepared, are shown in all their glory. Their markings are representative of different times during their half-century, much varied careers.

All statistics, development history and personages associated with the development of these two look-alike, but truly different, aircraft are presented herein.

At Amazon's amazing price, this volume is indeed one of the best buys I've ever seen in a half century of collecting aircraft books, and this is indeed one of the best volumes ever. DO NOT MISS IT!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BOEING 707 AND KC-135, May 25, 2009

By 

Angel J. Aparicio - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BOEING: Boeing 707 KC-135 and Their Derivatives (Hardcover)

Justifying the Boeing company decision to gamble heavily on a private-venture prototype, the success of the B-707 family has been enormous. As a civil transport this type offering new levels of speed and flight comfort, and as a military type, the KC-135 brought the art of inflight-refuelling to a fully practical pitch.
This wonderful plane and its derivatives marked the true beginning of the jet transport age, and in the process totally revolutionised the nature of air transport.
This wonderful book will be a treasured addition to every aviation library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars husband like the book, a whole lotta pictures, July 25, 2011

By 

Ziles (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: BOEING: Boeing 707 KC-135 and Their Derivatives (Hardcover)

DH is an aerospace engineer and admirer of planes of all sort. He was interested in this subject and enjoyed the book. He said it was dry but had exactly the info he was looking for. Also, the written portion has some grammatical errors and typos but it does not detract from the information.
To me, it is a beautifully illustrated hardback with hundreds of pages of pictures of different version of this plane. Fantastic coffee table material - you know, for an aero guy. :)