From kls Thu Jan 30 00:36:25 1997 Newsgroups: sci.aeronautics.airliners Path: bounce-back Date: 30 Jan 97 00:36:25 From: l.a.ram@ix.netcom.com (Louis A. Ramsay) Subject: Re: DC-8s in service; no 707s? References: Message-ID: Approved: kls@ohare.Chicago.COM Sender: kls@ohare.Chicago.COM Organization: Netcom In "Richard Isakson" writes: > >> Is there a reason that the DC-8 airframes are still in service >> up to 30 years later while the 707s are not? >> - - - - - snip - - - - - > >It's a question of engine noise. The DC-8s that you see are the >re-engined/stretched versions. I think it was the -60 series. Boeing >made the strategic decision not to re-engine/stretch the 707 (though >they looked very hard at it). They did re-engine the military >versions but choose not to certify the changes. I think another consideration in re-engining the B-707 was the height of the existing engine off the ground. You can't add much more engine diameter to a 707 before the lower part of the cowling will be rubbing on the ground and, face it, the new engines are quite a bit bigger in diameter. There a few of the re-engined KC-135's at Bangor and those cowlings don't have much ground clearance. I just wonder, with the engines that close to the ground, if there is much of an increase in the amount of FOD? Lou.