EOTPP 60th ANNIVERSARY - THE THIRD BRANIFF BOEING 720 EL DORADO SUPER JET - Braniff International Boeing 720-027 registered as N7078 is parked at the Yellow/North Concourse at Dallas Love Field in February 1966. The four-engine mid-range jetliner is painted in the 1965 Alexander Girard Dark Blue Solid Color Scheme with Alexander Girard Sky Font and BI Logo in Black. The aircraft was the third of five new Series -027 aircraft and the third of nine 720 aircraft that were leased or purchased by the Dallas-based luxury airline between 1961 and 1972. The Boeing 720 looked similar to the Boeing 707, but the 720 was 8 feet shorter, incorporated lighter metals, and the engines did not require water injection on takeoff. Braniff's Boeing 720s seated the same number of passengers as sister Boeing 707-227 aircraft. To achieve this equal seating arrangement, the First Class Lounge was removed from the 720s. The aircraft initially seated 106 passengers but was later increased to 112 including 38 First Class and 74 Coach Class seats. The arrival of the Boeing 720 played a crucial role in Braniff beginning all-jet service from the US Mainland to South America beginning in 1963. At that time, the 707-227s were reassigned to South America, and the Boeing 720s replaced the Series -227s on domestic routes. Ship N7078 was the third (N7076 through N7080) of five new Boeing 720-027s delivered to Braniff between 1961 and 1963. Three Boeing 720-048 jets were purchased or leased from Aer Lingus of Dublin, Ireland with the first, N7081, delivered in September 1964. Braniff purchased N7081 from Aer Lingus and it was in service until 1966 when it was sold to Pacific Northern Airlines who later merged with Western Airlines in June 1967. Braniff Airways Foundation Copyright 1926 2024 Photo: Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Copyright Braniff International Heritage Archives, Curator Now Associated with The University of Texas at Dallas System Braniff Airways Space Sciences Endowment
