The prototype aircraft that the Boeing 707 and C-135 aircraft were developed from. It spent a number of years in storage at MASDC until 1990 when it was retrieved and restored by Boeing. Finally in 2003 it was flown to Washington for display in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

The forerunner of the 707 'briefly' tested a tail-mounted live JT8D engine for the 727 with the blast crudely deflected over the tailplane. We found that it was fitted in April 1961. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

The forerunner of the civil 707 and military C-135, parked on celebrity row while in storage at MASDC, Davis-Monthan AFB. It has since moved to the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Collection in Virginia.

The progenitor of the Boeing 707/C-135 series. It first flew on 15 July 1954. Last flight was on 27th August 2003 when delivered to the NASM museum at IAD.

This upper walkway is cleared by the Udvar-Hazy staff 30 min before the rest of the museum closes. I hung on for as long as possible to try and get this shot people free but alas they kicked me off too soon. Still, it was really something to finally see the wonderful 'Dash 80' in person.

"Dash 80"

Built as a private venture by Boeing and operated from 1954 to 1969, the legendary Dash 80 was forerunner of a huge success story which saw some 1,800 707s and KC-135s being produced