Pan American Boeing 707-120

The prototype of the Boeing 707, the first commercial jet airliner to go into wide usage, was tested by the Civil Aeronautics Authority (later becomming the FAA) at Kirtland Air Force Base in 1957. A number of airlines and organizations came to Albuquerque to conduct high altitude and performance tests but could not offer service to this area at the time. Pan American World Airways owned and tested aircraft number N707PA here.

The top photo is of the Pan American aircraft that was tested here. The photo below shows an example in color of the same type of plane with newer turbofan engines installed. The livery also shows the later change to the Pan American name which was shortened to “Pan Am”. Pan Am would operate 117 Boeing 707’s in its fleet by 1969. Pan Am soon replaced the 707’s with the newer Boeing 747 jumbo-jets.