"THE BOEING 707 ASTROJET" AMERICAN AIRLINES IMPROVED JET AIRCRAFT PROMO FILM 46134

Support Our Channel :   / periscopefilm   American Airlines and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft (a division of United Aircraft Corporation) bring the viewer “The 707 Astrojet” — a 1961 color film touting the aircraft. Called “a familiar friend” to the modern traveler, a silver passenger jet is shown in flight as the narrator explains (starting at mark 00:52) the American Airlines wanted to bring its clients a more powerful aircraft with higher cruising speeds and shorter take-off and landing capabilities. The film describes the development and testing of an advanced composite elevator for the Boeing 707 aircraft, focusing on the use of graphite-epoxy materials to reduce weight and parts compared to traditional aluminum structures. Supported by NASA and Boeing, the project aimed to maintain strength, durability, and flight characteristics while achieving significant weight savings of around 26%. Extensive testing—including material, fatigue, environmental, and lightning protection assessments—ensured the composite elevator met rigorous standards. Full-scale assembly and ground tests were followed by successful flight tests, which confirmed that the composite components did not affect aircraft stability or control. The program demonstrated the viability of advanced composites in aircraft structures and paved the way for their broader application in future aerospace designs. 0:00 — The focus in aircraft design has been on strong, lightweight structures, with improvements in aluminum and titanium alloys enhancing strength-to-weight ratios. 0:54 — Fuel efficiency concerns have driven the search for lighter materials that maintain structural integrity without increasing maintenance. 1:10 — Graphite filaments with epoxy resin composites, developed with NASA support, offer 20-30% weight savings compared to conventional metals. 1:44 — Designing with composites can reduce part counts and manufacturing costs. 2:03 — Boeing developed an advanced composite elevator for the Model 707, cutting parts by 40% and weight by 26%. 2:49 — The composite elevator needed to match the metal version in strength, flight characteristics, and interchangeability. 3:04 — Extensive testing was required to assure flight-quality materials and processes. 3:17 — Various graphite and epoxy composite materials were tested for resin content and mechanical durability. 3:53 — Ancillary tests included ground and flight simulations on full-scale components to validate design and manufacturing. 4:30 — The composite 707 elevator features graphite epoxy spars and ribs combined with Nomex honeycomb skins in a sandwich design. 5:11 — Environmental protection was added via tedlar sheets and paint on exposed composite surfaces. 5:28 — Aluminum hinge fittings and actuator parts from the original metal elevator were retained. 5:46 — Fatigue performance under flight sound pressure was tested over two aircraft lifetimes without damage growth. 6:33 — Strength and stiffness were validated by load testing a large elevator segment. 7:01 — Additional tests covered fatigue at the composite-to-metal junction under hot, wet conditions. 7:26 — Lightning protection system testing showed no significant damage after high-current discharges. 8:02 — Experience from test layups aided production of full-scale composite parts using no-bleed resin systems. 8:46 — Completed parts were inspected with ultrasonic non-destructive testing. 9:02 — Full-scale elevators were assembled using adapted tools and titanium fasteners. 10:40 — Assembly included corrosion-preventing sealants and high-speed drilling of composite skins. 11:25 — A finished elevator underwent thorough ground testing including static, fatigue, and destructive load tests. 12:03 — Composite elevators were installed on a Boeing 707 test aircraft for vibration and flight testing. 12:44 — Flight tests confirmed the composites did not affect aircraft control, stability, or electromagnetic compatibility. 13:11 — The program verified weight savings, structural design, and fabrication methods. 13:24 — The experience gained will advance composite technology applications in future aircraft design. Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com