Tex Johnston rolls a 707

On August 7, 1955, Alvin M. "Tex" Johnston stuns the crowd at the Seafair Gold Cup hydroplane race on Lake Washington by barrel (or aileron) rolling the prototype Dash-80, the precursor to the Boeing 707, thus launching the era of the modern commercial jet. Johnston's co-pilot was Boeing test pilot James R. Gannett (1923-2006). (What Johnston did with the airplane was called a barrel-roll but some consider it an aileron roll in which a plane rotates on its long axis, rather than describing a "barrel" loop. However, unlike a conventional aileron, or snap, roll, Johnston maintained positive gravity through the maneuver.) Even Boeing President William Allen is taken by surprise as he escorts potential customers who are seeing the jet for the first time.

Flying at more than 400 miles per hour just 400 feet above the water, Johnston commenced a sudden ascent. The jet's swept-back wings spiraled as the 128-foot-long, 160,000 pound plane rolled, flying for a short time upside down. Then, for extra measure, Johnston performed a second barrel-roll. Boeing President Allen asked a guest with a heart problem if he could borrow his pills. The potential jet buyers were duly impressed.

By the time Johnston broke the transcontinental speed record in 1957 by flying from Seattle to Baltimore in three hours, 48 minutes, orders for the new 707 were pouring in.

Category:

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• johnston
• 707
• boeing
• aerobatics
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• pilot

[CCCrepresentative]

I'm sorry.

B- BB- BARREL ROLL!

[CommanderLightning]

[pulls out a Luger P08] Don't.. ..even.. ..think about it..

[VIR092]

@hyungsup2 In simple words, if you stood in the cabin of an airplane, the pilot then performed a barrel roll that was more than 1-g as you feel standing on the ground, you would not come off the floor. Sure, you would feel a sudden downward force from the initiation of the maneuver. Zero beta flight means no sideslip, if you perform a slip in an airplane (you kick the rudder), you'll feel like you're being pushed sideways in your seat (i.e. a lateral force) as you already I know I'm sure.

[hyungsup2]

@VIR092 I don't think you're thinking through. I think you have to tell me what zero beta flight is because what you are explaining seems like a boring ride to me....

If you are having fun you have to be feeling a sudden force in a particular direction.

What I've said is that people won't fall down from their seats but they won't be walking down the aisle as if you are in a commercial airline. That's what I want to say.

[VIR092]

@hyungsup2 Actually, there were would be no transverse (sideward) force if the airplane maintains zero beta flight (no problem with good airspeed) throughout the maneuver, it's only normal acceleration. You could have people walking up and down the inside of the fuse and no one would come off the floor as along as you are at 1+ g.

There's something to do: Have people get on a large bird, stand in the isleway and perform a barrel roll, that would be some fun.

[hyungsup2]

@TV843 I think I would....

If we assume that the plane rolled at a constant 1g force downwards from the plane, the force of the lateral movements will exist.

There are 3 directions of the force.

It would only mean that we won't fall off the seat when the plane is upside down.

[xliver4]

@CCCrepresentative I'm sorry.

A- AA- AILERON ROLL!

[ElectraGSX]

Daaaang!

[kriegmeister3000]

That's one way to sell a plane.

[Pilotguyr6]

Look up bob Hoover if you don't think you can roll at 1g. Prove that wrong!

[TV843]

@75kilroy You are absolutely correct, no matter what these schmucks say. It is possible to roll at a constant 1g . The funny thing is that if you were a passenger on this plane when it rolled and you didn't look out the window to see everything momentarily upside down, you wouldn't even know you were rolling, because you would be under a constant 1g load (which we obviously experience all the time--so it's not an unnatural sensation).

[pavwgn]

Fascinating, in 1955 they were able to do that already,

simply amazing

pavwgn