Boeing 367-80 (Dash 80)

Boeing · United States · first flew 1954 · transport aircraft

The Boeing 367-80, known as the 'Dash 80', was Boeing's private-venture prototype jet transport that served as the direct ancestor of both the Boeing 707 commercial jetliner and the KC-135 Stratotanker. Its first flight in 1954 marked a turning point in commercial aviation history.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, swept
E — Engines	4 × turbojet, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	38.96 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Prototype that led to both the Boeing 707 airliner and KC-135 tanker
Four podded turbojets under swept wing
Pivotal aircraft in the history of commercial jet aviation

Resembles the early 707 but narrower in fuselage cross-section, with four Pratt & Whitney JT3 turbojets in individual underwing pods, a sweepback wing of around 35 degrees, and the unmistakable Boeing 'family look' of early jet transports.

Specifications

The Boeing 367-80 (Dash 80) has a length of 38.96 m (128 ft).
It has a wingspan of 39.52 m (130 ft).
Its maximum speed is 937 km/h (582 mph).
Typical crew: 3 flight crew.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Boeing invested

6 million of its own funds to build the 367-80, gambling that the military and commercial markets would embrace the jet transport concept. The gamble paid off: the aircraft led directly to the KC-135 for the USAF and the 707 for the airlines, transforming long-haul air travel.

Variants

The 367-80 itself was a single prototype; it spawned the 707 (civil) and KC-135 (military) as distinct production designs.

Where you'll see it

The Dash 80 was used solely as a test and demonstration aircraft by Boeing; it never carried commercial passengers or military cargo in service. It is preserved at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center.

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