Famgus Aviation Postcards: The Early Jets

This page shows my collection of postcards of the "Early Jet" aircrafts.

On this page you will find the Comet, the Caravelle, the 707/720, the DC-8 and the Coronado.

Current number of postcards on this page: 47

This page was last updated on August 5, 2012

de Havilland Comet

The de Havilland DH 106 Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland at the Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom headquarters, it first flew in 1949 and was a landmark in aeronautical design. It featured an extremely aerodynamically clean design with its four de Havilland Ghost turbojet engines buried into the wings, a low-noise pressurised cabin, and large windows; for the era, it was an exceptionally comfortable design for passengers and showed signs of being a major success in the first year upon launching.

However, a few years after introduction into commercial service, the Comet suffered from catastrophic metal fatigue, which in combination with the pressurisation, caused two well-publicised accidents where the aircraft tore apart in mid-flight. The Comet had to be withdrawn and extensively tested to discover the cause; the first incident had been incorrectly identified as having been caused by an onboard fire. Several contributory factors, such as window installation methodology, were also identified as exacerbating the problem. The Comet was extensively redesigned to eliminate this design flaw. Rival manufacturers meanwhile developed their own aircraft and heeded the lessons learnt from the Comet.

Although sales never fully recovered, the redesigned Comet 4 series subsequently enjoyed a long and productive career of over 30 years. The Comet was adapted for a variety of military roles, such as surveillance, VIP, medical and passenger transport; the most extensive modification resulted in a specialised maritime patrol aircraft variant, the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod. Nimrods are still in service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and are expected to be retired in March 2011, over 60 years after the Comet's first flight.

Role: Airliner
Manufacturer: de Havilland
First flight: 27 July 1949
Introduced: 2 May 1952 with BOAC
Retired: 14 March 1997 (Comet 4C XS235)
Primary users: BOAC, Royal Air Force, Dan-Air, Aerolíneas Argentinas
Number built: 114 (including prototypes)

Comet 4B	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Color photography Printed by: BEA. (Unnumbered) Photo: Unknown Postally used
United Arab Airlines Comet - registration SU-ALE Cairo International Airport, Egypt	A6 size Color photography Printed by: Krüger (No. 745/41) Photo: Unknown Postally used

Sud Aviation Caravelle

The Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner, produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 (when it was still known as SNCASE). The Caravelle would go on to be one of the more successful European first generation jetliners, selling throughout Europe and even penetrating the United States market, with an order for 20 from United Airlines. The Caravelle established the aft-mounted-engine, clean-wing design that has since been used on a wide variety of subsequent aircraft.

Role: Airliner
Manufacturer: Sud Aviation
First flight: 27 May 1955
Introduced: 1959
Retired: 2005
Number built: 282

Air France Caravelle F-BHRB	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Color photography Printed by: Air France. (Nbr: 21383/P) Photo: Bulté Post marked February 2 1968
Air France Caravelle at the Milano Malpensa airport	A6 size Color photography Printed by: MG - Milano Dep. (No. MA 2) Photo: Unknown Postally used
Alitalia Caravelles	A6 size Color photography Printed by: Alitalia. (Unnumbered) Photo: Unknown Post marked Jan 26 1965
Finnair Caravelle - registration OH-LEA Hamburg Airport, Germany	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Printed by: Conwa Grossovertrieb GmbH, Hamburg. (No: G 367) Photograher: Unknown Unused
SAS Caravelle LN-KLH "Finn Viking"	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Published by: Grafisk Konst. (Nbr: 130/42) Photo: Unknown Unused Caravelle SE-210 LN-KLM "Finn Viking" In service with SAS 1959-1974
SAS Caravelle LN-KLH "Finn Viking"	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Published by: Scandinavian Airlines System. Printed in Norway Harald Lyche & Co. (Nbr: SDSTO 791/1) Photo: Unknown Post marked June 10 1963 Caravelle SE-210 LN-KLM "Finn Viking" In service with SAS 1959-1974
SAS - CARAVELLE JETLINER	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Published by: Scandinavian Airlines System. Printed in Norway Harald Lyche & Co. (Nbr: SDSTO 791/2) Photographer: Unknown Postally used 1959
The Caravelle SE-DAA "Eskil Viking" at Copenhagen Airport, Denmark	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Published by: Stenders Forlag. (Nbr: 49 101/142) Photographer: Unknown Unused Caravelle SE-210 SE-DAA "Eskil Viking" In service with SAS 1959-1974
The Caravelle OY-KRA "Vagn Viking" at Copenhagen Airport, Denmark	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Published by: M. Munthe, Copenhagen. (Nbr: 1190) Photographer: Unknown Unused Caravelle SE-210 OY-KRA "Vagn Viking" In service with SAS 1959-1974
Passengers boarding a Sterling Airways Caravelle Billund Airport, Denmark	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Published by: Billund Boghandel. (Nbr: 143 717076) Photo: Unknown Unused
United Airlines N1011U Bradley Field Airport, U.S.A.	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Color photography Published by: NATCO, Natural Color Cards Co., Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. (No. 78710-B) Photograher: Unknown Post marked July 11 1970

Boeing 707/720

The Boeing 707 is a four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". Boeing delivered a total of 1,010 Boeing 707s including a smaller, faster model of the aircraft that was marketed as the Boeing 720. Although it was not the first commercial jet in service, the 707 was among the first to be commercially successful. Dominating passenger air transport in the 1960s, and remaining common throughout the 1970s, the 707 is generally credited with ushering in the Jet Age. It established Boeing as one of the largest makers of passenger aircraft, and led to the later series of aircraft with "7x7" designations.

Role: Airliner
Manufacturer: Boeing Airplane Company
First flight: December 20, 1957
Introduction: October 1958 with Pan American
Status: In service
Primary users: Trans World Airlines; Eastern Air Lines; Pan Am; BOAC
Produced: 1958-1979
Number built: 1,010

Aer Lingus Boeing 707 "Padraig" Dublin Airport, Ireland	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Printed and published by: John Hinde Ltd. Cabinteely, Co. Dublin. (No: 2/9) Photograher: E. Ludvig Unused
Air France Boeing 707B Intercontinental	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: I.V.O Paris-Evian. (Nr: 22.168/P - 10-64) Photograher: Unknown Unused
Air India Boeing 707	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photography Published by: Editions P.I., Paris, France. (No: 200) Photo: Unknown Unused
American Airlines Boeing 707	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: American Airlines. (Nbr: T151-11) Photograher: Unknown Postmarked Jul 11 1959
American Airlines Boeing 720 - registration N7534A Los Angeles International Airport	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Color photography Published by: Columbia Wholesale Supply, North Hollywood, Calif. (No. H-1414) Photograher: Unknown Post marked March 25 1962
Britannia Airways Boeing 707 320C - long range jet	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Aerad (IAL). (Unnumbered) Photograher: Unknown Unused
Conair Boeing 720B	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Printed by: Conair. (Unnumbered) Photograher: Unknown Unused
Continental Airlines Golden Jet Boeing 707 Shown on a test flight over Mt. Rainier, Washington April 8, 1959.	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Published by: Curteichcolor. (Nbr: 9C-K892) Photo: Unknown Unused
Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 707 Intercontinental Fan Jet	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Printed by: Krüger. (Unnumbered) Photograher: Unknown Unused
KLM Boeing 707	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Printed by: GM Milano. (Unnumbered) Photo/Artist: Unknown Written March 31 1981
Lufthansa Boeing Jet 720B	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photo postcard Printed by: Lufyhansa. (No: 021 153) Photograher: Unknown Unused
Pan American Boeing 707 - registration N702PA München Airport, Germany	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photography Printed by: CONWA Grossvertrieb G.m.b.H., München. (Nbr: M 186/8166) Photograher: Unknown Unused
Pan American Boeing 707 - registration N707PA	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Color photography Printed by:A. V. Fry & Co., Ltd., London. (Nbr: LA 34) Photograher: Unknown Dated on backside: October 13 1963
Pan American Boeing 707	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Pan American. (Unnumbered) Photograher: Unknown Posted April 7 1959
Pan American Boeing 707	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Colourpicture, Boston, Mass. (No: P31194) Photograher: Unknown Unused
Pan American Boeing 707	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Pan American. (Unnumbered) Photograher: Unknown Posted December 7 1977
TWA Boeing 707	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Trans World Airlines. (Unnumbered) Photograher: Unknown Posted Feb 28 1960
TWA Boeing 707	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Trans World Airlines. (Unnumbered) Photograher: Unknown Posted 1965
TWA Boeing 707 San Francisco International Airport	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Color photography Produced by: Mike Roberts Color Productions, Berkeley, California. Distributed by: E. F. Clements, San Francisco, California. (No. C15212) Photograher: Unknown Unused

Douglas DC-8

The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972. Launched later than the competing Boeing 707, the DC-8 nevertheless established Douglas in a strong position in the airliner market, and remained in production until 1972 when much larger designs, including the DC-10, made the DC-8 obsolete. Relegated to second-line duties, details of the DC-8 design allowed it to hold slightly more cargo than the 707; dozens of re-engined examples remain in freighter service to this day, while commercial 707 service had largely ended by 2000.

Numbers built: 556.

Air Canada DC-8	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Charles Skilton & Fry Ltd. (Nr: 303) Photograher: Unknown Unused
Finnair DC-8-62, registration OH-LFT Helsinki Airport	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Printed by: Grako (Nr: 1582) Photograher: Giovanni Trimboli Post marked Jul 25 1975
Panagra Douglas DC-8	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Pan American-Grace Airways. (Unnumbered) Photograher: Unknown Postally used
Pan American Douglas DC-8C	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Pan American. (Unnumbered) Photograher: Unknown Unused
SAS Douglas DC-8	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Color photo postcard Published by: Scandinavian Airlines System. Printed in Norway Harald Lyche & Co. (Nbr: 983055) Photographer: Unknown Postally used 1962
SAS Douglas DC-8-63 LN-MOU Leif Viking	A6 size (105 mm x 148 mm) Published by: SAS Scandinavian Airlines. (Unnumbered) Artist/Photo: Unknown Unused DC-8-63 LN-MOU "Leif Viking" In service with SAS 1968-1974
SAS DC-8-33 SE-DBC "Visbur Viking" Söndre Strömfjord Airport, Greenland	A6 size Color photography Copyright: The Royal Greenland Trade Department. (No. KGH 138) Photograher: B. Vienberg. Posted August 13 1979 DC-8-33 SE-DBC "Visbur Viking" In service with SAS 1960-1970
SAS DC-8 Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup, Denmark.	A6 size Color photography Printed by: Chr. Olsen - Kunstforlag, Köbenhavn, Danmark. (No. 172) Photograher: Unknown Posted June 29 1966
SAS DC-8-63 LN-MOY "Eirik Viking" Hannover-Langenhagen Airport, Germany	A6 size Color photography Printed by: Kunstverlag Karl Bernhard, Hannover. (No. 55025(T)) Photograher: Unknown Unused DC-8-63, LN-MOY "Eirik Viking", in service with SAS 1969-1974
Swissair DC-8, registration HB-IDA	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: E. Baumann, Winterthur. (Nbr: 144) Photo: Unknown Unused
United Airlines Douglas DC-8 Registration N8028U	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: United Air Lines. (Unnumbered) Photo: Unknown Unused

Convair CV 880/990

Quoted from Wikipedia:
The Convair 880 was a jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics. It was designed to compete with the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 by being smaller and faster, a niche that failed to create demand. Only 65 Convair 880s were produced over the lifetime of the production run from 1959 to 1962, and General Dynamics eventually withdrew from the airliner market after considering the 880 project a failure.

The Convair 990 Coronado was a "stretched" version of their earlier Convair 880 produced in response to a request from American Airlines. The 990 was lengthened by 10 feet, which increased the number of passengers from between 88 and 110 in the 880, to between 96 and 121 (depending on the interior). This was still considerably fewer than the contemporary Boeing 707 (110 to 189) or Douglas DC-8 (105 to 173), although the 990 remained some 25 to 35 mph faster than either in cruise.

Role: Jet airliner
Manufacturer: Convair
First flight: 27 January 1959
Primary users 880: Trans World Airlines; Delta Air Lines; Japan Airlines; Swissair
Produced 880: 1959-1962
Number built 880: 65
Primary users 990: American Airlines
Produced 990: 1961-1963
Number built 990: 37

Delta Air Lines Convair 880	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: Delta Airlines. (Nbr: T-315) Photo: Unknown Written on back
American Airlines Convair 990	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Printed by: American Airlines. (Nbr: T151-12B) Photograher: Unknown Written by not posted
Swissair Convair 990	Old postcard size 14x9 cm Color photography Printed by: E. Baumann, Winterthur. (Nbr: 154) Photo: Unknown Post marked August 23 1962
Swissair Convair 990	A6 size Color photography Published by: Swiss Transport Museum. Printed by: M. Kündig, Zug, Switzerland. (Nbr: 26/2) Photo: Unknown Post marked August 23 1962