I flew a fair amount as a teen pax in the mid and late-1960s in BOEING jets. I recall distinctly both reading and hearing on board the aircraft--primarily the 707-320B, the -420, and the 720B--that these planes typically flew at 550 to 580 mph. I believe the 720B flew at an astounding 600 to 620 mph. These speeds, ranging from Mach 0.83 to Mach 0.93, were standard for their day and are significantly faster than todays 767 and 777 jets and even the venerable 747-400. In FS2004, however, these older BOEING jets are typically listed as having a cruise speed of Mach 0.78-0.82 which I am sure is too slow. Is my memory faulty or are the sims of these older jets off with their cruise speeds?JS

I flew a fair amount as a teen pax in the mid and late-1960s in BOEING jets. I recall distinctly both reading and hearing on board the aircraft--primarily the 707-320B, the -420, and the 720B--that these planes typically flew at 550 to 580 mph. I believe the 720B flew at an astounding 600 to 620 mph. These speeds, ranging from Mach 0.83 to Mach 0.93, were standard for their day and are significantly faster than todays 767 and 777 jets and even the venerable 747-400. In FS2004, however, these older BOEING jets are typically listed as having a cruise speed of Mach 0.78-0.82 which I am sure is too slow. Is my memory faulty or are the sims of these older jets off with their cruise speeds?JS

As you know there are other factors which will increase or decrease speed and to say a planes top speed is, would be dependent on ideal conditions as layed out in the specifications.Making any comparison of the acrft of the 1960's against bigger and more efficient jet engines of today not to mention acrft size and payload is, well comparing a F-100 to a F-18. Speed is important but payload and cost effectivness will always win.....eg Concord vs. B-747 for example. I think the latter speeds you site are probably more in line than the 0.93 Mach mentioned and I would tend to agree w/ the slower speeds 0.78 and the 0.82 when distance and payload are not a factor nor fuel costs, (Fuel in the 60's was cheaper than water). ha ha I flew a B-707 in early 60's from Okinawa to Japan to Anchorage and then to Seattle. We stopped for fuel in Anchorage and Toyko and it was a long flight. I would tell you of my flight over the Pacific in a TWA Connie but time and space are short. Boy, how I would love to relive that adventure. Just some thoughts to your question.

Mach 0.78-0.82 is right, and you know that Jonathan! lol..The mph are ground speeds, and often due to tailwindhigher, its the ias/mach what counts for airspeed these days.Read the propliner tutorial on calclassic for details on how it went in the old days up to the first jets. A lot of jet reference is in it.