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. At mark 02:19, he details the design of American Airlines’ jets as an engineer illustrates the description on paper — “a study in simplicity.” At mark 03:51, he explains that Pratt & Witney engineers improved upon the design by adding a fan and outer shroud to an existing engine design, increasing thrust. “It was called a turbo fan, or fan jet,” the narrator says at mark 04:30, as another engine illustration fills the screen before moving onto scenes of the engine’s construction. The turbo fan engine ultimately led to a new aircraft design, with such a discussion beginning at mark 05:30. The newly designed “Astrojet” is shown on a runway beginning at mark 09:00, as it slowly rolls down the runway and takes off into the sky. “No one will travel faster than you will on an Astrojet.”
Just two years after the launch of pioneering regular domestic jet service in the US with the Boeing 707, American was first with the much more powerful and efficient turbofan engines for its jet fleet.
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