The DC-8's Wingspan Was 12ft (4m) Wider Than The 707 While The Cruise Speed Was Almost Identical At 483kts For The Former And One Knot Faster For The Latter. ... The DC-8's Wing Sweep Was Slightly Less Than The 707 At Just 30 Degrees.

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As the world entered the Jet Age in the 1950s, a battle between two aerospace giants was beginning to unfold. California-based Douglas Aircraft Company and Seattle’s Boeing were fighting it out to make their first commercial jetliner. 

Boeing had a head start over the other airframer – which continued to place its trust in the continued need for propliners after airlines became wary of jet-powered examples in the wake of the de Havilland Comet crashes and subsequent groundings. 

The duo was ultimately competing initially for a government contract to supply the US Air Force with new refuelling platforms that could keep up with its new B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress bombers. 

In a surprising move, the contract was awarded exclusively to Boeing before any of the competing designs from Douglas, Convair, Fairchild, Lockheed and Martin could come to fruition.  

After missing out on the government supply contract, D…

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