Numerology: Aircraft designations

Some time back I read an article concerning Boeing Model numbers. That article said, in part, that since the Boeing 707 became such a success as the first successful jet airliner, Boeing insisted that all future model numbers include the digit "7". So there was the 727, 737, 757, and 787. Someone speculated the the B-17 was an even earlier example. So too the B-47, the B-29 (9-2=7) and the B-52 (5+2+7).

And I even offer the number "47", as the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, and the Boeing B-47 Stratojet were all very successful planes in their time.

Now, as for me, I don't think the model number played anything in their role for success. But, still sort of fun to speculate.

Bob Wright

And 777

It started way before the 707.
Like 247, 307, 377 and some later models 367, 717, 720, 747.
Probably more of the older ones but I can't remember.
The military had their on numbers for models.

In some ways, the Ruger 10/22 might be the company's greatest success story - but Ruger no longer chambers anything for the 10x22mm (.40 S&W). Guess the management gives priority to numbers with a "$" in front.

(Speaking of which, I really like my new $ecurity-380!)

I had heard somewhere that the 707 git it's designation from the sine of the angle for the wings. SIne of 45° is .7071 so: 707

sceva said:

I had heard somewhere that the 707 git it's designation from the sine of the angle for the wings. SIne of 45° is .7071 so: 707

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Well, that's news to me. But, Oh So clever!

Bob Wrkight

Bob Wright said:

Well, that's news to me. But, Oh So clever!

Bob Wrkight

Click to expand...

I doubt it is true though, The Boeing 707 wing angle is 35° It was a good bit of folklore though.


My Preference was for Douglas (and Mcdonnell Douglas) airliners though. Of course I am biased because I spent a short stint as a Quality Engineer with Mcdonnell Douglas. ( between the opening and ultimate closing of the Columbus, Ohio facility 1989 - 1993) I had a lot of MD-80 series and MD-11 series parts go thru my hands. Along with T-45, C-17, etc.

From 'way back when' (BEFORE they started having all of the QC/design issues)...

I don't know about all the other designations you mentioned, but the B-17 was the successor to the B-16, an example of which is at the upstate New York museum devoted to Glenn Curtiss, the genius aircraft designer.