What would be the result of installing an extra runway at each of Heathrow , Gatwick and Stansted in terms of airline traffic? Would more carriers just migrate to Heathrow?Would they move to more frequent smaller aircraft? have the Government abandoned any attempt to design an airport system for the London Region ?

LHR ‘Third’ Runway… never say never

You can be sure the site plans for a runway north of the A4 haven’t been scrapped(they’re 60+ years old :)), it’s just the new government is against the runway project, which could change later.
I’d like to know if the airline professionals would find Heathrow safer with an extra runway (also would safety at Gatwick and Stansted be improved if they had a 2nd runway).

707 vs KC-135

The 707 and KC-135 were going to be built on the same tooling with the same width fuselage but the sales success of the DC-8 forced Boeing to increase the width( by 5 inches?) and length of the domestic 707-120 launch model to compete. The 707-120 and KC-135 wing were the same planform but the whole structure of the 707 was built in the conservative 2024 series alloy (better fatigue life) whereas the KC-135 used the higher strength but less fatigue resistant 7…series alloy , so its fair to say they are a completely different aircraft
In the 1980s KC-135E refurbishment the Air Guard rebuilt scores of KC-135s with JT-3D fan engines pods/pylons, tails, and galleys from retired airline 707s so presumably those KC-135R tankers re engined a second time still contain 707 components. There was also a major wing rebuild program changing the skins and some components to the more conservative (but heavier) 2024 series alloy , I think.

The Airliner Cafe website’s 707 guide is comprehensive but doesn’t get into the KC-135….the prototype 367-80 had the same planform 707-120/KC-135 wing but a shorter fuselage with the diameter of the old 367/377 Stratotanker/Stratocruiser. I would say there were only 2 basic wings…the707-120 domestic (modified for the 720 with leading edge improvements and lighter skins which had to be replaced with heavier skins later!) and the 707-320/420 intercontinental with bigger span ( later wingtip and various tweaks leading to the -320C Adv , E-3, E-8 wing)

http://www.airlinercafe.com/page.php?id=72

The A380 is a beautiful aeroplane and the subtle Lufthansa scheme applied suits it better than the play-school type schemes applied to many airliners….in my opinion 🙂

A.J.Jackson, Bill Gunston, John Stroud, Ernest K Gann, Don McVicar

The cockpit shape is reminiscent of the 40% scale version of the CAMS 161 six engined boat but I don’t think there’s any connection. The wings look too small and thin for it to fly so could it be a non-flying item for a festival or exhibition or even a rich child’s toy!?