Boeing’s Most Expensive Gamble Took Off From This Renton Field and Created the Jet Age

Boeing Field, Washington

Before the 707 carried millions of passengers, it was just the Dash 80, an untested prototype sitting on the tarmac at Boeing Field. The maiden flight on July 15, 1954, proved jet travel could work for regular folks, not just the military.

Here’s what went down that summer day at the field.

The Birth of the Boeing 367-80 Project

In 1952, Boeing gambled $16 million of its own money to create the Dash 80 prototype. This was risky since no customers had ordered it yet.

They called it “367-80” to trick competitors into thinking it was just the 80th version of their older plane. Two things pushed Boeing to build a passenger jet: their B-47 bomber from 1947 and Britain’s de Havilland Comet from 1949.

The board gave the go-ahead in April 1952. Engineers then raced to turn drawings into reality.

Construction of the Revolutionary Prototype

Work on the Dash 80 began in November 1952 in a closed-off part of Boeing’s Renton factory. Workers built most parts by hand since this was a test aircraft, not a production model.

Instead of passenger seats, the inside had plywood walls holding test equipment. The team worked fast, finishing the plane on May 15, 1954.

This was just 18 months after they started building it. The new jet stood ready for its first flight.

Pre-Flight Challenges and Preparations

During testing on May 22, the left landing gear broke. Test pilot Tex Johnston calmly stepped out of the damaged plane.

Engineers quickly fixed and strengthened the landing gear. Boeing picked two top test pilots for the first flight: chief pilot Alvin “Tex” Johnston and co-pilot Richard “Dix” Loesch.

The Historic Takeoff from Renton Field

The Dash 80 took off on July 15, 1954, the same day Boeing Company turned 34 years old. The brown and yellow plane lifted off Renton Field at 2:14 p.m.

Four jet engines pushed it into the air at 130 miles per hour. This flight marked the start of the jet age for passenger travel.

Dramatic Climb Over Lake Washington

After takeoff, Johnston pulled the plane into a steep climb to stay under the 225 mph speed limit for extended flaps. The jet reached 1,200 feet by the end of the runway.

Co-pilot Loesch asked if the plane was “going to climb straight up” because the angle was so steep.

The Flight Test Regimen

The pilots spent 2 hours and 24 minutes testing how the plane handled at different speeds. They found it had “Dutch roll,” a side-to-side motion common in swept-wing planes.

Boeing had fixed this problem in their military jets and knew how to solve it with a yaw damper system. The pilots checked all systems while engineers recorded data.

When asked how it flew, Johnston simply said, “She flew like a bird, only faster.”

Historic Landing at Boeing Field

After testing was done, Johnston landed the Dash 80 at Boeing Field. This landing started a new chapter in air travel.

Engineers rushed to check the plane while test crews prepared for more flights in the coming days. Word spread quickly about the successful test.

The short flight between two Seattle airports proved the design worked. Boeing now had proof that their gamble was paying off.

Public and Industry Reaction to the Flight

The test showed the Dash 80 could fly 100 miles per hour faster than the British Comet jet. It also flew farther, over 3,500 miles without stopping.

Despite these benefits, many airlines were not ready to switch from trusted propeller planes to jets. Boeing needed to convince them this new technology was worth buying.

The Famous Barrel Roll Demonstration

In August 1955, Boeing showed the Dash 80 at Seattle’s Seafair boat races. Airline officials came to watch what should have been a simple flyover.

Tex Johnston shocked everyone by rolling the huge jet completely over twice. Boeing president Bill Allen angrily told him never to do it again.

Johnston said he was just “selling airplanes” and proving how strong they were.

From Prototype to Production Success

After seeing what the Dash 80 could do, the Air Force ordered 29 similar planes as flying gas stations called KC-135 Stratotankers. Boeing eventually built 732 of these military jets.

The passenger version became the Boeing 707, America’s first successful jetliner. Between 1957 and 1979, Boeing made 1,010 of these planes.

These jets cut flight times in half and changed air travel forever. The Dash 80 had turned into a huge success.

Visiting Boeing Field

You can visit Boeing Field at 7277 Perimeter Road South in Seattle. The Museum of Flight next to the airport offers exhibits about the Dash 80’s historic first flight.

Museum hours run 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily with admission fees of $25 for adults.

While the original Dash 80 now resides at the Smithsonian in Virginia, the museum features photos, videos, and models of this groundbreaking aircraft.

Read More on WhenInYourState.com:

• Inside the Colossal Washington Hangar Where Boeing Assembles 747s and Dreamliners
• 10 Interesting Facts About Abe Lincoln’s Marble Memorial in Washington D.C.
• The World’s First Nuclear Reactor Hides in This Secret Washington Desert Facility