SAS Flies First True Polar Flight, 1957

[Tom/CalClassic]

SAS flew from Copenhagen to Tokyo for the first time this month in 1957 using their new DC-7C.

airwaysmag.com/worlds-first-commercial-trans-polar-flight/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[nmlw]

Quite a savings in distance and time.

[Defender]

Significant too that the range of the DC-7C and Starliner enabled them to continue as the front line aircraft on this route during the early jet age as the initial 707 and DC-8 versions didn't have the capability.

Photo #3 is a DC-6B I think

Bill

[Tom/CalClassic]

True for certain routes. Pan Am kept up with DC-7Cs for the California-Europe flights until they got the 707-320s, then switched (last switch was in March 1960).

On the other hand, by March 1960 TWA dumped their polar flights because flying jets via New York was actually faster. This was while they were still flying Starliners out of New York. When TWA got their 320s in late May 1960 they restarted the polar flights.

SAS in March 1960 was still using DC-7Cs on their polar routes, since the DC-8s had not been delivered yet. By April 2nd half the Copenhagen-LA flights were using DC-8s and it appears the Tokyo route switched in September. The DC-8-32's appear to have had the range for it.

I believe you are right (no DC-7 at the top of the tail). Probably a test flight.

[Erik]

Fascinating subject with a prominent role for autonomous navigation. Huge accomplishments, especially at that time!

Thanks for bringing it up Tom,
Erik

[Tom/CalClassic]

Glad you liked it. I subscribe to an Airways magazine weekly newsletter and am always on the lookout for classic era stories.

[warbaby]

If I recall from my fs2000 days, the flight from Bergen to Reykjavik was a constant heading that did no fluctuate. Say 280 degrees, all the way to Iceland. I found this fascinating.