Delta airlines began passenger operations in 1929, from Dallas to Jackson, Mississippi. In 1959, it was the first airline to fly the Douglas DC-8, and in 1960, it was also the first airline to fly a Convair 880 jet, between Houston and New York City. The 880 was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics. It was designed to compete with the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 by being smaller but faster, but it failed to create demand. When it was first introduced, at 615 mph (990 km/h), it was the fastest jet transport in the world. Only 65 Convair 880s were produced over the lifetime of the production run from 1959 to 1962, and General Dynamics eventually withdrew from the airliner market after considering the 880 project a failure. Up front, was located the spacious First Class Club Compartment, a gaily decorated room with 12 modern fiberglass seats around 2 low tables. All Delta's Convair 880s were sold to The Boeing Aircraft Company from November 1973.
- Comments