In the early 1960’s, two aircraft manufacturers made special performance versions of their initial aircraft models that ultimately were only sold to one airline each respectively. 

One of those airliners was the DC-9-21, a special performance version of the -10 which combined the -10 fuselage with the -30 wings and engines.  Scandinavian Air Systems (SAS) was the only buyer.

Question:  What was the other aircraft and airline to receive this kind of special performance aircraft in the 1960’s? 

The answer is after the fold:

The answer is Braniff International and the 707-227.   Braniff ordered 5 of these aircraft for “hot and high” operations.  They had the more powerful Pratt & Whitney JT4A-3 engine and were delivered beginning in 1959.  Sadly, the first aircraft was crashed during an acceptance flight and Braniff only ever received 4 of these airplanes.

Filed under: Trivia by ajax