Hi.

I have a question about this aircraft HERE.
It's a B707-327C (Cargo), registration number N7099, leased to Qantas from Braniff. Is this a converted 707-300 passenger plane to a 707-300 cargo plane? I'm just asking because, at first glance, it looks just like a 707 passenger plane. The large cargo door on the opposite side of it lets you know it's really a cargo plane. Was it really that much cheaper to put a cargo door in the side and just leave the passenger windows there?

It just looks really strange. Had I not notice the cargo door, I would have believed it was a passenger plane. It was the US registration number that made me take a closer look in the first place.

Mark

Sorry if this is not really the proper place to ask about this.

Singapore Airlines also had them:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Singapore-Airlines-Cargo/Boeing-707-338C/1052602/L/

Think some of them were already cargo-converted at Qantas. And I think, it IS much cheaper to add the cargo-door only.


Dont know if the 707 had such versions, but some other airplanes were or still are "convertibles". They had passenger windows and a cargo-door, so the airline could convert theyr plane from cargo to pax and vice-versa in just a few hours.

Well it was a new one on me.

I knew that some Boeing aircraft were released as "Combo's". I had not seen one done like that (the whole aircraft). With that being said, when I went to the Avalon Air Show last year, there was a DC10 that the US Navy was using it for refueling trials (I can't find my pics at the moment). It still had all the passenger windows in it, but it had a what looked like a huge bladder that covered the windows.  doubt that it really was a bladder and they wouldn't let me in so I could take a good look. Of course.

Mark

Hi TheFinn

"Think some of them were already cargo-converted at Qantas. And I think, it IS much cheaper to add the cargo-door only.
Dont know if the 707 had such versions, but some other airplanes were or still are "convertibles". They had passenger windows and a cargo-door, so the airline could convert theyr plane from cargo to pax and vice-versa in just a few hours."

These B707 were delivered to Qantas with Cargo doors fitted and it was part of the pre-service mods to bring them up to full Cargo/Conversion standard.
Qantas aircraft were generally called "convertibles"
The change over from pax to cargo was not quick and entailed fitting up interior panels and floor roller system, not QC as in latter day aircraft.
Generally change was done at maintenance  time.

Regards
Glenn

As Ive said, iIdidnt know if the 707 had such version. But for example the Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation was such an aircraft, where it was possible to change from cargo to pax in just a few hours.