Boeing 707

The Boeing 707 is known as the first jet airliner to be commercially successful. Although it wasn’t the first jet airliner, its combination of speed and economy helped it usher in the Jet Age. After the 707, propellers were a thing of the past.
The first jet-powered commercial plane was the de Havilland Comet, but due to several crashes early on in its run, it was never a success. The 707’s direct competitor was the Douglas DC-8, the Jet Age version of the DC-7. Because of Boeing’s success, they were able to construct the now-iconic 747, or Jumbo Jet.