The Also Rans, Part I

What makes one commercial airliner a success while its rival drifts into obscurity? In this, the first of a three-part series, John Vogel examines the aircraft that were. …

When one conjures up the typical airliner of today, the most common types that spring to mind are the Boeing 747, 727, 707, Douglas DC-8, DC-9 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10, the Lockheed Tristar, the Fokker Friendship, the Airbus and the list would seemingly go on and on.

It would appear that all that is needed is a good designer, an engineering team to interpret the design, a healthy financial backing for the development costs, test flying, and sales drive, and last but certainly not least an order book brimming full with potential customers.

A perfect sense of timing is also essential because it is this single factor coupled with the fulfilment of a commercial need for a new type or bigger version of an already existing model that can mean the difference between immortality in the annals of aviation history or failure to achieve anything greater than becoming the feature article for an aviation magazine.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Login

Become a Member

To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

If you check this box before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

---

or

---

Login with a Passkey

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

PRINT

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

MOST POPULAR

PRINT + DIGITAL

$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member

$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

DIGITAL

$5.99 Monthly Become a Member

$59.95 Annual Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

View more offers and details