Originally Posted by
Seat 2A
[Pan American's 707s were indeed able to get into Rock Sound's 7200' runway. I don't know what the minimum runway length requirements are or were for a 707 but 7200' sounds a bit tight.
Aircraft don't have a single runway length as minimum, it depends very much on a whole series of factors. Out of Rock Sound Pan Am will have been carrying just fuel for the hop to Miami, and probably not much cargo; 7,200 ft will have been fine for that. I've been at St Petersburg, Florida (PIE) when the main 9,730 ft runway was closed for resurfacing. Charter A310s operating to Toronto were departing from the alternate 5,900 ft runway without issue.
Bear in mind that every 707 built took off from the 5,300 ft strip at Renton, where they were built.