Originally Posted by
geo1005
707's did use DCA but they never flew internationally for European flights (to my knowledge there hasn't been a scheduled European flight to/from DCA).
PanAm had a DCA flight with a 707 back in the later 50s/early 60s. Lots of wide-bodies did utilize DCA. As mentioned up-thread, DL had a 767, Eastern did too.
I wasn't trying to imply there weren't 707s at DCA, I was saying you'd never be able to reliably fly one to Europe from there, as a 707 (or any wide body) is never going to get off the ground from DCA at close to MTOW. I remember watching (in the 80s) the AC 727-200 YYJ-YYZ takeoff from YYJ's 7000' runway, and it used every inch of runway on warm (not even hot) summer days, at virtually sea level. Take a modern 767 wide-body and have it 40 tons short of MTOW and they take off like a rocket, which is why 767s operate out of DCA. My guess is that A321s and 739s have big issues on the longer haul routes during hot summer days.
Per history of DCA on Wikipedia
Jet flights began in April 1966 (727-200s were not allowed until 1970).
quite interesting about 727-200s, as they had (compared to the 707) shorter runway requirements