Continental Airlines  Boeing 707  N70774          (c/n  17610)

                                    

                                        Continental Airlines ordered three Boeing 707s in 1959 although clearly they were far too large
                                        an aircraft for its (then) route structure.  I suspect it was more of a "keeping up with the Jones's"
                                        than a sound business decision.  The Jones's in this case, presumably, was my old airline, Western
                                        (who couldn't really justify the type themselves).   They couldn't really operate them profitably over
                                        such short stage lengths but it would be several years before the smaller jets were delivered, so they
                                        kept these prestige items on their asset register until 1967.   My shot of this "Golden Jet" was taken
                                        at LAX in 1960 when N70774 was brand new.