Airshow photos, Raider gets an expanded role and looking back on the first 707
Some photos from Wings Over Houston, the B-21 expands its role and the first flight of a legendary airliner.
"The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war."
— Norman Schwarzkopf
The airshow is in the books! Along with taking over 5,000 photos (digital cameras really have transformed photography) I was also able to interview pilots, performers, and was provided behind the scenes access. I’m working on a video that will recap the airshow, here’s a capture of the Blue Angels, more photos later on in the newsletter:
And now, onto the newsletter:
Mission Briefing: Expanding the Raider’s Role
In the latest update to the U.S. Air Force's strategic planning, the B-21 Raider stealth bomber is not just making an entrance; it’s primed for an expanded role. The Air Force is exploring how this next-generation stealth bomber could become central to its evolving operational strategy. With the challenges of contested airspaces and the rising capabilities of near-peer adversaries like China and Russia, the Raider is uniquely suited to counter modern threats in ways that even the venerable B-2 Spirit could only partially fulfill.
The B-21, designed as the most advanced stealth aircraft ever created, combines state-of-the-art radar-evading technology with a digital architecture allowing future-proof upgrades and adaptive mission profiles. This flexibility gives it the potential to evolve alongside emerging threats—a capability seen as essential for the next several decades of aerial warfare.
While the B-2 was a landmark in stealth capabilities, the B-21's design takes stealth to a new level. It incorporates lessons from past stealth programs and is optimized for an expanded suite of missions, including intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, and potentially unmanned operation. According to General Thomas Bussiere, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, the Raider’s multi-role potential is essential, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, where the vast expanse requires platforms with extensive range, survivability, and adaptability to different mission types.
One aspect that makes the B-21 so vital is its adaptability for "joint, all-domain operations." This strategic vision emphasizes seamless interoperability between the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, allowing platforms like the Raider to function across multiple military domains. For example, the B-21 could deploy advanced munitions, relay real-time targeting data to Navy or Army assets, or even assist in cyber and space-related missions. This strategic integration could redefine air power in the coming decade, especially as the Pentagon seeks ways to overcome Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) environments established by adversaries to prevent U.S. forces from projecting power.
This interest in an expanded role signals the Air Force’s commitment to adjusting its bomber fleet, especially as the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit are gradually phased out. The Raider is expected to eventually replace the B-2 while working in tandem with the B-52 Stratofortress, which will remain a long-range workhorse of the fleet due to its capacity for standoff and hypersonic weapon integration.
As we watch the Raider progress from concept to operational reality, it’s clear that the Air Force’s strategy is adapting to a world where air dominance requires multi-domain versatility, technological superiority, and a shift toward seamless inter-service integration. The B-21 Raider is set to be a cornerstone of this future vision, redefining what it means to be a strategic bomber in the 21st century. This strategy will be one to follow closely, as it hints at the direction not only of U.S. air power but also the future of joint, integrated warfare capabilities.
This week in aviation history
28 October 1957 the aviation world took a leap forward as Boeing rolled out the first production Boeing 707 jet airliner at its Renton, Washington, assembly plant. This first aircraft, serial number 17586, marked the beginning of a new era in commercial air travel. The 707's roots trace back to Boeing’s Model 367-80, famously called the “Dash Eighty,” which initially served as the prototype for the KC-135 Stratotanker, a refueling tanker that would serve the U.S. military for decades.
Pan American World Airways, which became the 707's launch customer, placed an order for twenty 707s in 1955, adding excitement and momentum to the new jet age. The first 707, designated Model 707-121 and registered as N708PA by the Federal Aviation Agency, was completed and made its maiden flight on December 20, 1957. Boeing’s Chief Test Pilot, the legendary Tex Johnston, took the controls, helping this revolutionary aircraft take to the skies for the first time. Following a period of rigorous flight and certification testing, Clipper Constitution (as N708PA was named) officially entered service with Pan Am on November 30, 1958, making a grand debut at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
In 1965, the aircraft underwent significant upgrades to meet the new 707-121B standards, which included quieter, more efficient Pratt & Whitney JT3D-1 turbofan engines, each generating 17,000 pounds of thrust. Alongside a modified wing design and enhanced stability features, these changes kept Clipper Constitution at the cutting edge of technology and comfort for its era.
Sadly, Clipper Constitution’s story ended on September 17, 1965, when it tragically crashed into Chances Peak, an active volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, resulting in the loss of all 30 individuals on board.
The Boeing 707-121 featured four powerful Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 engines, adapted from the military’s J57 engines, producing up to 13,500 pounds of thrust with water injection. This model required substantial runway length (11,000 feet) for takeoff due to its weight, topping out at 257,000 pounds when fully loaded.
The jet’s sleek, swept-wing design, set at a 35° angle, allowed it to cruise at a top speed of 540 knots (1,000 kilometers per hour) and cover distances up to 2,800 nautical miles. Though not a “wide-body” aircraft, the 707’s 12-foot-wide fuselage comfortably seated passengers and set the stage for generations of jet-powered airliners that followed.
The Boeing 707 transformed air travel by making long-haul flights faster and more accessible, symbolizing the advent of the Jet Age. With 1,010 civilian models produced between 1958 and 1979, the 707 became a commercial success and expanded into a range of military variants produced until 1994. Its legacy endures in both the design principles and spirit of innovation that continue to shape the aerospace industry.
The rollout of the Boeing 707 on this day in 1957 marked the dawn of modern aviation, where crossing oceans and continents by air became a reality for millions, changing the way we connect with the world.
In Case You Missed It
Using the Raider and Drones in place of the NGAD is discussed here:
Photo Outlet
Wings Over Houston is becoming one of the best airshows in the country - full stop. The number of aircraft, the rarity of some of the flying examples, and the overall experience is something else. If you get a chance to attend - you should! Here are some of my captures from the weekend:
Feel free to use these photos however you like, if you choose to tag me, I am @pilotphotog on all social platforms. Thanks!
Post Flight Debrief
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-Tog