Air Galicia Boeing 707-120B "Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar"

Air Galicia entered eagerly into the Jet Age. This was a demonstration of how an once small air company that was almost destroyed by the Spanish Civil War and its many stumbles with the francoist government due to its emphasis over the galician identity of the airline, could overcome those problems and by 1956 begin to establish itself as an airline that could rival even with Pan Am. After the post war crisis, spanish economy was rapidly growing due to tourism and Air Galicia seized that new opportunity to reach more customers. The Jet Age promised a whole new era of travel and by the summer of 1958, Air Galicia received its first B707 nicknamed Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar or "Cid Campeador" which inaugurated the jet service between Barcelona and New York as it was the tradition of the airline to establish the newest equipment at flight HG154. It flew 111 passengers distributed in 24 First Class seats with a spacious lounge with bar and 87 tourist fare seats which was a novelty back then. International air travel was a luxury that few people could afford but with the jet age, Air Galicia introduced a reduced fare service just as many airlines did in order to bring air travel to a broader segment of population making it more affordable. However, a tourist return ticket to New York costed back then 226 dollars or 13600 pesetas, which would be 1900 in today's dollars, still unaffordable for the majority of people. The 707 was a symbol of utmost luxury and modernity in air travel and Air Galicia requested that their planes were specially made with the emergency exits situated some rows back in order to install the first class bar that would separate First from Coach. At mid 1970s with 747s replacing them at intercontinental routes, many were transferred to medium distance routes with a more profitable 28C 96Y configuration which took out the First Class bar and lounge. While many 707s were sold to other airlines or scrapped, The first 707 of Air Galicia was the last to be withdrawn of service and it returned home in 1988 when it was donated to Boeing Field museum in Seattle where it rests untill today being exhibited with its original 1958 layout and livery. This very plane is still in flying condition and can be seen in many important air festivals around the world.