Second-Generation Jetliners | 1961

(TOP)
Airline - Royal Imperial Air Company
Aircraft - Boeing 707-420 | G-ADGG
Delivered to the Royal Imperial Air Company, 1961
Transferred to Royal Airways, 1974
Sold to AeroCalo, 1986
Stored at Miami International Airport, 1995
Scrapped at Miami International Airport, 1998
Livery - Standard 1961
Country - Great Britain

(BOTTOM)
Airline - Royal Imperial Air Company
Aircraft - Convair CV880-22M | G-ADHD
Delivered to the Royal Imperial Air Company, 1962
Sold to Highland Charter, 1972
Sold to ASTI, 1976
Abandoned Stored at Tenerife Los Rodeos Airport, 1980
Scrapped at Tenerife Los Rodeos Airport, 1996
Livery - Standard 1961
Country - Great Britain

In the early 1960s, RIAC began purchasing non-British aircraft for the first time in its history (except the Douglas propliners it had inherited after the war). The 707 was a dependable workhorse, operating routes all over the world, while the CV880 - the fastest commercial aircraft in service at the time - was used on special flights between London and New York advertised to business travellers for their speed and comfort, using the slogan "twice as fast with twice the class". The CV880 was, of course, not actually 'twice as fast', however this marketing gimmick was reused when the Concorde was put into service years later.

1961 also saw the introduction of a new livery, using a darker, richer blue color, and metallic paint used on the two logos, leading to the emblem being name the Silverbird. It was around this time that RIAC's previous callsign of Imperial was changed to Silverbird, which continues to be used to this day.

In general the two types were popular with passengers, and operated in absolute safety throughout their time with RIAC. One 707-420 was lost, however, after Flight 776 from Istanbul to London was blown up by the PNLF during a failed hijacking attempt over the Italian Alps, killing 117 people.