Aviation: Faster with Fans

Into service with American Airlines this week went the world's fastest commercial airliner—the Boeing 707-120B, a faster version of the 707. Called by American the Astrojet, the new plane cruises at 640 m.p.h., flies from New York to Los Angeles in 5 hr. 25 min., trimming 25 min. off the old schedule. The new plane will also benefit those living near airports: it takes off and climbs so quickly that it will pass over neighboring communities at higher altitudes, markedly reducing the noise. Since it does not need to mix water with...