The Boeing 707 Experience

Bringing back the 707

As a living piece of history

A unique project that will bring back the legendary B707 as a 100% working flight simulator. Built by pilots for pilots!

REAL COCKPIT

D-ABOD from 1960

The sim is built from a REAL Lufthansa Boeing 707 cockpit built in 1960.

OEM parts only

Original P/Ns only

Only OEM components and being used. Instruments are converted to state of the art technology.

Latest News

Updates on the project. Please be aware I am not updating regularly. As of September 2024 88% of all instruments are converted for simulator use. Cleaning and wiring of cockpit next.

Blog

Support

As the project progresses, I anticipate major financial obstacles in getting the cockpit to a [...]

10
Nov

Corrosion works continue

Corrosion is by far the biggest challenge in this project apart from financing. Brushed off [...]

10
Nov

More progress

painted the front in black matte, replaced the broken wiper motor, worked on the autopilot, flight director INS, overhead and captain panel, and audio warning systems. Usually spent 2 hours a day whenever possible. I usually spent two hours per day on the 707 [...]

26
Sep

One the move again

On the move again… moved D-ABOD’s cockpit to her temporary new home right next to [...]

26
Sep

F/E Panels nearing completion

Both lower P11 and upper P11, which were completed earlier this year, are now complete. [...]

23
Aug

Cockpit Primed!

Finally, with a year delay, I was able to prime the cockpit. There was a [...]

15
Aug

Preparing cockpit for repaint

Sanding the fuselage, removing corrosion and masking the windows. Former D-ABOD will very soon be [...]

27
Jul

Polishing job done! Only took 1.5 years.

Polishing was one of the most exhausting and time consuming jobs. The damage from corrosion [...]

20
Apr

What makes the Boeing 707 so special?

The first medium to long haul passenger jetliner, the Boeing 707 first took to the skies in 1957. Hugely popular in its heyday, and a symbol of a new, high-flying age powered by forward-looking technology and design. The aircraft itself remains a marvelous achievement, a magnificent commercial gamble and a truly great design admired by many to this day. “If it ain’t Boeing”, went the cliché, “I’m not going”.

The Boeing 707 entered commercial service with Lufthansa in 1960 and revolutionized air travel. Dominating passenger air transport in the 1960s and remaining common through the 1970s, the 707 is generally credited with ushering in the Jet Age. Furthermore, the “7-o-7” was a highly elegant and technically advanced flying symbol for the emerging West German – U.S. Trans-Atlantic cooperation after the war.

The cockpit section will be cleaned, painted and restored to 100% Lufthansa Boeing 707-330B standard. I was able to secure several hundred pounds of parts, instruments and panels from various Lufthansa 707s around the world, making this endeavor possible. However, this is a NON COMMERCIAL project. I will share much of my knowledge and progress on this website. Please consider supporting this unique project – every dollar counts.

The 707 Simulator project was started with a different nose section (N707QJ) which has been exchanged for the original Lufthansa one. On the timeline this will be noticed as a small setback but the historical value of D-ABOD is much higher. Last but not least, both my parents actually worked on this aircraft with Lufthansa.

If you doubt the ambition of this project please see this youtube video. I am getting support and help from all over the world including maintenance engineers and software developers. Your help is very much appreciated.