One of the most dynamic jet airliners ever designed was Convair's 990. It looked speedy standing still. Like its slightly smaller, older brother, the 880 was equally stunning, but other than setting speed records (they were the fastest sub-mach airliner until the Concorde), it arrived too late and too small to compete with the Boeing 707 or Douglas DC8. It was a failure in the USA, with only about 35 being manufactured during its short, ten-year career. It could not carry enough passengers to justify its thirst for fuel. It fared better in Europe, where flight distances were reduced.
This classic American Airlines scheme, a carryover from the old prop days, exudes style and excitement. From the fighter-like nose cone to the stove pipe jets, to the anti-shock pods on the wing's trailing edge, it was truly a unique beauty to behold. The design screams speed, and many pilots felt they were in a very special class to command such a plane. A classic example when outward appearance overshadows many inner flaws.
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