In OTL, most airlines throught that the Boeing 707 was going to be a "stop gap" measure until the wider,more advanced Douglas DC-8 became available
Even Pan American, one of Boeing's best supporters and the 707's launch customer, originally bought more DC-8's than 707's!
Later through Boeing made changes to the 707 and came up with the 707-320 intercontinental. Boeing Surged on from there to become much more successful than Douglas, who eventually merged with the Mcdonnell corporation in 1967.
It also helped that boeing had huge orders from the US air force for the 707's military counterpart were as the DC-8 had none (as far as i know).
What if the DC-8 had been more successful? Maybe it had gotten some military orders or it had been available earlier?
Could a more successful Douglas company hurt Boeing and maybe force it to merge or even be bought out?
Would a more successful Douglas try out turboprops like they were going to do with the DC-7?
Also how would an earlier DC-8 or a less successful 707 impact the De Havilland comet 4? Maybe Vickers could have made the VC-7?
