And, in addition, this image of the rear of one of the engines:
What was the point of that complicated exhaust arrangement? Wouldn't the engine have delivered more thrust with a simpler exhaust?
Also, since I've learned that the 707 was the first commercial airliner with thrust reversers, wouldn't that complex exhaust setup simply have added to the complexity of fitting thrust reversers to the engines?
It seems to me, looking at those pictures, that someone went to an awful lot of trouble, to shape metal into a complex shape, for no immediately obvious reason. I presume there was a reason for this baroque-looking exhaust, otherwise Boeing and the engine makers wouldn't have wasted manufacturing effort upon it, but I can't find any reason stated for that elaborate piece of metal at the rear of the engine. Even more puzzling, is the fact that the thrust reversers employed were "clamshell" type thrust reversers, which presumably are mechanically simpler if you have a simple cylindrical exhaust.
Now, since klr is our resident aircraft expert, perhaps he can come in and answer some of the above?
