4.0 out of 5 stars
At One Time a Vision of the Future, Now an Interesting Antique, January 18, 2007
If you are seeking information on the history of the Boeing 707, I would recommend either Rene Francillon's or Jim Winchester's books. However, if (like this reviewer) you like to take a trip back in time, this little paperback is a lot of fun. In the late 1950s, jet travel was a novelty, something exotic. And this book does a fine job of capturing the mystique of that bygone era. Author Martin Caidin reviews many of the aeronautical engineering achievements that led to the "miracle" that is the Boeing 707. He also takes you aboard. Explore the cockpit. Examine the "penthouse suite" interior "tastefully decorated in hues of orange and blue." Sit back, and fasten your seatbelt, for you are about to experience your first jet flight, nonstop from Seattle, Washigton, to New York City's Idlewild Field (now JFK) in just a little over five and a half hours. Passengers accustomed to riding in the vibrating cabins of propeller-driven aircraft will marvel at the steep take-off and smooth flight high above the clouds, far away from the turbulence of the clouds. Martin Caidin also presents a wealth of interesting figures and specifications on this aeronautical miracle. Black-and-white photos of the aircraft, a Boeing 707-123 of American Airlines, in flight and on the ground, complement this fun book.
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