Boeing [Hardcover]

Guy Norris (Author), Mark Wagner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998

This is the story of the Boeing Company, fro m its formative years building canvas-bodied biplanes to its current status as a multinational giant. '

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks International (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760304971
• ISBN-13: 978-0760304976
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well produced, informative overview of Boeing's history., January 1, 2000

By 

Mathieu le Sueur (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boeing (Hardcover)

Heavy, gloss paper, large full plate colour photos. This nice-to-behold book covers the history of Boeing, dedicating about 50% to pre-war military and commercial models - the remainder to post-war commercial jets.

For example: the Boeing 707/720 chapter is covered in 18 pages - with scope ranging from the prototype Dash 80, through to US Air Force CFM re-engined KC-135 tankers. Nearly all pages contain at least one bright glossy photo to accompany the text.

A good balance between technical & political issues, commercial and military types - even if you must only have 1 high-quality Boeing book for your coffee table, then this one is it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing approach to telling the Boeing story, January 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Boeing (Hardcover)

I am biased. I know the team of Guy Norris (the writer) and Mark Wagner (the photographer), and have partied intensely with them across different continents. They are obsessed with aviation, particular with Boeing planes. Their uniquely British affection for aviation is inherent in the work.

With "Boeing," Norris has taken a unique approach by tracing the technical lineage of Boeing airplanes. Thus, the reader learns the technical relationship between, say, Boeing's carpet-bombing B-17s of World War II and the luxury 747 liners of the present day. Wagner's photos leave you wondering how he coerced his way to special building tops or runways to capture planes at the perfect angle at the right moment.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If It Aint Boeing, I Aint Going!, January 11, 2002

By 

Erik J. Fortmeyer "beerisjoy" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boeing (Hardcover)

As a former US Air Force weather officer, the above quote was one I heard Boeing B-52 bomber crews often say half-jokingly when flying combat missions in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. They flew through all sorts of high-level and low-level turbulence, sandstorms, dust, active thunderstorms, low level wind shear, anti-aircraft flak, and guided surface-to-air missiles in their trusty 32 year old Boeing heavy bombers and swore allegiance to them like they had been hearing the sounds of Orpheus. The same rabid fidelity is heard from Boeing airliner pilots often and, we all have heard of the legendary Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress' rugged durability in battle during World War II. Aircraft made by Boeing have had and continue to have a remarkable mystique about them. This book does a great job explaining that mystique and is just plain fun to look at and read!

The book totals 192 pages and is oddly sized on 10½ by 10½ inch paper. The whole story of Boeing from it's early days during World War I up through 1998 are told in very readable text. A generous amount of high quality pictures are used to illustrate each development. Chapters cover the floatplanes and fighters of the early days, pre-WWII development of airliners, the Boeing bomber heritage, the classic early jetliners, medium range airliners, the 747, the 757 and 767, and next generation aircraft including the 777. A useful appendix is included listing each Boeing "Model number" with the type of aircraft it is better known as, how many were built, and when they were produced.

This is a very enjoyable coffee-table book for all people both young and old interested in aircraft. Kids will love looking at the pictures, average adults will greatly enjoy the clearly explained history and development, and even Boeing veterans will probably learn a few things! I feel safe to say that this is a book you will have in use on your bookshelf for a long, long time. It should be best for kids as they will likely grow in understanding of airplanes as time goes on and interest in the field continues beyond just pictures. It's a great buy for anyone! Go for it!