Customer Reviews

Boeing

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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!

The book is a good look at Boeing's aircraft, from 1916 to present --- you see the 707 for the first time 43 percent through the book. Lots of color photos. Photos of older aircraft are mostly recent photos of restored planes.

I recommend it if you're into climb rates, engine model numbers, service ceilings, and other minutiae. If you're interested in the company and the people in it, its struggles and triumphs, you'll get very little of that here.

First the mistakes: -There is no tables with the especifications of the aircraft and, i think, that could be interesting. -I would like to see a photograph with a Boeing wearing the colours of Iberia (That's not really a mistake). The history of Boeing is really good driven by the authors, and the history of each plane is very detailed and easy to read. The curiositys are very interesting. And, what do you say about the pictures?. Only a word: fantastic. I'm really amazing with this book and i recommend it for all aviation enthusiastic.

An intriguing insight into the history of the world's biggest aircraft manufacturer. From women sowing canvas wings to the super sophisticated fabrication methods of today - this high quality book tells the story like no other. Coupled with excellent archive photos and stunning contemporary shots, this well written book is a must for enthusiasts as well as the public at large. This has to be the definitive work on the design story of the world-beating commercial jet family.

Being an aviation buff, I did buy this book for me, but intending to show it sometimes to my 2yr'old kid. As it turned out, the kid got absolutely fascinated by it, much more than by his other board books, and much more than by other adult aviation books. Don't know what it has to be so special to him, but I know of no other book that has been enjoyed so much.