Customer Reviews

Wide-Body: The Triumph of the 747

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

 

 

This book is a complete history of the stories behind the idea and desire for a large commercial aircraft. It discussess the process of design and why the the Boeing 747 has it majestic shape. It explains how Bill Allen and Juan Tripp "worked together" to bring the idea to Life. It details the pains and triumphs Joe Sutter (project manager) went through to make the the Boeing 747 the safest and largest commerial airliner of it's time. One great book on a great subject!

This book is a great choice to read for anyone, even more so for those interested in commercial aviation. It has elements of drama, and also limits the techno-babble to keep it interesting.

How in the world do you build a machine that weighs Three-Quarters of a million pounds at take-off to the precision of a fine Swiss Watch?

And did they REALLY decide to make the 747 on a handshake during a fishing trip? You gotta be kidding me.

The technology needed to build this amazing aircraft was developed over a very short period by men who didn't know it couldn't be done. The airplane that was supposed to be a stop-gap between jet aircraft like the 737 and the SuperSonic jets like the Concorde has developed into one of the most used and most loved airframes of all time. This is the story of the machine and the men who created her, told in a thoroughly engrossing way. You will be drawn into the drama, and it's amazing what you will learn about the history of aircraft while you are. One of my favorite contemporary history books.

Thoroughly enjoyable for anyone with an interest in aviation or human endevour on a large scale. Not too technical so don't be put off

Meticulously researched and entertainingly written, Clive Irving provides an insightful history of Boeing's key role in American commercial jet aircraft development from the 1930's through to the 1970's, culminating in the development of the 747 Jumbo Jet. This book thoroughly traces the 747's pedigree, commencing with German WWII jet aircraft technology and gives us a privileged, perceptive view into the individuals that comprised the core engineers, managers and pilots that developed and tamed the swept wing through military and commercial precursors to its culmination in the first wide body commercial jet aircraft. How the Boeing team were forced by Pam Am's CEO and key managers to forge a successful aircraft configuration with wide customer appeal and affordability makes for a fascinating read. Amusing and insightful anecdotes are sprinkled throughout the book to enable us to better understand the key characters and Boeing's corporate style in the 1960's.

While the 747 wings, wheels, fuselage shape and dimensions, seating plan and engines are covered in great detail, other parts of the aircraft such as the flight deck and control and instrumentation design get negligible attention. The 8 page index hardly does the book justice, but for those that wish to explore further, there is a 3 page bibliography. The author has certainly done a commendable job in working out what to include and what to discard to make the book interesting throughout.

I would say that the condition of the book was fair to poor, not as stated ....good. There was an accurate discription that came with it, but at that point I could see for myself.