Wide-Body: The Triumph of the 747

The Boeing 747, the jetliner which revolutionized air travel, was launched on its first commercial flight in 1970. For the past two decades, it has been the most popular large plane, with the wide body accommodating hundreds of passengers per flight. The exciting story of the events of the four years that led up to the triumphant debut of the 747 is ably told here by Conde Nast Traveler editor Irving. Boeing had made its reputation largely with military aircraft and was the first major company to believe that jets could serve as the civilian planes of the future. In producing the 747, the firm worked jointly with Pan Am, whose enigmatic, quixotic president, Juan Trippe, put constant pressure on the Seattle corporation, according to Irving. The interplay of personalities related here between Trippe and Boeing Chief Bill Allen is interesting, as are the clashes between two types of engineers: formulaic and intuitive. This is business history at its best. Photos not seen by PW. (Jan.)