Flight Craft 24: Boeing 747: The Original Jumbo Jet

The Boeing 747, a four-engine airliner, has been in service for 50 years, but airlines are retiring their fleets due to the emergence of a different type of long-haul airliner. The -800 model, the ultimate development of the 747, will continue to ply the airways for many years to come. Despite the dominance of twin-engine airliners, the 747's gamble paid off and it has grown into a 400-ton leviathan capable of encircling the world. The design and building of the 747 were a huge challenge, involving new fields of aerospace technology. It was fitted with ultra-efficient Rolls-Royce engines and became long-haul champions, notably on Pacific routes. This book provides a detailed commentary on the design, engineering, and operating life of the 747, considered civil aviation's greatest sub-sonic achievement.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 22 October 2021
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Boeing's iconic 747 has held a dominant position in the aviation industry for over fifty years, but airlines are now retiring their fleets as a new generation of long-haul airliners emerges. Despite this, the ultimate development of the 747, the -800 model, is expected to remain in service for many years to come. While twin-engine airliners have increasingly dominated long-haul operations, the story of the four-engine Airbus A380 slows, the world remains a different place thanks to Boeing's audacious gamble with the 747.

From its early, challenging days of designing and proving the world's largest airliner, the 747 has grown into a 400-ton behemoth capable of circumnavigating the globe. The development of the 747 was a massive undertaking that required new fields of aerospace technology. Multiple fail-safe systems were designed, and problems with the engines threatened the entire program. However, these issues were resolved, and the 747 flew like a dream, defying its size and sheer scale.

With its distinctive hump and extended upper deck, coupled with advancements in avionics and engine technology, the 747 became both a blue-riband airliner and a mass-economy class travel device. Fitted with ultra-efficient Rolls-Royce engines, the 747 emerged as the long-haul champion, particularly on Pacific routes. In January 1970, the 747 became the must-have, four-engine, long-haul airframe, with Japan Airlines operating over sixty 747s in the world's largest 747 fleet.

This book, authored by renowned aviation author Lance Cole, provides a detailed yet engaging commentary on the design, engineering, operating life, and times of civil aviation's greatest supersonic achievement. It delves into the technical specifications, historical context, and societal impact of the 747, offering a comprehensive understanding of this iconic aircraft's legacy.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 211 x 298 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526760029