Design Moment Boeing 747

Thinking big led to an iconic design that democratised international air travel in the ’60s, writes Chris Pearson.

Two executives were salmon-fishing in Alaska in 1965. One was Bill Allen, head of Boeing, the other was Juan Trippe, Pan Am founder and Boeing’s biggest customer. While tossing a line, Trippe told his friend he envisioned an aircraft twice the size of anything flying, an ocean liner in the sky that would carry more than 400 passengers and cover vast distances.

“If you build it, I’ll buy it,” Trippe said. “If you buy it, I’ll build it,” Allen retorted.

Back in Seattle, Allen ordered a new plant for assembling the giant aircraft, which was given the model name ‘747’. He’d imagined a double-decker but his engineers favoured a more aerodynamic wide-body design. Boeing was developing supersonic craft at the time and saw the 747 as a stopgap that could be converted to a freighter when the newer technology conquered the skies. so, the cockpit was raised to fit in a cargo door and the upper deck extended to form the now-familiar ‘hump’, which reduced drag and accommodated a first-class lounge.