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Listen "Boeing 747: The First Jumbo Jet"
Episode Synopsis
What does it take to build the biggest airplane the world has ever seen—an aircraft two and a half times larger than any plane at the time?
When the Boeing 747 debuted in 1970, it changed air travel forever. With double the capacity of earlier jets, it slashed ticket prices and democratized global travel. But behind the triumph is a story of near-disaster: a company on the edge of bankruptcy and an engineering team crippled by corporate bureaucracy.
In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover how Boeing built the “Queen of the Skies.” It’s a story of groundbreaking engineering, corporate politics, and one man’s lifelong quest to build the plane everyone said was impossible. Along the way, you’ll learn how this legendary project almost broke Boeing… but instead made aviation history.
What You’ll Learn:
How Joe Sutter and “the Incredibles” designed the world’s first jumbo jet under crushing time pressure
Why Boeing built the largest factory in the world
How the 747 reshaped global culture, making long-haul travel affordable to millions
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When the Boeing 747 debuted in 1970, it changed air travel forever. With double the capacity of earlier jets, it slashed ticket prices and democratized global travel. But behind the triumph is a story of near-disaster: a company on the edge of bankruptcy and an engineering team crippled by corporate bureaucracy.
In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover how Boeing built the “Queen of the Skies.” It’s a story of groundbreaking engineering, corporate politics, and one man’s lifelong quest to build the plane everyone said was impossible. Along the way, you’ll learn how this legendary project almost broke Boeing… but instead made aviation history.
What You’ll Learn:
How Joe Sutter and “the Incredibles” designed the world’s first jumbo jet under crushing time pressure
Why Boeing built the largest factory in the world
How the 747 reshaped global culture, making long-haul travel affordable to millions
Links:
Quick Survey–tell us what you think of the show or share suggestions for the next episode
Sources
Get email updates every time a new episode is released–plus bonus material
Follow us on X
Contact Us
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