What you need to know about the new direct marketing guidance note
Nadine Mather and Chloë Loubser
Father of the 747, industry giant Joe Sutter passes away
Joe Sutter, the "Father of the 747" passed away on 30 August at 95. A giant in the aerospace industry and part of the Boeing family, Sutter lived an inspiring life. He personified the ingenuity and passion for excellence that made Boeing airplanes synonymous with quality.
Image Source: Apex - Joe Sutter with a Boeing 747 engine
Early in Sutter’s career, he had a hand in many iconic commercial airplane projects, including the Dash 80, its cousin the 707 and the 737. But it was the 747 – the world’s first jumbo jet – that secured his place in history.
Joe led the engineering team that developed the 747 in the mid-1960s, opening up affordable international travel and helping connect the world. His team, along with thousands of other Boeing employees involved in the project, became known as the Incredibles for producing what was then the world’s largest airplane in record time – 29 months from conception to rollout. It remains a staggering achievement and a testament to Joe’s “incredible” determination.
Long after he retired, Joe remained very active within the company. He continued to serve as a consultant on the Commercial Airplanes Senior Advisory Group, and he was still a familiar sight to many of us working here. By then his hair was white and he moved a little slower, but he always had a twinkle in his eye, a sharp mind and an unwavering devotion to aerospace innovation and The Boeing Company. Fittingly, he was on hand to celebrate our centennial at the Founders Day weekend. He was one of a kind.
Related
