Boeing Metamorphosis: Launching the 737 and 747, 1965-1969

Uma visão interessante de quem esteve lá e fw que focaliza nas instalações físicas da Boeing em Seattle e na sua evolução para acompanhar o lançamento dos aviões no perído citado. Detalhes interessantes dos mecanismos de decisão da alta gerencia.

Sehr gut geschriebenes Buch .. sehr selten

I buy an aircraft book primarily for its photos. There are only some 40 color photos in this chiefly black and white book: 2 concept models, 1 seaplane, 6 cranes, 3 semifinished aircraft, 7 buildings, 7 very important people including the author, 2 newspaper clippings, 2 aircraft cabins, 2 trains, 1 crude simulator, 4 B-52s, 1 737 gutter, 1 KC-135 gutter, and zero 747. All in color. Is there anyone who enjoys seeing photos of cranes and buildings in color instead of the 737 and 747 ? There is even a C-141 jet in color in the book but no 747! Instead, and for example, there are 4 color photos of shirtless men who, we are given to understand, are apparently feeling the heat of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. These men are hard at work---- not on a 737 or 747 ---- but loading munitions onto a B-52. I repeat, not a single color photo of the 747.And next to nothing on the 737. Clearly the ex- air force guy is offloading glorious memories of his past service life onto the reader.What is the book about ? What does the subtitle on the front cover read ? The book should be full of 737 and 747 jet photos. Instead, there are not even black and white photos of these jets let alone color, in the book. Do the authors have to be asked these questions in the first place ? Are these dudes for real ? One is an ex- air force Boeing executive and the other a Harvard MBA graduate. Who will take responsibility for this myopic book ? What do the two of them have to say in defence of themselves and their book ? I would be interested in knowing.This is by far the most asinine aviation book to fall into my hands this year. This exercise in myopic "metamorphosis " cannot be recommended. If you like pictures of cranes and buildings, buy this book.

Boeing Metamorphosis takes the reader into the Commercial Division’s 1965-1969 leap ahead in aircraft for the flying public. The Division advanced with outstanding design, unique manufacturing, and aggressive marketing. John Andrew gives us an in-depth view of his role in manufacturing. At the age of 34, he was promoted to Facilities Director in charge of planning and construction of the buildings for the Commercial Airplane Division. He envisioned a facility adequate for the upcoming 747 and for planes forty years in the future. He delivered the largest building in the world. Along the way, Andrew ushers us into board meetings, contractor negotiations, and corporate fighting. He salts technical writing with personality sketches that range from patrician gentleman CEO William Allen to flamboyant test pilot “Tex” Johnston. The book provides the reader with a catbird seat in a corporate drama.

This is a good book for a motivated reader concerning the history of aviation and Puget Sound. It has incredible detail and insights from the person responsible for design and construction of the largest aviation factory in the World. The photographs and charts are spectacular, but the text is probably too dense for more casual readers. John Andrew's photos, records and most importantly -- his memory, concerning this time (1960s) brings the events into clear focus. His perspective has a civil engineer and long term planner for the Boeing Company provides a vision for understanding the growth in aviation, during the jet age. I enjoyed the book and learned a lot about a company, the industry and the region.