updated 2/15/2000
THE AIRPLANES AND
AIRLINES PAGE
Here, I'm going to try to give you some idea of what and why my main outside interest is. By
now, I think I've convinced you that I really do have "planes on the brain". It goes beyond
that, however; because to see a heavily laden 747 (weighing in at as much as 840,000 pounds)
actually get into the air, and do it so gracefully, to me, that holds a special wonder and
fascination. Remember, this happens all over the world, tens of thousands of times a day,
with a safety record that other transportation industries only dream about. As you go through
these pages, and learn about the aircraft and companies that transport people and goods
worldwide, hopefully you will get some grasp of how amazing the air transport industry is.
What is accomplished on a daily basis, regardless of what some very unknowledgeable news
and media personalities may report so inaccurately to you, and how it is done, for the most
aprt as a matter of course, is simply amazing. The low cost and efficiency of the air transport
industry is, one of the most major economic factors for the world economy of the 20th
century, and most certainly will continue to be in the 21st century.
Which brings me to share with you a personal opinion regarding the publicity the airline
industry receives from both the news media, outspoken former government officials, and
outside industry "experts". To put it as kindly as I can, they're full of bunk. A major
nationwide newspaper regularly prints articles about "how to be a savvy air traveller";
most of the advice given in these articles is either completely false, or inaccurate and
incomplete. When an air carrier has an incident, or, tragically, a crash, the news media
descends on the "story" with all the grace and delicacy of a herd of thundering buffaloes:
they shove microphones into the faces of people who just found out something tragic
about their families, they draw incorrect, and, in some cases, downright criminal conclusions
before any investigation can be launched into what actually happened. The public, fueled
by an inherent fascination of aviation and the airline industry, listens. This is MORE
than just reporting inaccurate and incomplete stories; this is irresponsible misinformation.
Another area of concern is outspoken former government officials whom are talking about
things (and very loudly, I may add) that are, once again, incomplete and/or inaccurate;
details about specific incidents or accidents are modified, changed willingly, added to, or
ignored completely to suit the speakers needs. These tactics have been used to write a
poor (at best) book about the airline industry and aircraft manufacturers; citing "unsafe"
airlines (who haven't had an accident in 20 years); citing "unsafe" aircraft (which is one
of the best this manufacturer has ever made); and generally reporting wrong information.
And if the information is not incorrect, it is out of context. ABSOLUTELY NO COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIER, ABSOLUTELY NO AIRCRAFT
MANUFACTURER, ever, repeat, ever, wants to see their company or product involved
in any kind of an incident or accident. The feeling that the public gets from media reports
and outside "experts" is that safety is of peripheral interest. THIS IS WRONG! Safety
is the first and foremost concern of the air transport industry...and the aircraft which fly
our airways, the people that fly and work those aircraft, and the companies that own
and operate those aircraft, with their proud company logo painted on them, are the best,
and the safest they can be. Safety abounds in the airline industry, and don't ever be
duped into thinking otherwise. There is no such thing as an "unsafe airline", or an
"unsafe airplane". If either were true, the airplane or airline in question would not
be flying. The history of the commercial air transport industry is abound with examples
of this. Board the aircraft with confidence; yes, you are safe.
The technology incorporated into a modern day airliner is nothing short of amazing. New
materials, much lighter and far stronger than any metal, are developed as a result of
the aerospace industry. Many materials and production techniques used in the design and
manufacture of Boeing's magnificent 747 "Jumbo Jet" (a term which many Boeing engineers
which worked on the 747 program in the 1960s hate) were the result of either the Apollo
Lunar program or aerospace research.
The Boeing 747 is one of the most significant acheivements in technology during the 20th century. The words often heard to describe this aircraft are "magnificent", "majestic",
"huge, but graceful", and "amazing", not to mention "oh, my God!" from first-time
viewers. All apply. The 747 was awarded "Machine of the Year" for 1970 by the American
Society of Engineers, and is very much deserved. Below, see a picture of brand new 747s
waiting to be delivered to their various carriers, then go on to the next page for more
data on this aeronautical triumph.
A row of brand new 747-400s on the delivery line at Boeing's Paine Field in
Everett, WA. Almost all the continents are represented here; from right to
left: JAL (Japan Air Lines), QANTAS (Australia), Varig (Brazil), United,
All Nippon Air Lines(ANA), and Virgin Atlantic (Great Britain).
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Boeing, the Boeing 747, and all aircraft designs and designations are trademarks of The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA, USA.