Document Type: Presentation (Industry). Purpose: Informational. Authority: Author Expertise.

Scope: 34th Wings Club General Harold R. Harris "Sight" Lecture, presented on May 15, 2007 at the Wings Club, New York City by Joseph F. Sutter, retired Executive Vice President, Boeing Commercial Airplane Company. Sutter is an aeronautical engineer who joined Boeing in 1945 and played a key role in designing and building iconic aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Boeing 747.

Contents (from the Introduction): "I am delighted to be here with you today and want to thank you all for coming. This is my second time presenting a Wings Club Sight Lecture. I feel just as honored this time around as I did back in May 1986, when I shared my thoughts about our industry as a whole.

Today's talk is less formal and more focused in scope. It's on a subject dear to my heart: the Boeing 747. As you may know, it was my very good fortune to lead the 747's original engineering development back in the latter 1960s. Since that time, I've kept close tabs on the program and have even had an occasional hand in guiding it now and then. This intimate association over four decades has left me with some insights about designing airplanes that I would like to share with you today.

Before we begin, let me note that this is a great time to be talking about the 747. Boeing is in its 37th year of jumbo-jet deliveries, making the 747 one of the most successful commercial airplane programs of all time. Only the single-aisle 737 family has been in production longer. As you may have read, Boeing recently logged its 1,500th order for the 747. That's an absolutely astonishing level of sales for a twin-aisle, or wide-body, airplane."