'Father of Boeing 747' wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Legendary Boeing aeronautical engineer Joe Sutter, credited with leading the development of the iconic 747 jetliner, has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent 2010 Farnborough International Airshow. Sutter joined Boeing in 1946 as an aerodynamics specialist and worked on the Boeing 377, Dash-80, 707, 727 and 737. In 1965, he took on the role of chief project engineer of the new 747 programme, which pioneered the twin-aisle widebody concept. He subsequently contributed to other Boeing jetliner development as well.

“The best airplane is merely the expression of human thinking and dreaming,” said Sutter. “People are always the story, and I've been truly fortunate to know and work with countless individuals whose creativity, energy and vision have helped create the ultra-reliable commercial airplanes and systems the world relies on today.”