‘Father’ of Boeing 747 given lifetime achievement award
Published 11:40 am Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Joe Sutter, who is considered the “father” of the Boeing Co.’s 747 jumbo jet, received the Flightglobal Lifetime Achievement Award at the Farnborough Airshow.
It’s the first time Flight International has given out this award.
“Joe Sutter helped shrink our planet for tens of millions of ordinary travelers,” said Murdo Morrison, editor of Flight International. “More than 40 years on, the Boeing 747 remains a unique and radical design – unmistakable and beautiful, but most importantly, a highly efficient people and cargo mover.”
Sutter began work at Boeing in 1946 and took over the role of chief project engineer on the 747 in 1965. He still serves on Boeing’s senior advisory group.
“Joe Sutter was and remains a significant figure in the history of our industry,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh. “He played a vital role in configuring several of our key programs, in addition to his leadership of the 747 program. Everyone at Boeing Commercial Airplanes and in commercial aviation owes him a great debt.”
The Flightglobal Achievement Awards honor the most-admired individuals in aviation and aerospace. Readers of flightglobal.com nominate and vote for winners every year.
