January 7, 2012 - (SCI-TECH NEWS) The venerable 747 jetliner is a modern marvel of aerospace engineering - one of the most recognizable aircraft ever built. The story of the 747's development links the dawn of commercial aviation to today's carbon-fiber composite aircraft exhibited by one of the 747's descendents, the 787 Dreamliner. It is also a testament to the value of quality engineering able to stand the test of time.
747 cutaway. Visit flightGlobal.com for more aerospace graphics. (click image to enlarge)
First introduced in 1970, the 747 has endured for 42 years with numerous variants produced to serve an ever growing number of specialized tasks required by clients around the world. From passenger services to lifting cargo, to even carrying NASA's space shuttles between facilities across the United States, the iconic aircraft's solid design, enormous size, and reliability has allowed it to endure. Below, "Great Planes: Boeing 747" tells the tale of the 747, of the crew of engineers, designers, and workers that raced to finish the first plane, and the trials and tribulations the craft went through during its development.
Great Planes: Boeing 747 - Documentary (53:18) via YouTube
Of course, all good things must come to an end. Engineering skills are just as necessary to disassemble and recycle the 747 when it reaches the end of its service life. National Geographic's 747 "Megastructures Breakdown" features a team of mechanics dismantling the goliath aircraft in order to recycle an amazing 98% out of its 6 million parts and 66 tons of aluminum.
National Geographic's Megastructures Breakdown: Plane (50:18) via YouTube
Of course, reconditioning a 747, even superficially, is also a technical feat all in its own. Here is the repainting of a 747...
Time Lapse: Rebranding a 747 (6:36) via YouTube
While hackerspaces emphasize putting designing, engineering, and technological skills into the hands of the average person, seeing how professional engineers solve problems can serve as both instructive and inspirational for even the weekend hobbyist. The problems and subsequent solutions the engineers behind building the 747, as well as those charged with dismantling and recycling it, are good examples of applying theory to practice and the value of being patient and persistent in the face of an enormous goal.
