Boeing Airplane Co.'s engineers lined the runway at their Renton, Wash, plant one sunny day last week to see their swept-wing 707, the first U.S. jet tanker-transport, get ready for her maiden flight. As they watched, Chief Test Pilot Tex Johnson gunned the four engines from an idling whine to a full roar, let the big jet sweep down the runway at 80 m.p.h., then eased on the brakes to test the 95-ton plane's ground response. After the first ground run, Tex gave his opinion: "A lovely ship." But Tex spoke too soon....
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
