Hiller Aviation Museum Where Inspiration Takes Flight Birth of an Icon the 50Th Anniversary of the Boeing 747
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HILLER AVIATION MUSEUM WHERE INSPIRATION TAKES FLIGHT BIRTH OF AN ICON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOEING 747 mmediately following World Originally conceived as a straight-winged War II, aeronautical technolo- bomber, the B-47 evolved into the archetype gies developed for war were ap- for the modern jetliner. The German-style I swept wing allowed for exceptional perfor- plied to civilian use. In the realm of mance; six turbojet engines were placed in commercial air transport, a series pods slung under the wings, to facilitate easy of developments over two decades servicing or replacement and to dampen out converged in the creation of the re- instability. First flown in 1947, over 2,000 markable Boeing 747 – an aircraft B-47s were built for the United States Air that first flew half a century ago Force to serve in the Cold War. this February. Boeing B-47 Well into the 1940s, even jet-powered airplanes had straight wings. In 1935, Ger- man engineer Adolf Busemann realized that rearward-swept wings would reduce drag at extreme speeds. World War II ended before aircraft such as the Messerschmitt P.1101 While Boeing’s B-47 line prospered, by could take flight, but its elegant swept-wing 1950 commercial aviation was dominated by shape foreshadowed many aircraft to follow. piston-engined airplanes built by Douglas Swept wings were useful for bombers as and Lockheed. Boeing sought to use the well. In 1945 a team of US engineers in B-47’s technologies to re-establish itself Germany under Dr. Theodore von Karman in airliners. The result was the Model discovered documents related to swept-wing 367-80 prototype. Debuting in 1954, the aircraft. The discovery was quickly incorpo- -80 featured the swept wings and podded, rated into a new medium bomber proposal underwing engines seen on the B-47. In 1955 under development at Boeing, a project that Pan American World Airways ordered 20 became the B-47 Stratojet. of the larger production version, the Boeing 707. The 707 and aircraft like it transformed Messerschmitt the face of air transportation, making long SPRING MODEL TRAIN SHOW P.1101 distance flights faster, smoother and safer MARCH 30 – APRIL 7 than any air voyages had been before. The success of the 707 emboldened Juan Trippe, Pan Am’s president, to push Boeing for development of an even larger jetliner. Boeing had participated in an Air Force competition in 1963 to build a large military airlifter. While Boeing lost the competition to Lockheed’s C-5, the effort created the need to pass through the core, efficiency was PRESIDENT’S Boeing Dash-80 boosted substantially. Boeing selected Pratt & Whitney to build the JT9 to power its 747. PERSPECTIVE The 747’s first flight took place at Everett, Washington, on February 9, 1969. An In the gallery’s extended period of testing followed which “Working World of uncovered a range of teething issues, Aviation” section, a particularly with the engine. For a time, new display called 747 production substantially outpaced JT9 “Forces of Flight” is foundation for the new aircraft. Designed engine production and dozens of engine- taking shape behind under the leadership of Boeing engineer Joe less 747s accumulated on the ramp outside the scenes. In images, Boeing’s factory. In time, however, problems Sutter, the new jetliner was intended to be text and video we’ll with the JT9 were resolved. The combina- capable of serving as a cargo carrier as well answer the question, “How do airplanes as an airliner. The wide main deck required tion of size and range provided by the 747 gave it capabilities never before available in fly?” Particular attention will be paid to two aisles when configured for carrying that seemingly mysterious property of passengers, a first for a jet-powered airliner. air transport. Many of the world’s premier flight called “lift.” Included will be an And to facilitate the envisioned cargo mis- airlines ordered it in quantity, as there was intriguing simulation in which the user sion, the flight deck would be placed on an simply no substitute for it on many long upper level far above the passengers. range international routes. can control an aircraft solely by the en- gine throttle to see the effect changing The 747’s upper level was not originally Boeing 747-100 airspeed has in the ascent and descent of intended for passenger seating. The posi- an airplane. tioning of the flight deck atop the fuselage created extra drag on the aircraft at high A spot in the gallery has already speeds. Elongating the area behind the been designated for the museum’s Fok- cockpit into an extended “hump” substan- ker DR.1 Triplane, a full-size reproduc- tially reduced this drag. The relationship tion of which is under construction by between wing area, fuselage area and drag Over the past half century over 1500 747s our skilled volunteers in the restoration was first recognized by German scientists have been built in several major versions. shop. The final stage has finally begun during World War II, but was not adapted The latest iteration is the 747-8, which with the covering of the wings and fu- to postwar aircraft design until American entered service in 2011. While outwardly selage with doped fabric. Look for the aerodynamicist Richard Whitcomb rediscov- similar to the 747 of 1969, the -8 has new final result to debut in just a few more ered and published the idea as the so-called engines, improved wingtips, a lengthened months. “area rule” in 1952. Ironically, Whitcomb’s fuselage and a host of technological im- A heartfelt “thank you” goes to all inspiration was a lecture given by Adolf provements. Despite this, the 747 has been of the many contributors, visitors and Busemann, father of the swept wing and a increasingly supplanted by smaller and more post-war immigrant to the United States. museum Members for supporting us and efficient twinjet airplanes able to fly compa- making the museum part of your lives. rable distances with more modest passenger There are great things coming and we loads. While existing 747s will continue look forward to seeing you this spring at to fly passengers for years to come, future production is likely to consist primarily of the Hiller Aviation Museum. freighters – finally validating Joe Sutter’s . Jeffery Bass, President & CEO guess from a half century before. Since 1998 the Hiller Aviation Museum has exhibited the forward section and flight deck of a former British Airways Boeing 747-100. Sporting the livery of exhibit sponsor and JT9D Engine Museum supporter Al Silver’s Flying Tigers cargo airline, the exhibit provides thousands The final key component of the 747 was its of visitors each year an unparalleled op- engine. Turbojet engines equipped the early portunity to explore the flight deck of this 707’s, but high fuel consumption made them remarkable aircraft. unsuitable for a gigantic airplane intended to fly long distances. The Air Force com- Resources petition that resulted in the Lockheed C-5 747: Creating the World’s First Jumbo Jet, stimulated development of new high bypass Joe Sutter and Jay Spenser, 2006 turbofan engines. These engines direct large Boeing 747 – Design and Development Since FLIGHT SIM ZONE quantities of air around the engine core, 1969, Guy Norris and Mark Wagner, 1997 mixing it with the hot exhaust blast. As OPEN SAT & SUN much of the air entering the engine did not The Sporty Game, John Newhouse, 1982 11 AM – 2 PM CALENDAR OF EVENTS FLYING LEPRECHAUN SUN, MARCH 17, 10AM-12PM LEAPING LEPRECHAUN AT 11AM MARCH 2019 SUN, APRIL 14 · 7 AM Airport Runway Run Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the SAT, MARCH 2 · 11 AM Hiller Aviation Museum with face paint- V1 Flying Bomb & V2 Missile Presentation SAT, APRIL 20 · 10 AM – 1 PM ing, bounce house, “Pot of Gold” treasure Easter Bunny by Helicopter SUN, MARCH 3 · 2 – 4 PM hunt and a Flight Sim Rally SUN, APRIL 21 Skydiving Museum closed for Easter Leprechaun! SUN, MARCH 10 · 1 – 4 PM SAT, APRIL 27 · 10:30, 11:30 & 12:30 PM Event in- Drone Meet cluded with Starlab Sky Show SUN, MARCH 17 · 10 AM – 12 PM museum Leaping Leprechaun SUN, APRIL 28 · 10 AM – 12 PM admission. Kids’ Carnival SUN, MARCH 17 · 10 AM – 12 PM TRAINS AND Kids’ Carnival MAY PLANES SUN, MARCH 24 · 10:30, 11:30 & 12:30 PM SUN, MAY 5, 2 – 4 PM Starlab Sky Show Flight Sim Rally DISPLAY SAT, MARCH 30 – SUN, APRIL 7 SAT, MAY 11 · 10AM – 2PM SAT, MARCH 30 – Spring Model Train Show Open Cockpit Day SUN, APRIL 7 DAILY, 11AM-3PM SUN, MARCH 31 · 2 – 4 PM SAT, MAY 11 · 10AM – 5PM Flight Sim Rally Scout Day Join us for our annual Spring Model Train APRIL SUN, MAY 12 · 1:30 – 4 PM Show. This year there will be five separate Aero Design Challenge model train layouts set up at the museum. APRIL 1 – APRIL 5 Aviation Camp SUN, MAY 19 · 10 AM – 12 PM Kids’ Carnival OPEN COCKPIT DAY MON, APRIL 1 – SUN, APRIL 7 SAT, MAY 26 · 11AM SAT, MAY 11, 10AM – 2PM Spring Model Train Show Paper Planes with John Collins Climb inside an L-39 fighter jet, A Grum- SUN, APRIL 7 · 1:30 – 3:30 PM man Albatross Seaplane, Cessna Cardinal, SUN, MAY 26 · 2 – 4 PM Boeing 737 Drone Meet Fly For Fun Paper Planes and many more mu- GOURMET FOOD TRUCKS • WEDNESDAYS, 11AM-2PM, seum aircraft DRONE PLEX • SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS, 10:30AM-12PM & 1PM-3PM not usually open to the INVENTION LAB • SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS, 10:30AM-4PM public.