21st Century Jet: The Building of the 777

Not very long ago, I had the pleasure of flying in a Boeing 777. That made viewing the opening program in this 5-part series, To Design a Plane, even more enjoyable and I can recommend it (and the airplane!) to most audiences. The construction of an airliner, one that is supposed to take the aviation industry into the next century, is a fas­cinating story, and one that also offers insights into the operation of a major company. Boeing had been facing increasing competition from both foreign and domestic sources when it decided to build a new passenger jet. The company first tried to adapt its existing 767 body, but model after model proved to be either unappealing to airlines or awkward to pilots. Fin­ally, the decision was made to build a plane from scratch. For the first time, computer animation was used extensively in the detail work and viewers are treated to an inside look at the creation of an airplane, from the placement of nuts and bolts to the development of a revolutionary design in toilet seats. The opener ends with the 'Triple Seven' ready to undergo its first test flight. The other four titles in the series are: The Sum of Its Parts, A Plane Takes Shape, Taking Flight, and Countdown to Delivery. Recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (J. Carlson)