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Joe Sutter
Joe Sutter, Nova Gorica, June 2006.jpg
Joe Sutter in 2006
Born March 21, 1921
Died August 30, 2016(2016-08-30) (aged 95)
Bremerton, Washington, U.S.
Education Aeronautical engineering
Alma mater University of Washington, B.S. 1943
Employer Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Known for Chief engineer for the development of the Boeing 747
Notable work
747: Creating the World's First Jumbo Jet and Other Adventures from a Life in Aviation
Spouse(s) Nancy French
Children 3
Awards United States Medal of Technology (1985)
Daniel Guggenheim Medal (1990)
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aircraft Award
Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

Joseph Frederick Sutter (born March 21, 1921 – died August 30, 2016) was an American engineer. He worked for the Boeing Airplane Company. Joe Sutter was the main manager for the team that designed the famous Boeing 747 jumbo jet. Because of his important work, Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine called him the "father of the 747."

Early Life and Learning

Joe Sutter was born in Seattle, Washington. He grew up very close to where Boeing built its airplanes. His father came from Slovenia, a country in Europe.

Joe went to the University of Washington. In 1943, he earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering. This means he studied how airplanes fly and how to design them.

Building a Career in Aviation

In 1940, while still in college, Joe Sutter got a summer job at Boeing. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. He was an officer on a ship called the USS Edward H. Allen (DE-531).

After the war, both Boeing and another big airplane company, Douglas, offered him a job. Joe chose Boeing because they believed in building jet aircraft. Some people think that if he had chosen Douglas, the airplane world might look very different today!

Designing Famous Airplanes

At Boeing, Joe Sutter worked on many important airplanes. These included the Boeing 707, Boeing 727, and Boeing 737. These planes helped make air travel popular around the world.

Later, he became the manager for a brand-new, very large airplane project. This was the four-engine Boeing 747. As the chief engineer, he led the team that designed and built the 747. They started in 1965 and the first plane was ready in 1969. This is why he became known as the "father of the 747."

Joe Sutter retired from Boeing in 1986. His last job was as an executive vice president for commercial airplane engineering.

Later Years and Legacy

After retiring, Joe Sutter continued to be involved in aviation. He was part of the Rogers Commission. This group investigated the terrible Space Shuttle Challenger accident.

He also received an award from the International Air Cargo Association in 2002. For many years, he lived in West Seattle. In 2011, on his 90th birthday, Boeing honored him. They renamed their main engineering building in Everett, Washington, the "Joe Sutter Building."

Joe Sutter passed away on August 30, 2016, at the age of 95. He died from problems caused by pneumonia.

His Book

Joe Sutter worked with author Jay Spenser to write his autobiography. An autobiography is a book about a person's own life. The book is called 747: Creating the World's First Jumbo Jet and Other Adventures from a Life in Aviation.

The book tells about Joe's childhood and his 40-year career at Boeing. It shares many details about how the 747 was designed, built, and tested. It also talks about later versions of the 747, like the 747-400 and the 747-8.

Awards and Honors

  • 1985 United States Medal of Technology: Joe Sutter received this award for his important work. It recognized his contributions to making commercial jet aircraft.
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