CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Joe Sutter, the legendary Boeing engineer, touted as the 'Father of the 747,' has died Tuesday. He was 95.
Sutter was recovering from pneumonia and was expected to leave the hospital when he died suddenly, according to his son Jonathan Sutter.
Sutter was the chief engineer for the development of Boeing's iconic 747 jumbo jet and had been working as a consultant to Boeing after his retirement in 1986. He was active on Boeing's behalf as recently as the first week of August, hosting a party for executives of Cathay Pacific for taking delivery of a new 747.
In a tribute, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Ray Conner called Sutter as one of the giants of aerospace and and an inspiration to those at Boeing as well as the entire aerospace industry.
Conner said, 'His team, along with thousands of other Boeing employees involved in the project, became known as the Incredibles for producing what was then the world's largest airplane in record time - 29 months from conception to rollout. It remains a staggering achievement.'
Boeing's 747 jumbo jet was developed in the 1960s, and the aircraft made its commercial debut in 1970. Till date, more than 1,500 have now been delivered. Sutter was also involved in other major plane projects at Boeing.
In his early career, Sutter had served Navy, and after World War II, the aeronautical engineer accepted a job with Douglas Aircraft Co. and later a temporary job with the local plane maker Boeing, remaining there for the rest of his life.
In 1986, he was appointed on the presidential commission that investigated the space shuttle Challenger disaster.
Sutter's death comes at a time when Boeing is doubtful about 747's future. The company warned last month that it may stop producing the jet if orders don't pick up. Earlier, the company had announced that it would cut production of the aircraft from 12 per year to just six beginning in September.
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