BILLION DOLLAR BATTLE

by Harold Mansfield ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 1965

This reads suspciously as if underwritten by Boeing Aircraft. It is about the six years of incredibly tangled problems that went into the manufacture of Boeing's 727 short-range jet transport. Considering that Boeing's plant in Seattle has 90,000 employees, Battle will have no battle for a market; but reader interest beyond that obvious market is severely limited. Few people are excited by the technical problems of manufacturing and marketing a transport plane, even though it is presently the leader in its field. Mansfield focuses his story on the activities of Jack Steiner, chief project engineer who guided the program to its successful conclusion. The author whips up old inter-departmental bickerings, decisions and conversations which have all the bounce of a pound of bacon. The first and greatest problem was not simply coming up with a design. It was, rather, to balance cost of manufacture against the world economic picture six years hence when the plane would finally roll off the production line and go on sale. This did indeed take vision of almost mystical acumen. It was a quality of vision Mr. Mansfield did not need to research this account.

Pub Date: March 5, 1965

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: McKay

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1965

Categories: NONFICTION