First flown in 1963, the Boeing 727 was skillfully designed to outclass its competitors and remained without a direct rival for nearly two decades. This jetliner was capable of being operated from short, unimproved airfields while requiring minimal ground service equipment. In-flight, it was a dream fast, efficient, quiet, and comfortable. Although this book is about an airplane, it is as much about the people at Boeing who were undaunted and took the financial risks necessary to build a truly outstanding machine. Readers will learn technical aspects of the 727, along with taking a close look at the brilliant minds and reasoning behind the design through personal interviews and examining archival data. For the hobbyist, a model-building chapter is also included, which covers techniques for both first-time and experienced modelers. 288 pp | 644 color and b/w photos