The Jumbo Jet came, and the world would never be the same.
1. Who “made” the artifact? (You can think about this in many ways: who consumes the artifact?; who challenged a commonplace by creating the artifact?; who benefits from the artifact?, etc.)
Three men with a vision in the 1960s can be credited with the creation of the 747. Bill Allen and Juan Trippe, the CEOs of Boeing and Pan American World Airways, brainstormed the idea of a jet twice the size of anything on the market, and Joe Sutter oversaw the project becoming a reality as 747 program director. The 747 is not only used by the airlines who bought it, but also travelers, who still look at this plane with awe today.
2. Why was the artifact necessary? (What was/is the artifact responding to?)
During the 1960s the passenger air travel market experienced an unprecedented time of growth. The introduction of passenger jets had cut travel times in half, and had opened up the globe to practical international travel. Facing exponential growth, airlines needed to update infrastructure to accommodate passenger. Not only did this include larger airports, but also larger jets. The Boeing 747 was the first widebody airliner that could carry twice as many passengers as existing narrowbody airliners.
3. Has the need for the artifact changed over time?
As is the case with many pieces of technology, the Boeing 747 has gone through many adaptations and is starting to be phased out from the commercial aviation market. In the present day, these jets are being retired at a rapid pace due to a downturn in the market from COVID-19. Airliners cannot afford to operate a four-engine giant at low capacity. However, the plane is still forms the backbone of the Aviation freighter industry and will for decades.
4. Does the artifact have different meanings for different groups of people?
The 747 has transported a group of passengers equivalent to eighty percent of the human race, so the jet is bound to have different meanings to different people. To some, it is Air Force One, the plane that carries the President of the United States around the world. To others, it is the plane that transported the space shuttle, or the one that brought them across the globe on their first flight. There are many feelings of nostalgia connected to this plane, which can be expected after a service life of over fifty years.
5. What commonplaces are embedded in the artifact? Or, how does the artifact comment on commonplaces?
The Boeing 747 is a symbol of power and global vision for many around the world. As I stated before, this is the plane that carries heads of state, space shuttles, and the flags and pride of countries. The size of this plane shows the power of the airline that owns it, and the country that the company represents.
5. What makes the artifact “civic?” How does the artifact frame the civic?
This aircraft has been used by airlines representing eight-nine different countries. Many say that jet air travel shrunk the globe. Instead, it actually expanded the world for many. Through the 747, the global population became interconnected more than at any point in history. This relationship calls for mutual respect and understanding, and the 747 has served as an instrument for the masses to immerse themselves in the different cultures and places of the world.