Oh lookie what I found while we were packing for our move. Several years ago my mom gave us kids things she was hanging onto just prior to her passing. Well I totally thought this was gone forever until I found it today.
Back in 1975 when I was just a stupid thing of 14, I wanted to be an Aeronautical Engineer or Airplane Designer as I called it then. I decided that Boeing needed a new airline so I just sat myself down and started designing one. I called it the 767, mainly because I thought they must be working on the 757 by now (next in line after 747) and I didn't want to step on anyone's toes.
Well I drew this thing on graph paper, for scale, and accompanied it with a description of my concept. This behemoth had 3 decks and 6 engines, and didn't take in account for weight or airport support for such a large aircraft. Remember, I was 14 and stupid.
My father, being proud of me and knowing full well this was ridiculous, dudeufugly granted my request to send it into Boeing for consideration. I waited and waited for the acceptance letter and imagined this monster flying all over the world.
Turns out I did get a response, and the person who sent me the original newsletter was very gracious, spared my feelings and stated that my design was taken under consideration. However, Boeing was going to go with a smaller version and that their design team was working on it at that very moment.
This is a copy of the original newsletter "Plane Talk" from Wichita Boeing dated Sep 1975. The original was apparently lost, but Jack Wrecker of Wichita Boeing sent me a copy of the article three years later.
This is a letter I received in 1798 accompanying the above copy of the newsletter and the July 1978 "Plane Talk" newsletter, recounting my design and Boeing's new 767. Wow, 37 years ago.
July Plane Talk newsletter headline.
This is probably why I have a soft spot for Boeing.