Maynard Pennell
Encyclopedia
Maynard Pennell was a Boeing
executive and aircraft designer.
Born in Skowhegan, Maine
, his family moved to Seattle in 1920. Pennell studied aeronautical engineering, graduating from the University of Washington
in 1931. After working for the Douglas Aircraft Company
for six years, he joined Boeing in 1940.
He became assistant manager for the B-29 Superfortress
program in 1942 and was involved in the development of the B-52 Stratofortress
, later joining the commercial development division, where he was involved in the creation of the Boeing 707
and Boeing 727
, a keen advocate of the development of jet-powered civil aircraft.
supersonic transport
program, in a contest against the Lockheed L-2000
for the right to manufacture the airframe. In 1966, Boeing unveiled a model of a 300-passenger, 330-foot-long aircraft meant to fly at almost three times the speed of sound. Although Boeing won the contest, the SST project ran into objections from various groups and the plane was never built, leaving Concorde
to become the first SST aircraft, making its first test flight in 1969.
and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
. In 2007, he was a co-recipient of the Distinguished Group achievement Diamond Award from the University of Washington for his work on the development of the passenger jet. Since 1989, Boeing has endowed a research professorship in structural analysis in his honor at the University of Washington.
Pennell retired from Boeing in 1974, and died in Seattle in 1994 from Parkinsons disease.
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
executive and aircraft designer.
Born in Skowhegan, Maine
Skowhegan, Maine
Skowhegan is the county seat of Somerset County, Maine, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 8,824. Every August, Skowhegan hosts the annual Skowhegan State Fair, the oldest continuous state fair in the United States...
, his family moved to Seattle in 1920. Pennell studied aeronautical engineering, graduating from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1931. After working for the Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
for six years, he joined Boeing in 1940.
He became assistant manager for the B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
program in 1942 and was involved in the development of the B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
, later joining the commercial development division, where he was involved in the creation of the Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
and Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
, a keen advocate of the development of jet-powered civil aircraft.
Boeing SST
In the 1960s, Pennell managed the Boeing 2707Boeing 2707
The Boeing 2707 was developed as the first American supersonic transport . After winning a competition for a government-funded contract to build an American SST, Boeing began development at its facilities in Seattle, Washington...
supersonic transport
Supersonic transport
A supersonic transport is a civilian supersonic aircraft designed to transport passengers at speeds greater than the speed of sound. The only SSTs to see regular service to date have been Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144. The last passenger flight of the Tu-144 was in June 1978 with its last ever...
program, in a contest against the Lockheed L-2000
Lockheed L-2000
The Lockheed L-2000 was Lockheed Corporation's entry in a government-funded competition to build the United States' first supersonic transport in the 1960s. The L-2000 lost the contract to the Boeing 2707, but that competing design was ultimately canceled for political, environmental and economic...
for the right to manufacture the airframe. In 1966, Boeing unveiled a model of a 300-passenger, 330-foot-long aircraft meant to fly at almost three times the speed of sound. Although Boeing won the contest, the SST project ran into objections from various groups and the plane was never built, leaving Concorde
Concorde
Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation...
to become the first SST aircraft, making its first test flight in 1969.
Awards
In 1965, Pennell was awarded the Elmer Sperry Award for distinguished engineering, and was a member of the National Academy of EngineeringNational Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
. In 2007, he was a co-recipient of the Distinguished Group achievement Diamond Award from the University of Washington for his work on the development of the passenger jet. Since 1989, Boeing has endowed a research professorship in structural analysis in his honor at the University of Washington.
Pennell retired from Boeing in 1974, and died in Seattle in 1994 from Parkinsons disease.