Hamlin, George W. Decades of the Airliners

The 1970s

The 1970s saw the global aviation industry experience a decade of rapid growth, fueled by the advent of the "Jet Age"which had begun in the late 1950s and gained momentum throughout the 1960s. In January 1970, the Boeing 747a massive new jetlinerentered service; it was essentially twice the size of any commercial aircraft existing at the time. The transition from piston-engine aircraft to jets was well underway; indeed, 1970 marked the year the last major U.S. airline finally retired aircraft powered by this older technology. Other wide-body aircraft also began appearing at airports during the 1970s, including the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, and later, the Airbus A300. The decade was defined by significant developments in other respects as wellthough not all of them were positive. The oil crisis of 197374, which initially restricted fuel supplies and subsequently led to a massive surge in oil prices, sealed the fate of many older aircraft types. Yet, despite this setback, the rapid expansion of passenger travel continued, and significant new players emerged in the air cargo sector. Richly illustrated and thoroughly researched, *Decades of the Airliners: The 1970s* tells the full story of this exciting era in aviation history.