DC-10s as Water Bombers?

Really? Are you sure? I'm not saying it couldn't be as you say, but it
was my understanding that the B747 arose directly from a conversation
between Juan Trippe (CEO of Pan AM) and Boeing President William Allen
in the fall of 1965 about Pan Am's need for a 300+ passenger
long-range airliner. It was my understanding that after Pan Am signed
the initial letter of intent and order, that Malcolm Stamper (An
electrical engineer and production specialist, brought over from GM)
put together a team and essentially designed the 747 from scratch,
without using an existing design as the 'basis' for it (obviously it
has a similar planform to planes like the 707, but very little else in
common with it). I'm kind of an aviation history buff, and I had
always read that the 747 was essentially a 'clean-room' design
specifically to meet Trippe's (and obviously other airlines)
specifications.

I'd like to know more about it's background as a military cargo
transport. Is there a source that you know of that has more extensive
information about this history?

Thanks,

Cap

"Michael Nouak" wrote in message ...
"Captain Wubba" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
om...
"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"Captain Wubba" wrote in message
om...
snip
You might as well say that the 747 was originally designed as a bomber.

Uh, no, one couldn't. It was designed 'from scratch' as a passenger
carrying airliner. ...

While I generally agree with the rest of your post, you're incorrect here.
The B747 was originally conceived to be a cargo plane for the military, in
competition to the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, which eventually won the contract.
Only after losing did Boeing decide to convert its design to pax use.

Mike