Boeing 747's Hump: A Legacy of Military Transport Failure

The Boeing 747's distinctive hump has long been one of its most recognizable features. But few people know that this design choice was influenced by the company's failed bid for a massive military transport contract in the early 1960s.

Boeing entered the competition, but ultimately lost out to Lockheed's C-5 Galaxy in 1965. However, the research and development done during this time proved crucial in the creation of the 747.

The high-bypass engine technology developed for the military transport was key in the design stage of the 747, while hardware from the concept was largely avoided. The thinking behind some other familiar features, such as the hump itself, also remained relevant.