History and Manufacturing Process of Jumbo Jets and Chocolate

The History of Jumbo Jets

Jumbo jets, also known as wide-body aircraft, have been around since the late 1960s when the Boeing 747 first took flight. This revolutionary aircraft with its iconic bubble near the cockpit could carry over 400 passengers, greatly exceeding the capacity of previous airliners. Airlines quickly adopted the 747 for long haul routes because its size meant it could fly further and carry more people and cargo efficiently.

The Birth of the Jumbo Jet

The conceptual design work for the Boeing 747 began in the mid-1960s when jet travel was starting to become more mainstream. However, Boeing needed to make a giant leap in size and capacity to produce an aircraft that could meet the forecasted demand for air travel in the coming decades...

The 747 Goes Into Service

On January 15, 1970, the first Boeing 747 officially entered commercial service with Pan American World Airways. The airline used the new jumbo jets to carry passengers in luxury across the Pacific and to various far-flung destinations around the globe...

Further Improvements and Variants

Over the years, updated variants of the 747 have been created by Boeing, including the 747-400 series in the late 1980s that had an extended upper deck and improved engines. This allowed airlines to carry even more passengers on long haul flights that could fly 8,000 nautical miles or further...

The Process of Making Chocolate

Chocolate begins its journey as cacao beans inside tropical cacao tree seed pods. These trees grow in equatorial regions around the world and are cultivated for their precious beans that get processed into the chocolate we all know and love.

Harvesting Cacao Beans

Cacao beans are enclosed inside football-shaped pods that sprout directly from the trunk and branches of cacao trees. When ripe, these pods turn yellow or red in color and are hand harvested...

Fermenting and Drying

After harvesting, the cacao beans are removed from their pods and placed into piles or bins for fermentation. This process takes 5-7 days and various chemical reactions occur that develop key flavor compounds...

Roasting and Winnowing

Once drying is complete, the beans are transported to facilities for roasting which further develops their taste and aroma. They are roasted at temperatures between 250-350°F...

FAQs

How many passengers can a jumbo jet hold?

The passenger capacity of jumbo jets has increased over the years. The original Boeing 747 held around 400 passengers. The latest Boeing 747 models like the 747-8 can carry over 600 passengers in a typical 3-class configuration.

What are the largest jumbo jet models today?

Currently the largest jumbo jets in service are the Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380, which can both typically seat over 500 passengers. The Antonov An-225 cargo plane also qualifies as a jumbo jet and holds over 250,000 pounds.

Where are most cacao beans grown?

Cacao beans are largely grown in tropical regions within 15 to 20 degrees latitude from the equator. The main regions include Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia islands such as Indonesia.

Why does chocolate have a glossy exterior?

The glossy appearance of chocolate is created during a process called tempering. Tempering heats and cools chocolate to form stable crystals with a sheen. Proper tempering also helps chocolate harden smoothly without streaks after molding.