On New year's Eve 1966, after more than 14 years of study, design work and competition, the U.S. federal government selected Boeing to build the prototype for the country's first supersonic transport (SST).

Although the aircraft was never built, industry experts at the time believed that supersonic travel would attract many passengers. Twenty-six airlines ordered 122 of the transports. The final design featured a double-jointed, needle-shaped nose that would drop during takeoff and landing for improved pilot visibility. Government funding was withdrawn in 1971 before the prototype was finished.