The Wright Brothers’ first flight. First transatlantic voyage. The invention of the jet engine. The birth of the Boeing 747.
Few moments in commercial aviation history have been as impactful as Boeing’s jumbo jet: It first flew in 1969 and entered service a year later with US airline Pan Am. The period is currently discontinued. The first wide-body airliner and defining symbol of the golden age of travel, unlocked double-decker routes, new continents and economies for aviation; it also allows carriers to introduce unparalleled levels of luxury.
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After more than 50 years, the “queen of the sky” has reached the end of her reign. Boeing this week took the last double-decker plane off its assembly hanger in Everett, Washington, shutting down a production line that had been in operation since 1967.
The 747-8 cargo plane with tail number N863GT, is Boeing’s 1,574th 747 and it will be delivered to Atlas Air in early 2023. Atlas Air also received a second 747 in October — tail N861GT number. TPG had a chance to see that airframe on the assembly line in June on a tour of Boeing facilities.
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DAVID SLOTNICK/THE POINT
Kim Smith, vice president and general manager of Boeing’s 747 and 767 programs, said: “For more than half a century, tens of thousands of dedicated Boeing employees have designed and built this amazing aircraft really change the world.” .
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“We are proud that this aircraft will continue to fly around the world for many years to come,” added Smith.
While the 747 continues to be the ultimate vehicle for freight carriers, its utility for passenger airlines has recently diminished. With four engines, the aircraft is more expensive to operate than narrow-body aircraft such as Boeing’s 777 or 787. For this reason, many airlines have retired their 747 fleets in the 2010s and 2020s, with some plans accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Delta Airlines and unified airline both retired their 747s in 2017.
The last passenger of the Boeing 747 has been delivered to Korean airline in 2017. LufthansaKorean Airlines and China Airlines still fly passenger versions of the jet.
Two military variants of the 747-200 — the VC-25A — serve as Air Force One. Two replacement VC-25Bs, based on the 747-8, were built and are currently being built expected to be delivered to the US government sometime in 2026 or 2027.
The 747-8 — at 250 feet and 2 inches — is the longest commercial aircraft in service. Boeing says the Freighter has a cargo capacity of 133.1 tons – enough to carry 10,699 solid gold bars or about 19 million golf balls if one is so inclined.
