Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 is a famous long-range airplane made by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States from 1968 to 2023. It was designed to be bigger than earlier planes, like the Boeing 707, so it could carry more passengers and fly farther. The first 747 flew in 1969 and began carrying people in 1970 with Pan Am. It was the first plane called a "Jumbo Jet" because of its large size.

The 747 is a four-engine plane with a special upper deck, making it look like a tall ship in the sky. It could carry up to 366 passengers in three different comfort levels. Over the years, Boeing made many versions of the 747, including the 747-200, 747SP, 747-300, 747-400, and the larger 747-8. These planes became popular for both regular travel and cargo, with some special ones used for important jobs like Air Force One. Even though production stopped in 2023, the 747 remains an important part of aviation history.

Development

Cargo nose door open with cargo loader

The Boeing 747 is a big passenger jet that started being made in the 1960s. After the Boeing 707 did well, Pan American Airways wanted an even bigger plane. They wanted a plane that could carry more people and save money. In 1965, engineer Joe Sutter joined Boeing to help design the new plane.

The 747 was made to be flexible. It could carry cargo if needed. In 1966, Pan Am ordered 25 of these planes. This helped pay for the project. The plane had a special "hump" on top to load cargo. It also had new engines and safety features to make it reliable. The first 747 flew in 1969 and started being used in 1970. It became a symbol of modern air travel.

Design

Three-view diagram of the original 747-100, showing its general configuration maintained in later variants

The Boeing 747 is a big plane with four engines under its wings. Its wings are made to help it fly fast and still fit in normal airport buildings. The plane can hold more than 366 passengers, and it has a special upper level for extra seats or a lounge.

The 747 has a raised cockpit that makes a bump on the front of the plane. This helps when loading cargo on some versions of the plane. The plane has safety features like extra systems and landing gear, so it can land safely even if some parts stop working. It can also carry a fifth engine under its wing for spare parts or special jobs.

Operational history

The Boeing 747 started flying with Pan Am in 1970. After that, many other airlines began using them. Boeing thought that airlines chose the 747 because it could fly far, not just because it could carry many passengers. The plane was best when it was full, but costs went up if not enough passengers were on board.

Some tough economic times, like the recession of 1969–1970 and the 1973 oil crisis, made it hard for some airlines to use 747s well. Some airlines switched to smaller planes like the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. Over time, more flights landed at smaller airports, which changed the 747's job. But many international airlines kept using the 747, especially for long flights over the Pacific Ocean.

Variants

The Boeing 747 was a long-range airplane made from 1968 to 2023. It started with the 747-100. Then came the 747-200 and the shorter 747SP. Later models were the 747-300, 747-400, and finally the 747-8. Each version had better range, more space, and new technology.

The 747-100 was the first model, with a special upper deck. The 747-200 could go farther and carry more. The 747SP was made for shorter trips with more people. The 747-300 had a longer upper deck. The 747-400 had new systems and was more efficient. The 747-8 was the last version, with even more range and space. It was the last 747 made in 2023.

Model	747-100	747-200B	747-300
Typical seats	366		400
MTOW	735,000–750,000 lb (333.4–340.2 t)	775,000–833,000 lb (351.5–377.8 t)
OEW	358,000–381,480 lb (162.39–173.04 t)	376,170–388,010 lb (170.63–176.00 t)	384,240–402,700 lb (174.29–182.66 t)
Fuel capacity	47,210–48,445 US gal (178,710–183,380 L)	52,035–52,410 US gal (196,970–198,390 L)
Turbofan (×4)	Pratt & Whitney JT9D or Rolls-Royce RB211 or General Electric CF6
Thrust (×4)	43,500–51,600 lbf (193–230 kN)	46,300–54,750 lbf (206.0–243.5 kN)	46,300–56,900 lbf (206–253 kN)
Range	4,620 nmi (8,560 km; 5,320 mi)	6,560 nmi (12,150 km; 7,550 mi)	6,330 nmi (11,720 km; 7,280 mi)
Takeoff	10,650 ft (3,250 m)	10,900 ft (3,300 m)	10,900 ft (3,300 m)

Operators

Main article: List of Boeing 747 operators

In 1979, Qantas was the first airline to use only Boeing 747 planes. They used seventeen of these big jets.

By July 2019, 462 Boeing 747 airplanes were still in use. The biggest users were Atlas Air and British Airways, each with 33 of the 747-400 model. The last Boeing 747 passenger plane in the United States was retired by Delta Air Lines in December 2017. Since 1970, the 747 flew for many big airlines in America.

As air cargo grew, especially for quick deliveries like smartphones and fresh flowers, there was more need for cargo planes. While many passenger 747s were retired, some were sold again. British Airways stopped using its 747 planes in October 2020, with the last flights leaving from London Heathrow.

Year	Total	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006
Orders	1,573	–	–	5	1	–	13	6	18	6	2	13	7	3	1	5	2	16	53
Deliveries	1,573	1	5	7	5	7	6	14	9	18	19	24	31	9	–	8	14	16	14

Year	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991	1990	1989	1988	1987	1986
Orders	46	10	4	17	16	26	35	15	36	56	32	16	2	23	31	122	56	49	66	84
Deliveries	13	15	19	27	31	25	47	53	39	26	25	40	56	61	64	70	45	24	23	35

Year	1985	1984	1983	1982	1981	1980	1979	1978	1977	1976	1975	1974	1973	1972	1971	1970	1969	1968	1967	1966
Orders	42	23	24	14	23	49	72	76	42	14	20	29	29	18	7	20	30	22	43	83
Deliveries	24	16	22	26	53	73	67	32	20	27	21	22	30	30	69	92	4	–	–	–

Model Series	ICAO code	Deliveries
747-100	B741 / BSCA	167	205
747-100B	B741 / BSCA	9
747-100SR	B74R	29
747SP	B74S	45	45
747-200B	B742	225	393
747-200C		13
747-200F		73
747-200M		78
747 E-4A		3
747 E-4B		1
747-300	B743	56	81
747-300M		21
747-300SR		4
747-400	B744 / BLCF	442	694
747-400ER		6
747-400ERF		40
747-400F		126
747-400M		61
747-400D	B74D	19
747-8I	B748	48	155
747-8F	B748	107	155
747 Total		1,573

Preserved aircraft

Aircraft on display

Many older Boeing 747 airplanes are no longer flying. Instead, they are shown in museums around the world. These airplanes, called "classic" models, help people learn about how these famous jets looked and were used.

Some of these preserved airplanes include:

The first 747, called City of Everett, at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.
A 747 at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
The nose of a 747 at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
A 747 at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
A 747 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, which helped carry space shuttles.

Other uses

When airplanes stop flying, some 747s are used in new and fun ways, like restaurants, movie sets, and even a place to stay!

For example:

One 747 was turned into a restaurant in South Korea.
Another was used as a movie set for the James Bond film Casino Royale.
A hostel in Sweden was made inside a 747 airplane.
In Indonesia, a 747 was turned into a steak restaurant.

These creative ideas let people see and even stay inside these amazing airplanes!

Specifications (Boeing 747-200B, with JT9D-7R4G2 engines)

The Boeing 747-200B was a very large airplane with four powerful engines. It could carry up to 366 passengers and also had space for cargo. The plane was about 225 feet long, with a wingspan of nearly 196 feet and a height of over 64 feet when the landing gear was up.

This airplane could fly up to 7,550 miles on one trip and could fly close to the speed of sound. It needed almost 11,000 feet to take off and about 6,150 feet to land when it was full. Each of its four engines provided strong thrust, helping it fly high.

Cultural impact

The Boeing 747 became very famous after it first flew. People called it the Jumbo Jet because it was so big, and some called it the Queen of the Skies. Many people liked how well it flew and how safe it was.

The 747 has been in many movies, appearing in over 300 films. Some famous movies it was in include Airport 1975, Airport '77, Air Force One, Die Hard 2, and Executive Decision. Because of this, the 747 is one of the most well-known airplanes in movie history.