The Boeing 747, often called the 'Queen of the Skies' is an icon of aviation and a symbol of engineering. It changed the world of aviation allowing more people to fly around the world for cheaper. I look at how it developed, the statistics as well as its successes and downfall.
In 1963 the Boeing Company embarked on the task of creating a specialised aircraft to fulfilment of a military contract. Engineers came up with what is now the Boeing 747. Boeing did not win the contract but with increasing air traffic in the 1960's it became apparent that there was a need for a larger aircraft for commercial flights. In 1965 Joe Sutter was transferred from Boeing's 737 development to manage the design studies for the 747. In April 1966, Pan Am placed a pre-production order for 25 747-100 aircraft. As the launch customer, Pan Am was able to massively influence the design and development of the 747. The aircraft was first rolled out of the Everett plant on 20th September 1968. The first flight was on 9th February 1969 and it was certified later that year. The aircraft was presented at the Paris Air Show in 1969 and entered service with Pan Am on 22nd January 1970. The first commercial flight was by Pan Am on that same date from New York to London Heathrow.
Many airlines have operated the 747 as seen in the table below:
Airline | Number of 747's |
British Airways | 54 |
Lufthansa | 27 |
Air China | 10 |
Korean Air | 20 |
Cathay Pacific | 20 |
Cargolux | 30 |
These are by no means all operators of the 747 and other operators include: Virgin Atlantic, Qantas, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, KLM and Thai Airways.
A total of 1574 747 aircraft were produced with 449 still active (as of February 2023). Different variants have had more success than others with 225 -200, 85 -300, 48 -8i and almost 700 747-400 produced (By far the most popular variant).
Variant | |
-100 | 167 of these were delivered. It had 6 windows on the upper deck (3 on each side). |
SR | This short-range version of the -100 was made at the request of Japanese airlines. It had a lower fuel capacity but a greater payload capacity. |
-400 | This is the most common variant and had a longer range than previous versions. It took its maiden flight in February 1986. |
-8 | This was designed to be a quieter, more fuel-efficient and more economical stretched version. The final 747-8 was delivered to Atlas Air on 31st January 2023. |
The 747 revolutionised air travel. It could carry up to 550 passengers (nearly 4 times as many as the Boeing 707). The 747-400 could carry 660 passengers in an all-economy class. These high passenger numbers and the aircraft's long-range led to modern intercontinental mass transportation as a result of lower ticket prices. The 747 was the largest aircraft of its time and remained so until the A380 was produced.
However, twin-engine aircraft have improved and are taking over 4 engine operations. 4 engine aircraft are inefficient and expensive to operate meaning many airlines choose cheaper, more efficient twin-engine planes. The Covid-19 pandemic and the decrease in passenger air travel saw many airlines retire their more inefficient planes - notably the Boeing 747. Modern twin-engine aircraft also have a greater ETOPS rating than previous aircraft allowing them to fly further away from diversion airports and even across oceans to the other side of the world.
Several notable 747s have been modified and are recognised around the globe. The most well-known 747 is undoubtedly the aircraft typically used as Air Force One. The Boeing VC-25 is a modified version of the 747-200B. These aircraft are due to be replaced in the coming years by the 747-8 variant. Boeing also operates 4 Dreamlifter aircraft. These aircraft are based on the 747-400 aircraft. The cargo volume in these planes is around 3 times that of the regular -400 variant. NASA also operates two modified 747-100 aircraft used as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft from 1977 until the shuttle's retirement in 2012.
The 747 transformed the aviation industry and allowed many people to fly long distances for cheaper. It changed the economics of airline flying and made mass air travel cheaper.
As Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa CEO stated that the 747
"Made the world substantially smaller"
While the final 747 has been delivered the Queen of the Skies will undoubtedly fly well into the future.
Have you ever flown on a 747? If so, what was it like? Let us know by leaving a comment below or on our forum.
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