Thirty-five years ago today, Boeing changed commercial aviation history with the
first flight of the what is, along with Concorde, one of the world’s most recognizable airplanes
- the 747.
Known as the "Queen of the Skies," the 747 has carried 3.6 billion people more
than 35 billion nautical miles (64.8 billion km) - equivalent to 74,000 round trips to
the Moon - since entering service in 1970.
"The 747 is a cultural icon that continues to change the world by connecting
people like never before," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and
Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally. "Thanks to airplanes like the 747 and our
twinjet 777, people take affordable, long-range non-stop travel for granted. It’s
easy to forget how rare that was before the 747 helped shrank the globe."
To date, Boeing has delivered 1,341 747s. After building the
747-100/-200/-300/-400 airplanes, Boeing in 2000 launched the 747-400 Extended
Range. That modern airplane is available in passenger and freighter versions,
offering a range of 8,826 nautical miles (14,203 km).
Boeing is now studying the 747 Advanced, which would incorporate
technologies being developed for the all-new, highly efficient 7E7 airplane. The
result would be a 747 that’s quieter, more fuel efficient, and more environmentally
friendly.
The 747 Advanced would be
one of the only 400- to 500-seat jetliners, offering 8,000
nautical mile (12,874 km) range capacity with some of the best economics of any in the
large-airplane class. The airplane would enter service toward the end of the
decade.
"The 747 is a remarkable machine," said Brien Wygle, co-pilot on the first 747
flight. "It’s always a special moment when you raise its nose and take to the air.
There’s no question it was on Feb. 9, 1969, when we first took the 747 to the
skies." |