Boeing Bids Adieu to the 747 Jumbo Jet

The Last Goodbye

The Boeing 747, also known as the “Queen of the Skies”, has been a part of aviation history since its introduction in 1969. The jumbo jet revolutionized air travel and was the first wide-body aircraft that could carry more than 400 passengers, allowing airlines to offer cheaper fares and more destinations.

However, thanks to the rise of smaller and more fuel-efficient jets like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Also, jumbo jets have become increasingly obsolete.

That’s why airlines have been replacing their fleets of 747s with newer models, and on Tuesday afternoon, the last of the jumbo jets were delivered to Atlas Air.

A bejeweled career

The Bejeweled Career of the Boeing 747 has been nothing short of extraordinary. In 1969, the giant jet has served both as a cargo plane and a commercial passenger plane. It was capable of carrying nearly 500 passengers, while also serving as a transport for NASA’s space shuttles, and the Air Force One presidential aircraft.

Technology over legacy

After 15 years of manufacturing more profitable and fuel-efficient wide-body planes, featuring just two engines to maintain instead of the 747’s four, Boeing announced in July 2020 that it would close the 747 production program. The production rate had already slowed to just half an aircraft a month, according to Reuters. This rate continued through the last years of the program.

1,574 jets produced

On December 7, the final 747 was unveiled, marking the end of an impressive production run of 1,574 aircraft. Following rigorous inspections and flight tests, the plane was flown to Portland to receive a fresh paint job. This marked the conclusion of the 747 programs, which had been in production for over five decades.

The Queen Dies Slowly

The Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747, is slowly being phased out of production. In 1990, Boeing delivered 70 of the iconic 747-400 models, but in 2022 only 5 were delivered. Kim Smith, Boeing’s vice president, and general manager for the 747 and 767 programs. Noted as the production of the last 747 began to wind down, the line “just started to shut down slowly”. This marks the end of an era for the beloved airliner.

Thousand Attend

Estimated thousands of Boeing staff, including some of the ‘Incredibles’ who created the jet in the 1960s, were present for the last delivery of the iconic aircraft. This plane revolutionized air travel for the masses and is a symbol of American culture.