Aircraft

Boeing 747

Background

The 747 was a huge gamble by Boeing. The company risked $1 billion in the belief that the world was ready for a bigger, more efficient airliner capable of carrying 400 passengers. Made possible by dramatic progress with large jet engines, so large that a man can stand in their air intakes, the Boeing 747 suddenly made airline travel accessible to millions who had never flown before.

The 747 first flew in 1969, and it was several years before the number of people snapping up tickets justified such a colossal investment. But Boeing was right in predicting a Jumbo Jet revolution. The 747 has since appeared in several versions, including a long-range model, which easily flies nonstop from Frankfurt to Tokyo. A handful of 747s have also found freight carrying and military use.

Today, the 747 is still impressive for its size and awesome when seen close-up. More than 60 airline companies also appreciate the Boeing 747 for its practical design and economic operating cost.

The Boeing 747-300 improved on the world's best-known airliner by adding an upper deck to accommodate up to 91 tourist-class passengers. The first examples of the new "Stretched Upper Deck" variant were delivered to Swissair and UTA, the largest independent airline in France. It has since become a popular aircraft for many carriers on long-haul routes.

Realizing the potential of this latest version and unveiled the 747-400 in 1988. This has a fully digital flight deck for two pilots (eliminating the third flight-crew position), plus wingtip extensions (including upward-pointing, 6-foot wing-lets for greater economy), plus increased range. Like previous variants, three different power plants manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, General Electric and Rolls-Royce are available as options on the 747-400.

Pilots are delighted with the modern, all-glass cockpit of the 747-400, which has reduced the workload considerably, although an additional second crew is often employed by many airlines to reduce fatigue. A subsequent version, the 747-400F has since been introduced. This is a dedicated freighter variant and incorporates the cockpit and strengthened wing of the passenger version. It flew in May 1993 and was subsequently delivered to 16 operators, the first being Air France.

Future

In November of 2005 Boeing announced the 747-8. Taking the best parts from the 787 Dreamliner, this new airplane will have fewer emissions, better fuel economy, and quiter than any competitor. It will only incorporate the most advanced technology and luxury. Yet it will cost 8% less per seat per mile than its predecesser, the 747-400.

The 747-8's new skyloft area on the upper-deck gives the owners a choice between additional seating, personal suites, business center, or a lounge.

Set to launch in September of 2009, this craft will certainly be a technological achievment.

Important Dates in 747 development:

Spring 1963--Boeing forms engineering group to develop large airplane to meet passenger and cargo growth predicted for the 1970s.

March 1966--Boeing board of directors decides to proceed with the 747 Program.

April 13, 1966--Pan American World Airways announces $525 million order for 25 Boeing 747s, effectively launching the 747 Program.

June 1966--Boeing purchases 780 acres, adjacent to Paine Field, Everett, Wash., to build the 747 production plant.

September 1966--Orders for the 747 reach $1.8 billion.

January 3, 1967--First production workers arrive at the Everett plant.

November 21, 1967--First nose section arrives at the Everett plant from the Boeing plant in Wichita, Kansas.

June 1968--Boeing tests new Pratt & Whitney JT9D engine, developed for the 747, on the wings of a Boeing B-52.

September 30, 1968--First 747-100 rolls out of the factory.

February 9, 1969--First flight of the first 747-100.

June 1969--First 747-100 participates in Paris Air Show.

December 30, 1969--The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certifies the 747-100 for commercial service.

January 21, 1970--747-100 enters commercial service with U.S.-based Pan American World Airways on a New York-to-London flight.

July 16, 1970--747 worldwide fleet carries one millionth passenger.

September 10, 1970--First 747-200 rolls out of the factory.

October 11, 1970--First flight of the the first 747-200.

January 1971--747 worldwide fleet accumulates 71 million miles in first year.

February 11, 1971--Boeing delivers line No. 100 to U.S.-based Braniff Airlines.

June 1971--747-200 enters commercial service with The Netherlands' KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines.

November 23, 1971--First 747-200 Freighter rolls out of the factory.

November 30, 1971--First flight of the first 747-200 Freighter.

April 19, 1972--747-200 Freighter enters commercial service with Lufthansa German Airlines.

September 1972--747 worldwide fleet accumulates one million flight hours.

February 28, 1973--First 747-200 Convertible rolls out of the factory.

March 23, 1973--First flight of the first 747-200 Convertible.

May 1973--747-200 Convertible enters commercial service with the U.S.-based World Airways.

October 7, 1973--First 747SR (short range) enters commercial service with Japan Airlines (Tokyo to Naha, Okinawa).

October 30, 1974--First 747-200 Combi rolls out of the factory.

November 11, 1974--First flight of the first 747-200 Combi.

March 7, 1975--747-200 Combi enters commercial service with Air Canada.

May 19, 1975--First 747SP (special performance) rolls out of the factory.

July 4, 1975--First flight of the first 747SP; attains top speed of Mach 0.92.

October 1975--747 Worldwide fleet carries 100 millionth passenger.

April 25, 1976--747SP enters commercial service with U.S.-based Pan American World Airways.

February 18, 1977--Specially equipped 747 carries US space shuttle for the first time.

November 19, 1980--Boeing rolls out line No. 500 from the factory, a 747-200 Combi delivered February 17, 1981, to Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS).

September 21, 1982--First 747-300 rolls out of the factory.

October 5, 1982--First flight of the first 747-300.

March 23, 1983--747-300 enters commercial service with Swissair.

October 1985--Boeing announces the 12th version of its jumbo jet family, the advanced-technology 747-400.

June 5, 1986--U.S. Air Force orders two specially equipped 747-200s to transport the president of the United States.

January 26, 1988--Boeing rolls out first 747-400 on same day as first 737-400.

April 29, 1988--First flight of the first 747-400.

February 9, 1989--747-400 enters commercial service with U.S.-based Northwest Airlines.

March 23, 1989--First 747-400 Combi rolls out of the factory.

June 30, 1989--First flight of the first 747-400 Combi.

September 12, 1989--747-400 Combi enters commercial service with The Netherlands' KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines.

March 28, 1990--First 747-100 enters semi-retirement at Seattle's Museum of Flight.

August 1990--Boeing delivers first of two presidential 747-200s to the US Air Force.

August 1990 - March 1991--747s participate in Operation Desert Storm, carrying 644,000 troops and 220,000 tons of equipment to and from the Middle East as part of a United Nations effort to restore peace in the region.

February 18, 1991--First 747-400 Domestic rolls out of the factory.

March 18, 1991--First flight of the first 747-400 Domestic.

October 22, 1991--747-400 Domestic enters commercial service with Japan Airlines.

February 5, 1992--Boeing uses first 747-100 to flight-test engines for the 777.

December 1992 - January 1993--747s participate in Operation Restore Hope, transporting 13,609 troops on a United Nations mission to Somalia.

March 8, 1993--First 747-400 Freighter rolls out of the factory.

May 4, 1993--First flight of the first 747-400 Freighter.

September 10, 1993--Boeing rolls out line No. 100, a 747-400.

October 12, 1993--Boeing delivers line No. 1,000, to Singapore Airlines.

November 17, 1993--747-400 Freighter enters commercial service with Luxembourg's Cargoulux Airlines.

January 1996--Boeing delivers 1,100th 747, a 747-400, to England's Virgin Atlantic Airways and Los Angeles-based International Lease Finance Corp.

April 23, 1997--Boeing and Lufthansa German Airlines celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first 747-200 Freighter delivery.

September 30, 1998--Boeing celebrates 30th anniversary of the first 747-100 to roll out of the Everett factory. A new 747 slogan is revealed at the ceremony: "Boeing 747 - The Leader, The Legend."

October 30, 1998--Boeing and British Airways celebrate the delivery of the airline's 50th 747-400.

November 19, 1998--Boeing and Japan Airlines celebrate the delivery of the airline's 100th 747.

February 15, 1999--Boeing celebrates completion of digitizing the 747 fuselage and utilizing new fuselage tooling, a four-year effort that results in simplified airplane assembly and improved quality.

April 22, 1999--United Airlines takes delivery of its 75th 747.

August 10, 1999--Major assembly begins on first 747-400 Freighter to be used as platform for US Air Force's Airborne Laser program.

November 15, 1999--U.S. Postal Service unveils 747 postage stamp, which Boeing places on its factory doors: world's largest stamp on world's largest building that produces world's largest commercial airplane.

November 28, 2000--Boeing launches newest member of the 747 Family, the Longer-Range 747-400, with an order from Australia's Qantas Airways.

December 14, 2000--Factory rollout of China Airlines 747-400 Freighter, 2000's 15th 747-400 Freighter, a new single-year record.

April 30, 2001--Boeing launches second member of its Longer-Range 747-400 Family -- the 747-400ER Freighter -- with an order from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

December 18, 2001--Boeing engineers complete 90 percent of the design work for both the passenger and freighter versions of the new Longer-Range 747-400 family of airplanes.

February 11, 2002--Boeing workers load the 747's forward section floor grid into an assembly tool, marking the start of major assembly for the 747-400ER.

June 17, 2002--Thousands of Boeing employees gather in the world's largest building to celebrate rollout of the first 747-400ER.

July 31, 2002--First flight of the 747-400ER begins a three-month flight test program that will culminate with certification and delivery to launch customer Qantas Airways.

October 17, 2002--Delivery of first 747-400ER freighter to Air France (financed by International Finance Lease Corporation).

October 31, 2002--Delivery of first 747-400ER passenger version to Qantas Airways.