Commercial

Boeing 747

Manufacturer: Boeing

The Boeing 747 is a long‑range, four‑engine wide‑body airliner built by Boeing from 1968 to 2023. It was the first jumbo jet and the world’s largest passenger aircraft for many years.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
boeing-747
Class
Commercial
Registry Count
191
Example Registration
D-ABTK

Specifications

Wingspan
68.4 m / 224.4 ft
Length
70.7 m / 232 ft
Height
19.4 m / 63.6 ft
Max Speed
945 km/h / 587 mph
Cruise Speed
892 km/h / 554 mph
Range
13450 km / 8357 mi
Ceiling
13140 m / 43110 ft
First Flight
1969-02-09
Production Start
1969-12-17
Production End
2022-12-06
Total Built
1574

Aircraft Overview

History

The 747 was conceived in the 1960s to meet Pan Am’s demand for a larger, cheaper jet. Joe Sutter led the design, and Boeing rolled out the first aircraft in 1968. It first flew in February 1969, was certified in December 1969, and entered service in January 1970. Production ran for 54 years, ending in 2023 with 1,574 aircraft built.

Design

The 747 has four engines, a 37.5° swept wing, and a raised cockpit that creates a distinctive hump. It can carry a front cargo door for freighter conversions. The aircraft uses high‑bypass turbofan engines and has redundant hydraulic systems, four main landing‑gear legs with four‑wheel bogies, and advanced high‑lift devices such as triple‑slotted flaps.

Variants

Variants include the original 747‑100, the heavier 747‑200, the shortened 747‑SP, the stretched 747‑300, the 747‑400 with a glass cockpit, and the 747‑8 with GE GEnx engines. Freighter versions are common, and military variants such as the VC‑25 (Air Force One) and the E‑4 command post also exist.

Operations

The 747 is used worldwide as a long‑haul passenger jet, a freighter, and for special missions. Passenger airlines operated it on intercontinental routes; cargo carriers use freighter versions for high‑volume freight; military and government operators use it for transport and command roles.

Notable Facts

  • The 747 was the first airplane called a "Jumbo Jet" and the first wide‑body airliner.
  • The first 747 rolled out of the Everett Plant, the world's largest building by volume.
  • The 747’s first flight was on February 9, 1969, and it was certified in December 1969.
  • The 747’s design included a raised cockpit to allow front cargo loading, creating the iconic hump.
  • The aircraft’s four main landing‑gear legs each have a four‑wheel bogie.
  • The 747 was produced for 54 years, with 1,574 aircraft built, and the final one delivered in January 2023.
  • The 747’s high‑bypass turbofan engines were a key technology that enabled its large size.
  • The 747’s wing sweep of 37.5° allows a cruise speed of Mach 0.85.
  • The 747 was used as the basis for the VC‑25 Air Force One.
  • The 747’s first passenger flight was on Pan Am’s New York‑London route.

Variants

  • 747-8F- 33 registrations - Example N605UP
  • 747-47UF- 15 registrations - Example N258SN
  • 747-4B5F- 11 registrations - Example N445MC
  • 747-87UF- 11 registrations - Example N634UP
  • 747-446- 10 registrations - Example N344KD
  • 747-422- 8 registrations - Example N120UA
  • 747-44AF- 7 registrations - Example N570UP
  • 747-412- 5 registrations - Example N471MC
  • 747-46NF- 5 registrations - Example N450PA
  • 747-4B5- 5 registrations - Example N707CK
  • 747-400F- 4 registrations - Example N404KZ
  • 747-409- 4 registrations - Example N249BA
  • 747-45E- 4 registrations - Example N472MC
  • 747-4R7F- 4 registrations - Example N581UP
  • 747-8B5- 4 registrations - Example N747EF
  • 747-409F- 3 registrations - Example N438GT
  • 747-428F- 3 registrations - Example N580UP
  • 747-45EF- 3 registrations - Example N485MC
  • 747-481- 3 registrations - Example N263SG
  • 747-481F- 3 registrations - Example N766CK
  • 747-4H6- 3 registrations - Example N718BA
  • 747-83QF- 3 registrations - Example N864GT
  • 747-123- 2 registrations - Example N858FT
  • 747-251F- 2 registrations - Example N617US
  • 747-400- 2 registrations - Example N184SK
  • 747-428- 2 registrations - Example N919CA
  • 747-438- 2 registrations - Example N329ZA
  • 747-443- 2 registrations - Example N481MC
  • 747-48E- 2 registrations - Example N28551
  • 747-4H6F- 2 registrations - Example N430GT

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources