Commercial

Boeing 747

Manufacturer: Boeing

The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner and freighter developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Recognizable by its forward upper deck, it was the first wide-body airliner and became widely known as the Jumbo Jet.

Aircraft Facts

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

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

Boeing developed the 747 after Pan Am sought an airliner substantially larger than the 707. The prototype first flew on 9 February 1969, and Pan Am introduced the type in January 1970. Production continued through the 747-8 and ended in 2023 after 1,574 aircraft had been built.

Design

The 747 uses a four-engine, low-wing layout with a distinctive partial upper deck above the forward fuselage. The original design also supported cargo conversion through a hinged nose door. The page's performance table is explicitly based on the 747-200B with JT9D-7R4G2 engines rather than every 747 variant.

Variants

Major versions include the original 747-100, longer-range 747-200, shortened 747SP, high-capacity 747-300, extensively updated 747-400, and the final 747-8. Dedicated and convertible freighter variants were produced alongside passenger aircraft.

Operations

The 747 served long-haul passenger networks and high-volume freight routes worldwide. Later twin-engine wide-bodies reduced demand for four-engine passenger aircraft, while 747 freighters continued to be important because of their payload, range, and nose-loading capability.

Notable Facts

  • The Boeing 747 first flew on 9 February 1969.
  • Pan Am introduced the type into service in January 1970.
  • The 747 was the first wide-body airliner.
  • A total of 1,574 Boeing 747s were built.
  • The published specification table is based on the 747-200B.

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
  • 747-428- 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
  • 747-4KZF- 2 registrations - Example N407KZ

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources