Boeing will finally bid farewell to its most emblematic model, the 747, this Tuesday after 55 years of production. The American manufacturer plans to deliver the last unit to Atlas Air for the transportation of goods. Nicknamed the Queen of the Skies, the aircraft, easily identified by its large front hump, was the first two-aisle widebody, a widebody that revolutionized commercial aviation in the 1970s by making intercontinental flights faster and more affordable . A general slowdown in airline demand for jumbo jets is behind the manufacturer’s decision, which for years has focused on developing smaller, more versatile and fuel-efficient models.
For connoisseurs and connoisseurs who associate the 747 with the heyday of aviation, it’s the end of an era. The 747’s first commercial route was operated by PanAm in January 1970 between JFK Airport (New York) and Heathrow (London). These first jumbo jets had a capacity of 370 passengers, a number that was higher than the 200 passengers that had previously crossed the Atlantic aboard an airplane. Thus, efficiency multiplies with more passengers on the same flight. Later, almost in the 1980s, the development of the so-called radial network in the air transport market – with large aircraft connecting the main hubs and brokering planes to the final destination – gave further impetus to the 747, which was then the largest in the world. With its 747-400, Boeing could fly up to 13,000 kilometers non-stop with around 420 passengers.
Direct competition came in 2007. Airbus, the North American company’s major European rival, launched the A380, a 615-seat superplane that dethroned the 747 as the capacity leader (the latest models of the 747 have a capacity of around 568). passengers). .
But the size has proved to be an unbearable burden. The four engines that power these jumbo jets use a lot of fuel. More and more airlines are opting for more efficient, twin-engine and lighter aircraft. This is the case of the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 777, which can carry between 301 and 440 passengers. The European company announced the end of production of the A380 in 2019 after its main customer Emirates changed its orders to replace this model with other more efficient and smaller ones.
First Class on a Boeing 747, 1971. Airline: Style at 30,000 feet
Boeing followed the same steps. The last 747 it sold for passenger service went to Korean Air Lines in 2017. After that she was used for cargo. Only 30 units have been sold in the last five years. Despite everything, the company is preparing to celebrate the delivery of the latest model. “Thousands of people, including current and former employees, customers and suppliers, will celebrate the handover at the factory built to manufacture this iconic aircraft,” Boeing said in a statement. The unit, which will ship this Tuesday from the Everett, Wash., facility, is a 747-8 cargo. This means that 1,574 devices of this model were manufactured in the 55 years of production.
The 747 will not only go down in aviation history as the model that changed flying half a century ago. Around 50,000 people were involved in the development of the model under the direction of chief designer Joe Sutter, from workers to mechanics and engineers to administrative staff. The project was completed in 28 months. The plane also enjoys great popularity as it was chosen as the model for Air Force One, the official plane of the President of the United States, modified to suit his needs.
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