The Boeing 747 this Sunday in Everett Image: Paine Airport, via twitter
As the world has watched for the past few months, the final example of one of the longestrunning and most iconic projects in aviation history is being completed and nearing delivery to customers.
The Boeing 7478F (freighter) registration N863GT, to be delivered to North American carrier Atlas Air, departed December 6 as 1,574. Jumbo Jet, which has been in production for over 54 years, and left the assembly hall for the first time today, December 19, for the start of flight tests.
Communications on the air traffic control frequency mentioned the fact that this was the last 747 (“Boeing seven zero four, last seven four seven”), as heard in the following audio:
The jet took off from Everett, north of Seattle, just after 2:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. local time) on Sunday and flew through the region for just over an hour to return to the actual airport of departure.
Data and trajectory of the first flight of the N863GT Image: RadarBox
With this test flight, which may be the last jumbo in history, it will soon fly to Portland, where the American manufacturer’s painting facilities for the Boeing 747 jets are located, where it will receive the colors of Atlas Air.
After the return, the final adjustments and tests will be made and the delivery of the N863GT is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2023, thus ending this long success story.