After more than half a century, the last Boeing 747 leaves its factory in Washington state. The giant plane first appeared in 1969.
The aircraft, which served as a cargo plane, a commercial airliner capable of carrying nearly 500 passengers, and Air Force One, was the largest commercial airliner in the world and the first with two aisles and two decks.
The 747’s design included a second deck that extended from the cockpit to the first third of the aircraft, giving it a distinctive hump that made the aircraft instantly recognizable and inspired its nickname, the Whale. More elegantly, the 747 became known as the Queen of Heaven.
It took more than 50,000 Boeing employees less than 16 months to produce the first 747. The company has since completed 1,573 airplanes.
But over the past 15 years, Boeing and its European rival Airbus have launched new wide-body aircraft with two engines rather than four engines. It was more fuel efficient and cost effective.
Delta was the last US carrier to use the 747 for passenger flights, which ended in 2017, although some other international carriers continue to use it, including German airline Lufthansa.
The end customer is freighter Atlas Air, which ordered four 747-8 freighters earlier this year. The last plane was due to leave Boeing’s huge plant in Everett, Washington, on Tuesday evening.
Boeing has roots in the Seattle area, with assembly plants in Washington State and South Carolina. The company announced in May that it would move its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia.
The move to the Washington, DC area brings its executives closer to top federal government officials and the Federal Aviation Administration, which certifies Boeing’s passenger and cargo aircraft. (AFP)
