After greater than half a century, the final “Queen of the Skies” ever constructed is being readied for supply.
The final Boeing 747 ever constructed left the corporate’s widebody manufacturing facility in Everett, Washington, within the evening of December 6, 2022. The world-famous jumbo jet, dubbed by many because the “Queen of the Skies”, is possibly the preferred airplane ever constructed by Boeing, and has performed a key position within the firm’s historical past.
The manufacturing of the 747 started in 1967 with the primary prototype and, with this final plane, a complete of 1,574 airplanes had been constructed. The plane noticed a mess of customers and missions all through its profession. Probably the most iconic one might be the Air Force One is use by the President of the United States, based mostly on the Boeing 747-200 and, in future, the 747-8.
“For greater than half a century, tens of 1000’s of devoted Boeing workers have designed and constructed this magnificent airplane that has really modified the world. We’re proud that this airplane will proceed to fly throughout the globe for years to return,” mentioned Kim Smith, Boeing Vice President and common supervisor, 747 and 767 Packages.
There she goes!
The final 747 has left our Everett manufacturing facility forward of supply to Atlas Air in early 2023. #QueenOfTheSkies
Images: Boeing/Paul Weatherman pic.twitter.com/duzgr6MzQl
— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) December 7, 2022
The final Boeing 747 is a 747-8 Freighter, which is able to now fly to a different facility to be painted forward of the delivery to Atlas Air in early 2023. In 1970, the now defunct Pan Am grew to become the launch buyer of the double-decker jumbo jet, altering ceaselessly the way in which individuals moved all over the world. In the present day, solely 44 Boeing 747 are nonetheless in service within the passenger variants, whereas 314 freighter variants are in service.
The passenger variants may carry between 400 to 500 passengers, relying on the variations, whereas the newest 747-8 freighter variant can carry a most payload of 307,000 lbs. Specialised variants had been constructed to transport the Space Shuttle and, extra not too long ago, to launch VirginOrbit’s LauncherOne air-launched two-stage orbital launch automobile. One other specialised variant was the not too long ago retired 747SP Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) operated by NASA.
Boeing introduced in 2020 that it might finish the manufacturing of all variants of the Boeing 747, as purchasers most popular both the extra fuel-efficient Boeing 777 freighter or transformed former 747 passenger variants as freighters. The corporate will hold open the amenities in Everett, Washington, the place the 747 was constructed, however has not but introduced plans for it.
Stefano D’Urso is a contract journalist and contributor to TheAviationist based mostly in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he is additionally learning to attain a Grasp Diploma in Aerospace Engineering. Digital Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT strategies utilized to the world of army operations and present conflicts are amongst his areas of experience.
