Workers mark more than 50 years of the iconic Boeing 747.
An aircraft that first flew in 1969, and saw 1574 built at the same location in Washington, reached the end of its shelf-life this week, the final Boeing 747 (LN 1574) leaving the Everett factory.
The ‘queen of the skies’ took on numerous roles during its lifespan, including commercial, cargo and, of course, the Air Force One presidential aircraft. Originally the largest commercial plane in the world and the first with two aisles, the jumbo jet was associated with the ambition of most flyers to ‘turn left’ on a 747.
The second deck extended from the cockpit and gave it the distinctive hump earning the nickname, the Whale, and while the upper floor was seen as offering extensive room for first-class travellers, the original concept was designed for cargo versions. The cockpit could be moved upstairs allowing a cargo door to be incorporated into the nose of the aircraft, allowing freight to be loaded more efficiently.
In passenger versions the upper floor was originally used as a lounge for travellers to socialise, before premium seating was installed to increase the plane’s capacity.
The last US airline to use the 747 for passenger flights was Delta in 2017, but many international carriers, including Lufthansa, continue to fly the jumbo jet. While LN1574 will be used for cargo, it’s certainly not the end for a plane that will be seen flying across the world for decades to come.
