After more than 54 years of production, the very last Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet has just rolled off the line. In a historic moment for the aviation industry, the final 747 to ever be manufactured left Boeing’s Everett factory in Washington just last week ahead of its delivery to cargo carrier Atlas Air, ending a significant era for commercial jets and rolling over into a new one.
The 747-8 freighter, the 1,574th built since 1967, officially caps production for the widely admired “Queen of the Skies.” It came off the production line just under a week ago in its base iridescent green coating, ready to be painted in the Atlas Air livery ahead of the customer receiving the era-ending jet next year.
Boeing is now turning its attention toward new 737 Max, 787 Dreamliner and 777X models as it ends production of the company’s most famous and impactful model to date. Since going into production in 1967 and entering service in 1979, the Boeing 747 has become synonymous with adventure and is regularly referenced as the single most influential airplane in history.
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When Boeing introduced the world’s first twin-aisle passenger aircraft the company changed travel forever. The jet’s four engines allowed it to hold hundreds of passengers on long-haul flights, making travel more accessible and bringing the world closer together. It’s the kind of legacy that deserves a bit of ceremony.
And while it seems rather unceremonious that the 747 won’t be paraded around before it’s to be delivered for Atlas Air, plenty of nostalgia pieces are now starting to trickle out online. In the Aviation subreddit, one Reddit user writes:
“50 years of keeping the people of the world moving around as needed. With a pretty clean track record for safety. End of an era.”
Not since trade routes and religious pilgrimages has something come about to really move people around the globe in a profound and deeply impactful way. The Boeing 747 was such a development that made long-haul travel a reality and helped elevate the tourism industry, trickling through to benefit entire countries and countless businesses that have come to rely on tourism dollars. The impact of the Boeing 747 cannot possibly ever be overstated.
While most commercial airlines ceased using the 747 a few years ago now, the jet – specifically the 747-8 freighter – has remained popular with shipping companies and cargo airlines due to capacity. The 747-8 has a payload of 133.1 tonnes, which is probably why the model was also used as the prototype for Air Force One and a string of other government and military planes.
“For more than half a century, tens of thousands of dedicated Boeing employees have designed and built this magnificent airplane that has truly changed the world,” offered Kim Smith, Boeing VP and GM of the 747 and 767 programs.
“We are proud that this plane will continue to fly across the globe for years to come.”
