LONDON – Today marks a milestone in aviation history, as the final Boeing 747 is rolled off the production line at Boeing’s Everett factory.
Within the last hour Boeing have released official photos of the 747 freighter being towed from the Everett production line.
Photo Credits: Boeing
Officially it will be the 1,574th 747 and the last of one of the most iconic airliners in history. The aircraft, a modified freighter, will be delivered to Atlas Air in 2023.
The delivery comes fifty-two years after the first Boeing 747 aircraft entered service with Pan American Airways in January 1970.
“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.”
“We are proud that this plane will continue to fly across the globe for years to come,” said Kim Smith, Boeing Vice President and general manager, 747 and 767 Programs.
The 747 holds significance as it was the first-ever widebody airliner. The four-engine two-level design marked a great leap forward for the aircraft manufacturer, and indeed for the shaping of future airliners and air travel
At the time of its conception, the then president of Pan Am, Juan Trippe, had urged Boeing to come up with an airliner design that would be two and a half times larger than the 707.
The Everett factory in Seattle from which the final “Queen of the Skies” has just rolled out from was in fact purpose built to produce the new 747 line.
At the time, the production facility became the largest building in the world by volume.
A lot of history, and a lot of memories as we witness the rollout of the very last “Queen of the Skies”.
Bon Voyage, beautiful lady.
