Hundreds of millions brand new? According to Boeing's current list prices, a brand new 747-8 would be worth $418.4 million, while its freighter sister is listed slightly higher at $419.2 million.
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Once a jet has been stripped bare of usable parts, its metal frame is redeemed for scrap value. A 747 can fetch up to $55,000 for its scrap alone.
Tracking the 747 fleet from 1966 to 2023Fleet data from IBA Insight reveals 346 active Boeing 747 family aircraft in service worldwide as of 31 January 2023. Other prolific operators include UPS (41 aircraft) Cargolux (29 aircraft) and Lufthansa (27 aircraft).
No more 747s are being made, but Boeing notes that they're still taking flight. The 1970s version even inspired one man to build a ground-based replica. We are proud that this plane will continue to fly across the globe for years to come, Boeing's Smith said. Copyright 2023 NPR.
According to Boeing's data, the 777-9 has a total length of 251 feet 9 inches (76.72 meters). The 747-8 is just a bit smaller at 250 feet 2 inches (76.3 meters). The 777-9 is the longest commercial aircraft ever built.
As long as you follow the proper regulations for private jets, there is no reason why you couldn't buy and fly a 747. The oldest 747-8 is only ~8 years old. It's not that second hand ones aren't occasionally offered up for sale, but if you're restricting yourself to the -8, don't expect a lot of great deals.
The Boeing 747 is becoming increasingly rare at airports around the world – at least in the passenger version. More and more airlines are retiring the queen of the skies. The coronavirus pandemic in particular has radically accelerated this process in some cases.
Most airlines had retired their 747 fleets in favor of a new generation of long-haul aircraft, which carry fewer people than the 450-passenger giant, and, with just two engines versus the 747's four, burn less fuel.
A Boeing 747 can endure about 35,000 pressurization cycles and flights—roughly 135,000 to 165,000 flight hours—before metal fatigue sets in. 747s are retired after approximately 27 years of service.
KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, March 27, 1977This crash remains the deadliest ever, claiming the lives of 583 people when two 747s collided on a foggy runway on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
The Tenerife airport disaster occurred on March 27, 1977, when two Boeing 747 passenger jets collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport (now Tenerife North Airport) on the Spanish island of Tenerife.
With today's fuel prices, it costs about $450,000 to fill up a Boeing 747, depending on your market. By contrast, the Gulfstream G280, a popular business aviation aircraft, costs around $8,000 to fill.