The Boeing 747, famously known as the "Queen of the Skies," is one of the fastest commercial jetliners ever built, with a cruising speed that varies slightly depending on the specific model. The most modern variant, the 747-8, typically cruises at Mach 0.855, which translates to approximately 570 mph (917 km/h) at standard cruising altitudes. The older but widely used 747-400 has a slightly lower standard cruise speed of Mach 0.85, or about 567 mph (912 km/h). These speeds are significantly faster than most twin-engine wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350, which typically cruise around Mach 0.82 to 0.84. The 747 was designed for high-speed, long-haul travel, and its four powerful engines allow it to maintain these high subsonic speeds even when heavily loaded with fuel and passengers. Its "maximum" speed is even higher, reaching Mach 0.92, though it rarely flies this fast in commercial service due to the exponential increase in fuel consumption. This speed advantage was a key selling point for the 747 during the height of the "Jumbo Jet" era, as it could shave nearly an hour off a trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific flight compared to slower contemporary aircraft.