Lufthansa has the largest passenger 747 fleet in the world, consisting of the -400 and -8 series variants.
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Built in 1967 to produce the mammoth jet, it remains the world's largest manufacturing plant according to Boeing. But after five decades, customer demand for the 747 eroded as Boeing and Airbus (AIR.PA) developed more fuel efficient two-engine widebody planes.
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.
Boeing's latest widebody is hoping to replace its most popular one. Now that the Boeing 747 program has officially come to an end with the delivery of the last 747-8F this month, we look to the future. Boeing is currently in the certification process for the 777X program, with the first deliveries scheduled for 2025.
Crashes that destroy the airframe are the most obvious answer, but minor, low-speed incidents on the ground can also bring a plane's career to an end. This was the case for a SaudiaBoeing 747-300, which taxied into a ditch in Kuala Lumpur in 2001.
In December 2017, Delta became the last U.S. airline to retire the Boeing 747, ending 47 years of service by Northwest Airlines and Delta combined. Last U.S. departure, DL159A, left Detroit on December 18, arriving at Seoul-Incheon on December 19. It was a recovery flight for the original Dec.
The Queen of the Skies makes a comebackThe 747 continues in production with the 747-8. Boeing, however, announced in July that production will end when the final orders are complete. These are now all for freighter versions, with all passenger orders delivered.
According to data from ch-aviation.com, the oldest active Boeing 747 family aircraft left in the world today is a 747-100SF that flies for the Iranian Air Force. Bearing registration 5-8103, this veteran quadjet is 52.86 years old and flew for TWA from 1970 to 1975 before being converted for usage as a freighter.
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.
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.
There were 440 Boeing 747 aircraft in active airline service as of August 2023, comprising 0 747-100s, 2 747SPs, 19 747-200s, 4 747-300s, 261 747-400s, and 154 747-8s. These aircraft are listed by airline operators and variant in the following table.
Boeing 747-8 Freighter: The last Boeing 747 left the company's widebody factory in Washington on December 6, 2022, ahead of its delivery to Atlas Air in early 2023. Boeing 747: The last Boeing 747 commercial passenger jet to be delivered was in July 2017 -- a jumbo for Korean Air Lines.
The safest commercial aircraft models have exceptional safety records, such as the Embraer ERJ, Airbus A380, Boeing 767, Airbus A319neo, and Bombardier CRJ-700.
The process to install an interior can take up to two years. Operating a BBJ 747-8 will cost an estimated $23,000 an hour – but if you can afford to buy a your own 747, this cost is inconsequential.