The Last Boeing 747 Leaves Boeing's Everett Plant
After 54 years, Boeing’s 747 Program officially came to an end. The final jet departed Everett’s Paine Field (PAE) for Cincinnati (CVG) at 08:19 PST, bound for a long life of cargo service with Atlas Air in February.
The Queen
The final Boeing 747, registered as N863GT and often known as the Queen of the Skies, set out, while tens of thousands of aviation enthusiasts worldwide tuned into FlightRadar24.com to follow the aircraft as it painted a crown ‘fit for a queen’ across the Washington skies.
“This monumental day is a testament to the generations of Boeing employees who brought to life the airplane that ‘shrank the world,’ and revolutionized travel and air cargo as the first widebody,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief executive Stan Deal. “It is fitting to deliver this final 747-8 Freighter to the largest operator of the 747, Atlas Air, where the ‘Queen’ will continue to inspire and empower in air cargo.”
Looking Back
The jet airliners of the 1950s and 1960s may have made flying more convenient, but he 747 shaped contemporary aviation. Capable of carrying over twice the capacity of the pioneering Boeing 707s and Douglas DC-8s, the first jumbo jet made international travel accessible for the working and middle classes with its reduced seat costs.
The jet was initially envisioned as a heavy transport aircraft for the United States military during the early 1960s before being redesigned as a passenger plane to cater to the growing demand for overseas tourism.
Development and design of the 747 was spearheaded by Chief Engineer Joe Sutter, and was supported by his team of 'Incredibles.' A decal dedicated to Sutter, who passed in 2016, was emblazoned on the side of the final 747, commemorating his work on the program.
