No tags yet.
Summary
1968 is the year that will remain in infamy, known for the MLK and RFK assassinations or the Tet offensive, but what most people do not know is it was also the year the Boeing 747 was first introduced. The Boeing 747 was so ahead of it’s time being the first plane to have a double deck, sit over 300 passengers, go over 600 mph and be able to travel long distances. It was received well by the public and was first introduced to passengers in 1970 by Pan American and is still used by many airlines. Since then many planes have come and gone but the 747 remains. Though it has been upgraded to a 747-8 it still resonates to that original Boeing 747 100.
About the Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 prototype was revealed on September 30, 1968. It had a double deck that could seat 374 passengers. This was the biggest plane of its time and could seat more passengers than any other plane. Not only was it big, but also was the fastest passenger plane traveling at 640 mph allowing the plane to travel up to distances of 6000 miles. The plane was first flown in 1969 and was first adopted for airline use by Pan American in 1970.
History of the Boeing company
The Boeing company was founded in 1916 during WW1 and was first used for the navy. It produced torpedo planes, pursuit planes, patrol bombers. After the Great War the company itself moved onto airline production. Then WW2 happened and the US needed more “Warhawks”. The company built the legendary B-17 aka the Flying Fortress, and the B-29(SuperFortress). Eventually the company started to develop the famous 747. By creating the 747 it brought the company close to bankruptcy almost causing the company to discontinue. Luckily it became a success and got out of the bankruptcy.
The Making of the 747
The first Boeing 747 was created in Everett, Washington near Paine Field. According to Bill Allen, CEO of Boeing at the time he considered the making of the Boeing 747 the most massive non governmental project in United States history. The construction of the Boeing 747 brought in demand for the plane causing there to be 1.5 billion in contracts for the 747 in 1968.
The Boeing 747 incorporated many new features that had never been used in the aviation industry. In the early stages of the project included features like it’s double decked. It also incorporated a hump shape behind the cockpit to allow it to be more aerodynamic. In addition the shape created more storage for passenger’s lounge. With all these features the Boeing 747 was known as the “Queen of the skies”.
The Boeing 747 in Modern Day
While the Boeing 747 was a huge innovation for its time, it seems to be on its way out in the present day. It seems as if the demand for the 747 has went down and by the end of 2017, Delta and United retired their last Boeing 747-400s. However, a recent model released in 2010, called the 747-8 has dramatically increased the demand for the Boeing planes and lead UPS to use them. The Boeing 747-8 is 16% more fuel efficient, 30% more quieter, and reduces CO2 emissions by 16%. With this new innovation of the 747 it has created competition between Boeing and Airbus A380.
Have YOU flown in a Boeing 747?
Old: 747-100
New: 747-8
Citations
1.“Boeing 747-121.” Boeing 747-121 | The Museum of Flight, 6 Feb. 2017, www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/boeing-747-121.
2.“Boeing Rolls out First 747 Jumbo Jet in Everett on September 30, 1968.” Belgian Waffles Are Introduced in America at the Seattle World's Fair on April 21, 1962., historylink.org/File/1565.
3.“Boeing 747-8.” Value to the Economy : Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders, aviationbenefits.org/case-studies/boeing-747-8/.
4. "Boeing Company." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 16 Nov. 2017. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Boeing-Company/1610#225622.toc. Accessed 15 Jun. 2018.
5. Goldstein, Michael. “UPS Order For 14 Boeing 747 Freighters Might Once Have Been For Airbus A380.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 7 Feb. 2018, www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2018/02/07/ups-order-for-14-boeing-747-freighters-might-once-have-been-for-airbus-a380/#51321cd433e9.
6. It sure looks that way for the original jumbo jetliner. Once the largest passenger plane on Earth. “This Is the Last 747 Jumbo Passenger Plane.” CNNMoney, Cable News Network, money.cnn.com/2017/07/19/news/companies/the-last-747-jumbo-jetliner/index.html.