747

The Boeing 747 is an American wide-body airliner designed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It first flew in 1969 and entered commercial service in 1970 with Pan American World Airways. Known for its distinctive upper-deck hump and four engines, the 747 was developed to carry large numbers of passengers and cargo on long-range routes, enabling non-stop intercontinental travel that was difficult with earlier designs.

The 747 family includes several variants. The original 747-100 and 747-200 were followed by the shortened 747SP, which emphasized range over capacity. Later models, the 747-300 and especially the 747-400, refined efficiency and payload, introducing a two-crew glass cockpit and other modern systems. The late 2000s brought the 747-8 series, comprising the 747-8 Intercontinental for passengers and the 747-8 Freighter for cargo, featuring a longer fuselage, redesigned wings, and improved fuel efficiency. In addition to standard passenger and freighter versions, specialized configurations exist, including the NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircrafts used to transport space shuttles.

Impact and use: The 747 became a defining icon of commercial aviation, widely adopted by international carriers for long-haul passenger service and by freight operators for large-volume air freight. Its size and range reshaped airline networks, airport infrastructure, and the economics of intercontinental travel. In addition to civilian use, the aircraft has been employed in government and research roles, most famously as a shuttle carrier for NASA.

Production and legacy: Production of the 747 began in 1969 and continued into the early 2020s, after which Boeing shifted focus to newer twin-engine models for many routes. The 747 remains a durable symbol of aviation history and a significant milestone in aircraft design.