The Boeing 747, affectionately known as the “Jumbo Jet” and “Queen of the Skies,” has revolutionized air travel for over five decades. However, its reign as the largest commercial passenger airplane has come to an end, with the final delivery of the freighter version being handed over to Atlas Air on Tuesday. The 747’s iconic design, featuring a distinctive hump on its silhouette, made its debut in the 1960s in response to the growing demand for mass travel.
The first twin-aisle wide-body jetliner offered luxury on its upper deck and nose, but it was its ability to accommodate a large number of passengers that truly transformed air travel. Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden and former 747 pilot, describes the airplane as stately and imposing on the ground, yet surprisingly agile in the air. Despite its retirement from commercial passenger service, the 747 remains a beloved symbol of a bygone era of air travel.
The Boeing 747, nicknamed the “Jumbo Jet” and “Queen of the Skies,” transformed air travel, making it affordable for the middle class. Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith notes that prior to the 747, the average family couldn’t affordably fly from the U.S. to Europe.
The 747 played a significant role in global affairs, serving as the “Doomsday Plane” for the U.S. and chartered for papal visits as “Shepherd One.” Today, two previously delivered 747s are being fitted to replace U.S. presidential jets known as Air Force One.
Linda Freier, a former Pan Am flight attendant, recalls the incredible diversity of passengers on the 747, including well-dressed individuals and those who spent everything they had on a ticket. When the first 747 took flight on January 22, 1970, it doubled plane capacity to 350-400 seats, drastically altering airport design.
The 747 was known as the “aircraft for the people” due to its ability to bring air travel to the masses. Aviation historian Max Kingsley-Jones states that the 747 was a game-changer across all aspects of the aviation industry. The story behind the 747’s birth is steeped in aviation mythology.
The founder of Pan Am, Juan Trippe, wanted to reduce costs by increasing the number of seats. During a fishing trip, Trippe challenged Boeing President William Allen to create an aircraft that exceeded the 707. Allen put legendary engineer Joe Sutter in charge of the project and Sutter’s team, nicknamed “the Incredibles,” took only 28 months to develop the 747, which made its first flight on February 9, 1969.
