The Boeing 747, A GIANT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE
The Boeing 747 was the largest commercial transport aircraft for about thirty-five years! The 747 was designed and built through hard work, determination, and overcoming a lot of challenges. Boeing had to build the world’s largest building as a factory for the 747! The Boeing 747’s first successful flight on February 9, 1969 at Paine Field, Everett, Washington was a turning point in the U.S. history of aviation. All 747 operators worldwide ordered hundreds of these giants because they carried the most passengers for the longest distance, and it was the best combination of fuel efficiency, speed, and quietness. The 747 was the world’s first twin-aisle jet (wide-body) and double-decked aircraft. The 747 broke many records. It set the path for many more generations of 747s. This eventually resulted in the 747-400, the best-selling 747 model of all. This was all possible because the three fathers of the 747—Joe Sutter, Bill Allen, Juan Trippe—and about 50,000 employees worked hard to design the first 747, and built it in only sixteen months! With two billion passengers and the equivalent of 42,000 round-trips to the Moon, the 747 made its mark in history.
The 747 was a turning point in the U.S. history of aviation because it was the most fuel efficient, one of the quietest, could fit the largest number of people on an aircraft at a time, and one of the fastest aircraft. The 747-200, 747-300, 747-400, and 747-800 all depended on the 747-100’s success. Fifty thousand people at Boeing built this giant in sixteen months. It became the symbol of success for Boeing and for America. The legacy continues with the 747-800 and beyond.
The 747 was a turning point in the U.S. history of aviation because it was the most fuel efficient, one of the quietest, could fit the largest number of people on an aircraft at a time, and one of the fastest aircraft. The 747-200, 747-300, 747-400, and 747-800 all depended on the 747-100’s success. Fifty thousand people at Boeing built this giant in sixteen months. It became the symbol of success for Boeing and for America. The legacy continues with the 747-800 and beyond.