BOEING: The last ‘Queen of the Skies’ ever made

The last Boeing 747 left the factory hanger on 6 December 2022, destined for delivery to Atlas Air at the start of 2023.

Here is a short history of how the 747 contributed to flying history.

• The world’s first twin-aisle airplane began in 1967 and ended in 2022 – that’s 54 years to produce 1,574 aircraft.
• At 76.2 m the 747-8 is the longest commercial aircraft in service
• The final aeroplane is a 747-8 Freighter

Revolution

The aeroplane revolutionised international travel, making it accessible to all instead of just the super-rich. It ushered in the now regarded ‘golden years’ of flying, setting up our current expectations for fast, cheap, regular and safe international travel.

There are several documentaries about the history of the 747. here are a few easily accessible in Australia on YouTube:

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

There is no denying that this aircraft changed the trajectory of aviation. Many revel in its proportions and beauty. Not me. Just like its ‘replacement’ the A380, I think it looks ungainly. However, I will never forget either my first overseas trip on Thai Airways in economy on a 747 or my first Qantas business class flight in the upstairs ‘bubble’ to the USA.

50 years on, it is no longer at the leading edge of aeroplane technology, but it will retain its romance for plane nerds until the last one leaves the skies – probably in another 50 years.