What Happened To The Boeing 747?

Boeing’s 747 is one the most recognizable planes to take to the skies with its iconic hump, four engines, extensive landing gear and sheer size. Since its first commercial flight in 1970, Boeing’s 747 jumbo jet has flown more than 3.5 billion passengers. But over the last few decades, airlines have looked for more ways to cut costs and to make airplanes more efficient. Two engine jets can now fly near the same capacity and further than older four engine planes like Boeing’s 747 and the Airbus A380. CNBC visited Boeing's Everett, Washington factory to see the last 747 roll off the production line. It will go to Atlas Air for cargo deliveries.

CNBC takes a look at how the 747 changed aviation and what’s next for Boeing.

Chapters:
2:50 - Development
7:11 - Commercial Service
11:09 - Evolution
13:14 - Decline
16:20 - End of Production
18:33 - The Future

Credits:
Produced by: Erin Black
Additional Camera: Andrew Evers, Katie Tarasov
Supervising Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
Editorial Support: Leslie Josephs
Graphics by: Midnight Snacks, Christina Locopo

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What Happened To The Boeing 747?

[mikezerker]

I wouldn't call this a "rise and fall" ... the Queen of the Skies reigned for over 60 years, that's an impressive amount of time with hundreds built! So it is quite the success story!

[gear]

Even though most people have seen a 747, people will still take pictures as we taxi into a lot of airports around the world... I doubt many pilots have that same experience! She's iconic.

[snagireddy]

The Concorde had a rise and a fall. The 747 had a glorious career!

[rjgonzalez]

Aw, an icon finally takes a bow and goes down to into history. Legandary as she is, she will never be forgotten, her shape, her size and her service through billion of passengers that she carried all this years. Thank you.

[johnyves]

Yup, I was a 74 captain for 25 years, all models. I can’t help but think almost each day how lucky I have been to fly all around the world with the Queen of the Skies. She was elegant, sturdy, safe and fast and oh boy, she could deliver an inner sense of pride and accomplishment !

[HLS]

When I was a kid in the early 80s, my dad who worked for the DOD took me to see the Space shuttle Columbia while it was mounted on top of a 747. It was parked on a tarmac away from the passenger jets outside of the Lambert airport in St. Louis, where fighter jets were parked and maintained, etc. With his DOD badge, we sped by the military guard and drove right up to the 747. As we got of our '78 Mercury, I remember how excited my dad and I were to see the space shuttle in person, but as I began to walk underneath the 747 I became more interested in the plane. I was amazed by how huge this plane was. The landing gear was massive, with tires taller than me and engines that looked as big as a car. Forty plus years later I still remember this like it was yesterday. What an era and experience to remember. No way this would be possible in today's time. Going to miss seeing this beautiful work of flying art... Thanks for the memories, Dad! Miss ya! RIP

[pindiwal]

My father was a Flight Engineer for the 747 for 36 years. There's a small bunk bed in there for staff to sleep in for long hauls. I've sat in the cockpit over a few dozen times during take offs and landings.

[suecrets]

Best plane ever built. My father flew for Pan Am for 37 years. He loved his job and loved the 747. Thanks great tribute. Glad they mentioned PanAm that's why we had the 707 and 747.

[andrewmacdonald]

Magical aircraft. My late dad flew her with German Cargo on his last assignment and was in his element in the cockpit. I can still vividly remember him taking me to Chicago on a 74. All the way across the Atlantic. Just me, dad and his two fellow crewmen...imagine that...

[Seveneleven]

My uncle was the facility maintence supervisor for northwest airlines at one time. He took me into the hanger in Duluth, MN, and they had been restoring two 747’s. They had the glass cockpit installed but the fuselage was an empty shell. Got to sit in the pilots seat and fondle anything I wanted in that plane. It was incredible. Uncle threw me up inside one of the engines and we took a picture together inside the jet engine. Still have it framed 30 years later.

[InssiAjaton]

My most memorable 747 flight was from Montreal to Amsterdam. There was a bad thunderstorm in Montreal and we were one hour late on our departure. The flight attendants were adamant that we would not put anything other than just overcoats or other soft items in the overhead storage. People were unhappy about all the luggage that had to go under the seats, occupying all the accustomed foot space. But what else could we do. Like said, the crew was adamant. So, we took off and my seat was far back, where the plane started getting narrow. In fact, I had a straight view along the right isle all the way to the very front. And then it happened, we flew right through the remainder of the storm. Looking at the isle, I saw what felt like 15 degree twist left and right. Probably it was less -- I said it felt like that much. Anyway, about half of the overhead storage doors popped open and the coats dropped down. I think not many passengers were unhappy any more that there were no hard pieces of luggage up there. Well, the frightening experience lasted some 5 or 10 minutes. And the rest of the flight was smooth. But I keep my memory of the big 747 twisting that way.

[mangleshbhalla]

747 is legend. Planes will come and go but 747 will forever remain most iconic plane ever built.

[Kevin_]

I retired in 2016. I flew several iterations of the 747 twenty two years. I loved every minute of it.

[Vegaslocal]

I have flown over 3 million miles on a 747 going back to the early 80's. Mainly the USA and Asia, Europe, Australia. The irony is that my first job out of college was working in the 747 factory in Everett 2 years before my first 747 flight. I've flown on almost every version including a combi and an SP. I've flown in every class including the upper deck which was my favorite. Thank you Boeing 747,

[ahmeddada]

I still remember my first 747 flight. South African Airways from Johannesburg to London Heathrow. I was an unaccompanied minor, flying to visit the UK at the age of 7. I was in awe of the double isles, how long the wings were and how smooth the plane was. I flew this route many times over, but never got over that initial fascination when I stepped on the 747 for the first time. What a lucky experience!

[chapicenice]

I recall as a child watching the very 1st 747 do its madden test flight on television. I heard the loud sound of its jet engines; I ran outside and looked up as she flew over our house at low altitude, my gosh id never seen anything so large in the skys before. I fell in love with that aircraft at that moment!

[davidthomas]

I remember when this plane came out when I was a kid. It STILL is the most beautiful plane out there. I was glad I got to fly on one by accident because another flight got cancelled.

[DominicUliano]

My first trip on an airplane was in 1979. I flew out to LAX from JFK with my grandma and the flight out to LAX was a 747. I remember looking out the window at the gate in awe of that jet. I also remember walking past the spiral stair case on my way to the coach section of the plane. I got to fly on the 747 quite a few times as an adult but I will never forget the first time I got to fly on that plane.

[NoSuffix]

As someone born in the 1970s, the Boeing 747-400 represented the apex of all the airplanes that I know of. The model name comes naturally with an impression of importance, grandeur, and safety. Somehow I felt more relaxed if I was in a 747-400. Kind sentimental to see it’s becoming part of the passing history too.

[johnnypool]

I am a retired LA City employee after 36 years of service. I worked as a gardener for LA city near LAX. I first saw a Continental Airlines 747 in 1970 taking off from LAX. I just stood in awe as SHE was "getting out of dodge" if you know what I I mean. Then in 1979, I flew on a PAN AM 747 from LAX to New York JFK. Maaaan, she was huge and during the flight I was ALL over HER and I could not stay seated. None of the flight attendants was on me about keeping my seat. I had never been on anything so huge and so beautiful. And with as many of other passenger jets I have flown on(mostly all of them), that flight on the PAN AM is my most memorable one. Times change and it really breaks my heart to see HER leave us. She WILL forever be the QUEEN OF THE SKIES. I sit here @ my computer for hours and hours watching the videos of the 747 taking off and landing and continuing to move passengers to and fro. Thank You Mr. Boeing. Keep building the best planes.