The Boeing 747 is affectionately known as the ‘Queen of the Skies’. It’s been transporting businessmen; holiday goers and school sports teams for over 50 years! Yet the 747 wasn’t meant to last for 50 years…
The 747 was meant to be a hold-the-time aircraft. Fulfilling orders whilst the Boeing 2707 was in development. With the 747 being dropped in favour of the supersonic 2707. Since its first flight in 1969, more than 1,500 747’s have been produced, with around 512 still in use.
Over the 50 years of production many variants have been made. The original 747-100 was capable of transporting 490 passengers. Then the 747-200. Was highly customised. Especially into cargo and freight variants. 747-300 was introduced to carry a higher number of passengers. This variant saw an extended hump. Which allowed the aircraft to carry a higher number of passengers.
747-400, the most popular member of the family. Saw the most improvements. Newer Engines. Improved electronics. Additional fuel tanks. And improved wing designs with winglets. Which saw improved fuel efficiency. 747-8i. The newest member of the family. Also saw an improved design. More fuel efficiency. Stretched fuselage. Improved engines. Improved avionics.
How did the 747 come into being?
The Boeing 747 was developed in 1963, when the ‘Jet age’ had just begun to find its feet. After the Second World War. It was developed as a cargo aircraft for the US military designated the name ‘CX-HLS’. It was meant to be the contester to Lockheed and General Electric CX-X (which eventually went on to be the C5 Galaxy).
Obviously, the CX-HLS was not sucessful. But soon it would be. The infamous Juan Trippe, CEO of Pan Am, asked Boeing to develop an aircraft that was twice the size of the 707 and DC8. As he believed the 707 was becoming inadequate. Trippe believed that a larger aircraft would decrease the amount of congestion at airports. And would provide his company with an edge over other airlines. His company placed the first orders for the aircraft.
The design
Boeing agreed, and got to work in 1965. They took the design of the CX-HLS as their basis. Some of the features we kept, whilst others we slightly modified or discarded outright. Boeing decided that the design had to be future-proof. As at that time supersonic aircraft was seen to be just on the horizon. So the Boeing designers planned for both- they came up with a plan. They designed the aircraft in such a way that it could not only be an effective commercial aircraft but also a successful freight aircraft.
Today and the future…
With only 512 of the aircraft remain in active use of 1,500 originally sold. The aircraft has been phased out subtly by Boeing- who now push their 787 Dreamliner as a better alternative. Airbus also claim that the A321xlr and A350 will replace the operations of the 747-400. And eventually the 747-8i. The ‘Queen of the Skies’ is still an icon of air travel. Just recently, I went to the United States. I flew with Virgin Airways. And the aircraft I flew on? I flew on a 747-8i. And yet, you wouldn’t know that the aircraft’s design is almost 50 years old.
However, much like its competitor, the A380, the need for double decked aircraft are waning. Fuel efficiency is king now. However, there may yet be salvation. As business jets. Private jet charter companies such as LunaJets and PrivateFly are buying old airliners. Refurbishing them. Chartering them out.
Private Jets are also an idea. Why buy a G650 for $65 million when you can buy an ex-Qantas (or other airline) 747 for $35 million. Refurbish it. Fly it. At least there’s no waiting for 2 years while they build the aircraft as well. Although, it’s yet to be seen whether any high net worth individuals will purchase them. Other than Saudi Princes and Saudi Oil Tycoons.