The Boeing 747 is one of the most iconic airliners of modern civil aviation. Its development began following a personal request to Boeing from the then president of Pan American World Airways, Juan Trippe, for a large aircraft capable of carrying more passengers over longer distances and thereby reducing travel and operating costs. Following an intensive and costly period of design and development, the first Boeing 747-100 was rolled out on 30 September 1968 and made its maiden flight on 9 February 1969. The 747 first entered into service with Pan Am in January 1970. The large, distinctive wide-body aircraft went on to serve many operators in significant numbers worldwide, opening up new leisure and business travel markets. The 747 family gradually evolved with the development of new variants (-200, 747SP, -300, -400 and -8), each improving performance, passenger capacity, flight-deck technology and fuel efficiency. A number of special, modified variants have been produced including the Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and the Boeing VC-25A, commonly operated as Air Force One. The increasing preference for more efficient twin-engine aircraft, followed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation industry, led to Boeing ending 747 production in July 2020.Nigel Richardson describes the fascinating history of the Boeing 747, dubbed ‘Queen of the Skies’ by passengers, with high-quality illustrations and technical information.
