Boeing and Atlas Air Worldwide joined thousands of people – including current and former employees as well as customers and suppliers – to celebrate the delivery of the final 747 to Atlas, bringing to a close more than a half-century of production.
All told Boeing has produced 1574 over 17 major variants. The worldwide fleet has chalked up 118 million flight hours and made 23 million landings.
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Thousands of Boeing employees who designed and built the first 747, known as the “Incredibles,” returned to be honoured at the Everett factory where the journey of the jumbo began in 1967.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal said “this monumental day is a testament to the generations of Boeing employees who brought to life the airplane that ‘shrank the world,’ and revolutionized travel and air cargo as the first widebody.
"It is fitting to deliver this final 747-8 Freighter to the largest operator of the 747, Atlas Air, where the ‘Queen’ will continue to inspire and empower innovation in air cargo.”
Atlas Air Worldwide president and chief executive officer John Dietrich said “we are honoured to continue our long history of flying this iconic aircraft for our customers around the world. Atlas Air was founded over 30 years ago with a single 747-200 converted freighter, and since then, we have spanned the globe operating nearly every fleet type of the 747, including the Dreamlifter, Boeing’s 747 Large Cargo Freighter, for the transport of 787 Dreamliner parts.
"We are grateful to Boeing for their shared commitment to safety, quality, innovation and the environment, and for their partnership to ensure the continued success of the 747 program as we operate the aircraft for decades to come.”
The jumbo's core design with its distinctive hump and seating in the upper deck has delighted generations of passengers and operators alike and made travel affordable for billions.
The jumbo slashed the cost of travel by up to 50 per cent compared to the first jets in 1959.
Boeing continued to improve on the original design with models like the 747-400 in 1988 and the final 747-8 model that was launched in 2005.
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