7/31/2023 0 Comments Continental 747 cockpitThe aircraft, registered as N863GT, made its first public appearance in December, when it was rolled out of the Boeing assembly line covered in anti-corrosive green paint. Expectant airplane enthusiasts have followed every step of the final 747’s construction, ever since Boeing announced in July 2020 that it was ceasing production of its one-time flagship. Tuesday’s delivery is a moment long anticipated by the global aviation community. With the last passenger 747 having entered service more than five years ago, the end of the 747’s enduring career now moves even closer, hastened by airlines switching their preferences to smaller and more economical aircraft. While the final 747 won’t be carrying paying passengers, its delivery is another milestone for the distinctive double-decker “Queen of the Skies,” which revolutionized intercontinental travel while also appearing in James Bond films and even giving piggyback rides to the Space Shuttle. “The 747 is a symbol for many, many things, and above all, I think it’s a symbol for the world, which the 747 has made substantially smaller,” said Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr.Īctor and pilot John Travolta, who narrated a series of videos chronicling the aircraft’s colorful history, appeared to thank the employees of Boeing for “the most well-thought-out and safest aircraft ever built.” Paul Weatherman/Boeingĭietrich also shared a flight plan spelling out “747” inside a crown for the “Queen of the Skies” that the new plane is set to fly on Wednesday.Ī string of speakers representing companies that have relied on the 747 came to celebrate the aircraft. “It has fueled childhood dreams and career ambitions while at the same time driving global economies and supply chains.”īoeing and Atlas Air Worldwide joined thousands of people to celebrate the delivery of the final 747 to Atlas, bringing to a close more than a half century of production. “The impact of your work continues well beyond the production lines,” Dietrich said. John Dietrich, president and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide, thanked the assembly of Boeing employees. Members of the Sutter family, as well as members of the Boeing family representing the company’s founder, Bill Boeing, attended the delivery ceremony on Tuesday. One small significant detail on the last one delivered: a decal right next to the nose paying homage to Joe Sutter, chief engineer of the Boeing 747 program, who died in 2016 and is considered by many as the “father” of this famous aircraft. The company has 56 of the aircraft in its fleet. In a dramatic opening of the hangar’s sliding doors, Atlas Air’s new plane was revealed behind flags bearing the liveries of every carrier that’s ever taken delivery of a 747. In a ceremony that was broadcast live online, the aircraft was handed over to its new owner, US air cargo operator Atlas Air, at Boeing’s plant in Everett, Washington. More than half a century since the original jumbo jet ushered in a glamorous new jet age, helping bring affordable air travel to millions of passengers, the last-ever Boeing 747 was delivered on Tuesday, marking the start of the final chapter for the much-loved airplane.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |