WATCH VIDEO
EXPLORE
Our iconic Boeing 747 through the years
The Boeing 747 has earned its reputation as a revolutionary aircraft. Known as the “Queen of the Skies,” the 747 built up a considerable fanbase, loved by customers and crew. A masterful feat of engineering, the 747 balanced size, power and efficiency. It was the first plane to introduce “big fan” engines, but it will always be best known for its unique upper deck, which gives its silhouette that iconic and instantly recognizable hump. With its wide-body design and double aisles, the 747 also boasted another all-important perk: It felt infinitely roomier than its peers. Click below to view the 747 as we pay homage to our most recognizable aircraft as it flies into the sunset after 47 years of service.
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Boeing Everett Factory, where the 747s are assembled, is the largest building in the world by volume, at 472,370,319 cubic feet — nearly 13 times bigger in the volume than the Empire State Building.
Did you know?
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
Home
January 3, 1967
#UA747Farewell
Boeing announces it will build a 490-passenger 747 transport. Construction is set to begin in June on a new plant in Everett, Washington.
April 13, 1966
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
April 13, 1966
September 30, 1968
Timelapse video courtesy of Boeing
The first production workers for the 747 program arrive in Everett, Washington. The 50,000 who will bring the 747 to reality in only 16 months become known as The Incredibles.
January 3, 1967
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
Each of its four wing-mounted engines is 8 feet 6 inches in diameter.
Did you know?
Did you know?
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
January 3, 1967
February 9, 1969
The first 747-100, called City of Everett, is rolled at Boeing’s Washington plant, painted with the insignias of the 27 airlines that had placed orders, including Continental and United.
September 30, 1968
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
Image courtesy of The Museum of Flight Collection.
– Addison Schonland, airline industry analysts and principal of the Air Insight consultancy
“The 747 was the great door opener to public air travel.”
The Boeing 747-400 is one of the fastest passenger aircraft in service, which has a cruise speed of 565 mph, more than two times faster than a Formula One car.
Did you know?
September 30, 1968
June 26, 1970
The Boeing 747-100 makes its first flight.
February 9, 1969
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
The 747-400 ranks as the commercial airliner with the largest passenger interior volume, at 31,285 cubic feet.
Did you know?
Did you know?
February 9, 1969
June 26, 1970
Continental Airlines becomes one of the first carriers to put the 747 into U.S. domestic service, flying from Chicago to Los Angeles and onward to Honolulu.
January 13, 1970
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
February 9, 1969
June 26, 1970
Continental Airlines becomes one of the first carriers to put the 747 into U.S. domestic service, flying from Chicago to Los Angeles and onward to Honolulu.
June 26, 1970
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
– Customer, Matthew Piotrowski
“My first time on a 747 was back in 1996 on a flight to Honolulu with my family. I fondly remember looking at the spiral staircase and asking my mom if I could go upstairs. Fast forward to 2017 and I finally got to realize my childhood dream and ride on the upper deck. I'm glad I got the chance to do it before retirement. The Queen will surely be missed.”
June 26, 1970
July 23, 1970
United Airlines receives its first Boeing 747-100 complete with a christening ceremony fit for a luxury liner.
June 26, 1970
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
June 26, 1970
January 1977
United makes its first Boeing 747 commercial flight, with a trip from San Francisco to Honolulu.
July 23, 1970
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
July 23, 1970
January 1977
The 747 fleet flies its 100 millionth passenger.
October 1975
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
NASA employed a pair of modified 747-100s to transport space shuttles piggyback-style — mounted atop the 747 — from their landing sites back to Kennedy Space Center and on numerous test flights.
Did you know?
NASA employed this pair of modified 747-100s to transport space shuttles piggyback-style — mounted atop the 747 — from their landing sites back to Kennedy Space Center and on numerous test flights.
Did you know?
July 23, 1970
April 22, 1985
A modified 747-100 is delivered to the NASA to serve as the carrier vehicle for the space shuttle.
January 1977
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
– Customer, Stephanie Kozich Suring
“So sad to see this plane go! I am a fearful flyer who loves to travel and for some reason the 747 makes me feel secure. Even if I was afraid I felt excitement every time I felt the powerful engines kick in for takeoff and in what seemed like record time this plane was up and at cruising altitude putting my anxiety in check. I actually try to arrange my flights to be on 747's if at all possible. Thank you United and your 747 for taking me around the world. Farewell old friend! ”
– Customer, Stephanie Kozich Suring
“So sad to see this plane go! I am a fearful flyer who loves to travel and for some reason the 747 makes me feel secure. Even if I was afraid I felt excitement every time I felt the powerful engines kick in for takeoff and in what seemed like record time this plane was up and at cruising altitude putting my anxiety in check. I actually try to arrange my flights to be on 747's if at all possible. Thank you United and your 747 for taking me around the world. Farewell old friend!”
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
Read quote
January 1977
January 29-30, 1988
United announces plans to acquire Pan Am’s Pacific routes, plus 11 747SPs, which are 48 feet shorter and fly faster and farther than the standard 747s.
April 22, 1985
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
April 22, 1985
January 29-30, 1988
The VC-25, a version of the Boeing 747-200 built to U.S. Air Force specifications, makes its first flight. Better known as Air Force One, these planes still serve the president today, having replaced the VC-137s (Boeing 707s) which had served as the presidential aircraft for almost 30 years.
May 16, 1987
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
This special flight raises $500,000 for children’s charities through the Friendship Foundation. Special guest passengers included astronaut Neil Armstrong, famed test pilots Bob Hoover and Lieutenant General Laurence C. Craigie and Moya Lear, the widow of Lear Jet founder Bill Lear.
Did you know?
April 22, 1985
June 1989
Image courtesy of The Museum of Flight Collection.
Friendship One, a Boeing 747SP owned by United Airlines, sets the around-the-world air speed record of 36 hours, 54 minutes and 15 seconds.
January 29-30, 1988
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
Its wings have a surface area of 5,650 square feet, nearly the size of a basketball court.
The Boeing 747-400 is one of the fastest passenger aircraft in service, which has a cruise speed of 567 mph, nearly three times faster than the Formula One car.
At 231 feet, 10 inches from nose to tail, the 747-400 is as long as roughly five humpback whales end-to-end.
Did you know?
January 29-30, 1988
August 23, 1990
United Airlines receives its first Boeing 747-400, which provides increased range.
June 1989
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
June 1989
August 23, 1990
United Airlines launches the Boeing 747-400 into service with a trip from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia. This newer version boasts increased range and more fuel-efficient engines.
September 18, 1989
The current 747-200B version was delivered in 1990, during the presidency of George H.W. Bush, and is expected to be replaced soon with updated 747-8i models.
Did you know?
Equipped with 4,000 square feet of interior floor space, including special features, such as air-to-air refueling, a medical operating room and other classified perks.
Did you know?
Air Force One is a fully self-sufficient plane.
Did you know?
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
June 1989
June 28, 2014
The first of two modified Boeing 747-200Bs is delivered to the U.S. Air Force for presidential transport. Better known as “Air Force One”, these planes still serve the president today.
August 23, 1990
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
The airplane’s body features an enormous door that can be opened mid-flight to allow its infrared telescope access to the sky.
Did you know?
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
August 23, 1990
June 28, 2014
A 747SP previously flown by United and Pan Am is transformed into NASA’s SOFIA, or Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.
September 1996
#UA747Farewell
Each of its four wing-mounted engines is 8 feet 6 inches in diameter, about a foot taller than the NBA legend Manute Bol.
Did you know?
Each of its four wing-mounted engines is 8 feet 6 inches in diameter, about a foot taller than the NBA legend Manute Bol.
Did you know?
The wingspan (211 feet, 5 inches) is about 10 feet wider than the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Did you know?
The wingspan of the 747 comes in at 211 feet, 5 inches, half as tall as the Pyramid of Giza.
Did you know?
The upper deck of the 747-400 has the same square footage as Boeing 737-200.
Did you know?
The upper deck of the 747-400 has the same square footage as Boeing 737-200.
Did you know?
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
August 23, 1990
July 28, 2017
Boeing delivers the 1,500th 747 to come off the production line. The 747 aircraft is the world’s first wide-body airplane in history to reach the 1,500 production units milestone.
June 28, 2014
#UA747Farewell
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
June 28, 2014
July 28, 2017
United announces that it will retire the Boeing 747-400 fleet in the fall of 2017.
January 11, 2017
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
June 28, 2014
October 29, 2017
United schedules a special domestic flight from Chicago O’Hare to San Francisco to enable more customers and fans to say farewell to the Queen of the Skies.
July 28, 2017
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
– Customer, Dana Gilbert
“The last time I flew to Tokyo (From ORD my home base) was 31 Dec 2016. Flight 881, on the 747-400. I was in the upper deck, rear facing. It was a great flight, with my usual United Crew. Sad to see it go. The upper deck was always my favorite and first choice. Great memories United.”
July 28, 2017
November 7, 2017
United flies its last international 747 flight from Seoul to San Francisco.
October 29, 2017
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
2000 >
1990
1980
1970
1960
October 29, 2017
View gallery
Watch video
United celebrates the retirement of the Boeing 747 with a fitting full-circle moment. A special retro event sees the aircraft flying from San Francisco to Honolulu— a nod to its first United flight back in 1970.
November 7, 2017
Mahalo, 747
#UA747Farewell
Copyright ©2017 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mahalo 747
