IATA 741ICAO B741

Boeing 747-100

Boeing

TravelerPulse profile

The original Jumbo Jet that revolutionized air travel.

First flight

1969

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

366–452 passengers (typical mixed class)

Range

9,800 km

Engines

Four Pratt & Whitney JT9D turbofan engines (underwing)

Status

Retired

The Boeing 747-100 is the founding variant of the iconic 747 widebody family, introduced in 1970 by Pan American World Airways. It was the world's first twin-aisle commercial jetliner and, upon entry into service, could carry roughly twice the passengers of any existing airliner, dramatically lowering the cost of long-haul air travel. Designed under the leadership of engineer Joe Sutter, the 747-100 featured a distinctive double-deck forward fuselage with an upper deck lounge and four underwing turbofan engines. Its sheer size and range made it the dominant aircraft on intercontinental routes throughout the 1970s. The 747-100 has been largely retired from commercial passenger service, with most airframes withdrawn by the late 1980s and 1990s as more fuel-efficient variants and successor aircraft became available. A small number saw use in cargo or government roles beyond that point.

Notable operators

Major early operators included Pan American World Airways, TWA, American Airlines, United Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Japan Air Lines.

Notable facts

›The 747-100 was the world's first wide-body (twin-aisle) commercial jetliner.
›Its prototype first flew on February 9, 1969, from Paine Field in Everett, Washington.
›Pan American World Airways launched the type into service on January 22, 1970.
›The upper deck originally served as a first-class lounge rather than additional seating.
›The 747-100's fuselage cross-section was so large it could accommodate 10-abreast economy seating.

Read more on Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.

Encyclopaedia

The Boeing 747 is a long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States between 1968 and 2023. It was conceived in response to the demand of Pan Am for a jet 2+1⁄2 times the size of the 707, which had been introduced in October 1958, to reduce the airline's seat cost by 30%. The design team was led by Joe Sutter, who left the 737 development program in 1965 to design the 747. In April 1966, Pan Am ordered 25 Boeing 747-100 aircraft, and in late 1966, Pratt & Whitney agreed to develop the JT9D engine, a high-bypass turbofan. On September 30, 1968, the first 747 was rolled out of the purpose-built Everett Plant, the world's largest building by volume. The 747's first flight took place on February 9, 1969, and the 747 was certified in December 1969. It entered service with Pan Am on January 22, 1970. The 747 was the first airplane called a "Jumbo Jet" as the first wide-body airliner.

Read full article on Wikipedia