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. After the introduction of the 707 in October 1958, Pan Am wanted a jet 21⁄2 times its size, to reduce its seat cost by 30%. In 1965, Joe Sutter left the 737 development program 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 ... The Boeing 747 was first developed in the 1960s as a response to increasing air travel demands. Boeing recognized the need for a larger aircraft that could transport more passengers over longer distances. The 747 -100, the first in the series, made its debut flight on February 9, 1969, and began commercial service with Pan Am in 1970. Its size was unprecedented, boasting a double-deck design that could seat over 350 passengers. This leap in capacity changed air travel, making long-haul ... The Boeing 747 is a wide-body jet airliner renowned for its distinctive hump and pioneering role in long-haul aviation. The aircraft features a unique configuration with four engines and a double-deck fuselage, offering versatility in passenger and cargo operations. Boeing 747 's design incorporates advanced aerodynamics and technology, optimizing performance and fuel efficiency. The family includes multiple variants, each customized for specific operational needs including range, capacity ... The Boeing 747 wasn't just revolutionary due to its low per-seat costs, but also for its range. No other aircraft could fly the distances that the 747 could (particularly the 747SP and 747 -200), making it the definitive long-range airliner for virtually the entire late 20th century. However, it was the Boeing 747 -400 that truly shrank the world.
