 |
The Boeing 747, sometimes nicknamed the "Jumbo Jet", is a long-haul, widebody commercial airliner manufactured by Boeing in the United States. Known for its impressive size, it is among the world's most recognizable aircraft. First flown commercially in 1970, it held the passenger capacity record for 37 years and was the first commercial wide-body aircraft.
The four-engine 747, produced by Boeing's Commercial Airplane unit, uses a double decker configuration for part of its length. The hump created by the upper deck has made the 747 a highly recognizable icon of air travel. A typical three-class layout accommodates 416 passengers, while a two-class layout accommodates a maximum of 524 passengers. The 747-400, the latest version in service, flies at high-subsonic speeds of Mach 0.85 (567 mph or 913 km/h), and features an intercontinental range of 7,260 nautical miles (8,350 mi, 13,450 km).
The 747 was expected to become obsolete after sales of 400 units due to development of supersonic commercial aircraft, but it has outlived many of its critics' expectations and production passed the 1,000 mark in 1993. As of June 2007 1,387 planes had been built, with 120 more in various configurations on order. The latest development of the aircraft, the 747-8, is planned to enter service in 2009.
|
