Boeing 747, dubbed as “the Queen of the skies” the plane that changed the Aviation Industry. A wide body 4 engine plane developed by Boeing Co. Designed by Joe Sutter
747 was intended as military cargo plane (the reason why 747 has this unique hump) but the Lockheed got the contract. But Pan-Am Airlines are interested in the aircraft so they bought 25 747-100. In September 30, 1968, the first 747 was rolled out in Custom-built Everett Plant, currently holding the largest building in the world by volume, and the rest is history.
The 747 made the air transport affordable and efficient. This plane was the flagship of the airlines. It also used as Cargo plane. But today, most of the airlines are retiring their 747 on their fleet for more efficient, long range two engine planes. Most of the 747s flying as of this time were utilized as cargo and had a big role especially in the beginning of the pandemic, bringing medical supplies and even repatriation flights.
The latest variant of the 747 is the 747-8i and its freighter version, 8F. As of today’s writing, three major airlines Korean Air, Air China and Lufthansa are operating the 8i variant. The others are private charters and government sectors, while the 8F are widely used by major freight operators such as UPS, Atlas air, CargoLux, Cathay Pacific Cargo and the others. There are 441 active 747s are still flying (Sept 2021)
The sad news is, after 51 years since its introduction, Boeing will cease the 747 production. The last 747 model will be delivered to Atlas Air in 2022.
Philippine Airlines operated 9 747-200B from 1979-2000 and 4 747-400 from 1993-2014.
So, these are the special and famous modifications of this fantastic piece of engineering.
NASA’s Space Shuttle Piggyback.
The last ferry flight of the Space Shuttle came in September 2012, when Endeavour went to its final resting place in California. Photo: NASA
These modified Boeing 747-100 and -100SR (Short Range) Registered as N911NA and N905NA are known as “NASA 905” and “NASA 911.” SCAs were used to transport Space Shuttles from landing sites to the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. Boeing extensively modified it in 1976. The modified vertical stabilizers to the tail to achieve the plane’s directional stability is one of the distinguished designs. They also conducted extensive testing on how to attach the spacecraft to the airplane in order to achieve the best aerodynamics.
NASA 905 started as a commercial airliner with American Airlines in 1970. NASA bought it as a testing aircraft four years later. In 2012, after its 42-year career, the Piggybacks retired from service.
Today, N905NA are displayed at Space Center Houston with the mockup shuttle Independence mounted on its back. N905NA was flown to Ellington Field where it was carefully dismantled, ferried to the Johnson Space Center in seven major pieces (a process called The Big Move), reassembled, and finally mated with the replica shuttle in August 2014. The display, called Independence Plaza, opened to the public last January 23, 2016. The N911NA is displayed in the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark in Palmdale, California as part of a long-term loan to the city from NASA.
The VC-25A or the “Air Force One”
Developed from 747-200B, it was highly modified plane designated as VC-25A and having tail numbers 28000 and 29000 was officially used by the US president for its official travels.
By 1985, the pair of Boeing 707-based VC-137s used as the Presidential aircraft had been in service for 23 and 13 years respectively, and the USAF began searching for an eventual replacement. The fabrication of the current 747s began during the presidency of Ronald Reagan (1981–1989). Reagan Administration ordered two identical Boeing 747-200Bs to replace the Boeing 707s that he used for transport.
The VC-25s were completed in 1986 and first flew in 1987. The interior designs were created by First Lady Nancy Reagan, who used designs reminiscent of the American Southwest. Problems with interior wiring for communication systems delayed delivery of the two aircraft until 1990, during the administration of George H.W. Bush.
According to US Air Force, they reported that the operational cost of each VC-25A is $210,877 per hour. (That’s a lot of money!)
In 2018, the White House announced their $3.9 billion agreement with Boeing to modify two unsold 747-8s (originally ordered by Transaero) to replace the aging VC-25A. The new aircraft will be designated as VC-25B. According to reports, Boeing was paid $84 Million just for the manual.
SOFIA
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) (Reg No. N747NA) is an 80/20 collaboration between NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), consisting of a specially modified Boeing 747SP aircraft carrying a 2.7-meter (106-inch) reflecting telescope (with an effective diameter of 2.5 meters or 100 inches).
SOFIA’s science and mission operations are managed by the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California in partnership with the Universities Space Research Association (USRA; Columbia, Md.) and the German SOFIA Institute (DSI; University of Stuttgart).
It has also been modified to accommodate a big opening door in the rear fuselage. This telescope is designed for infrared astronomy observations in the stratosphere at altitudes of about 12 kilometers (41,000 ft). They bought the plane to use as astronomical observatory.
E4-B or “The Doom’s day Plane”
The US Air Force’s current “night watch” aircraft is the Boeing E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post (AACP). The E-4 series was created for the National Airborne Emergency Program (NEAP), and it was based on the 747-200.
It will operate as a survivable mobile command post for the National Command Authority, which includes the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and their successors.
It can handle Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) in order to support the electric components and other communication equipment, as well as air-refueling and other classified features.
747 Dreamlifter
In 2003 of October 13, Boeing annouced the development of the Boeing 747-400LCF (Large Cargo Freighter) to ease the time of transporting the parts for assembly for Boeing 787 Dreamliner. They acquired four (4) second hand 747-400. One from Air China, two from former China Airlines and one from Malaysian Airlines.
The first Dreamlifter was rolled out of the hangar at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport in August 17, 2006. The first 3 aircraft is been completed and operational in 2008 and the fourth become operational in 2010. Currently the Air Atlas is the operator of the Dreamlifter.
The ED Force One
Last of the list, actually not that much modified but unique, The ED Force One (registered as TF-AAK) leased by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden to accommodate their world tour in 2016 was a Boeing 747-400 formerly used by Air France (registered as F-GITH). After the world tour, the plane retired to its lessor Air Atlanta Icelandic. It was chartered wearing the same Iron Maiden livery by 350 Icelandic football fans to Marseille for Iceland-Hungary match.
The plane got leased by Saudia airlines, and the current airframe status of the aircraft was stored.
Iron Maiden’s front man Bruce Dickinson is a 747 rated pilot, and the Pilot-in-Command of the aircraft while they are on tour.
