Final Boeing 747 leaves Everett Factory
07 / 12 / 2022
Photo: Boeing/Paul Weatherman
The last Boeing 747, a B747-8 freighter version, has left the company’s widebody factory in advance of delivery to Atlas Air in early 2023.
Kim Smith, Boeing vice president and general manager, 747 and 767 programmes, said: “For more than half a century, tens of thousands of dedicated Boeing employees have designed and built this magnificent airplane that has truly changed the world. We are proud that this plane will continue to fly across the globe for years to come.”
This final aircraft will be used by Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) as part of its dedicated freighter operations through a partnership with lessor Atlas Air.
In total, the freight forwarder will charter two brand-new B747-8Fs from the lessor.
K+N said the aircraft would be utilised on transpacific services and also linked to its intra-Asia network to provide better connectivity in the growing Asia Pacific region.
Atlas Air ordered four new B747-8Fs in 2021, the last 747-8 freighters ever to be produced by Boeing, and took delivery of the previous aircraft in the order earlier this year.
The B747 has played a key role in Boeing’s history of aerospace leadership.
Production of the B747, the world’s first twin-aisle passenger airplane, began in 1967 and spanned 54 years, during which a total of 1,574 passenger and freighter aircraft were built.
Photo: Boeing/Paul Weatherman
At 250 ft 2 in (76.2 m), the B747-8 freighter is the longest commercial aircraft in service. At typical cruising speeds, the aircraft travels roughly the length of three FIFA football pitches or NFL football fields, per second.
The B747-8F has a revenue payload of 133.1 tonnes, which Boeing said is enough to transport 10,699 solid-gold bars or approximately 19m ping-pong balls or golf balls.
Photo: Boeing/Paul Weatherman
A last hurrah for the B747 as Atlas orders four more freighters
