February 9th, 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the Boeing 747′s first flight and the introduction of one of the world’s most recognizable jumbo jets. The distinctive hump is a surefire way to tell it apart from any other airliner. The 747 held the passenger capacity record for 37 years and still remains one of the largest passenger aircraft ever produced.
Here are a few interesting facts about the B747:
- 1500 built/produced
- 413 ton max takeoff weight
- Mach 0.92 max speed
- Approx. 500 seats depending on layout
For an excellent article from the BBC, click here.
Below is an interesting comparison between some of the world’s largest aircraft, including Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose, an Airbus A380, an Antonov 225 Mriya, and a Boeing 747-400.
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