
Still configured in its flight test configuration, it was extensively restored in 20. The aircraft's final flight occurred on April 6, 1995, when Boeing officially donated RA001 to the Museum after 5,300 flight hours. Planning for eventual donation to the Museum began in the mid-1980s. After 747 certification testing, the aircraft served for many years as a company testbed for technology development and new engine programs for other Boeing commercial jets, including the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 for the Boeing 777. The Museum's aircraft was the first 747 ever built, known as RA001. Other unique modifications include the enlarged "Dreamlifter" for 787 components, the YAL-1A Airborne Laser Testbed, and the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). In 1990, two 747-200Bs were modified as VC-25As to serve as Air Force One, the U.S. Air Force "command post" platforms, designated E-3 and E-4. Several aircraft were produced to serve as U.S. Two 747-100s were modified to become Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for the NASA Space Shuttle Program. The airplane proved to be highly flexible, performing many missions that were not part of its original design specifications. The 747-8, with all-new wings and engines, entered service in 2011.
#AIRPLANE COCKPIT 747 UPGRADE#
In 1989, a major upgrade was introduced in the form of the 747-400, with a modernized two-crew flight deck and improved performance. The 747-300 followed in 1982, with an extended upper deck. A shortened version (747SP) debuted in 1976, capable of very long range flights. A "Combi" was soon offered to allow simultaneous carriage of passengers and cargo on the main deck. A freighter model, with a large nose cargo door, allows outsized payloads to be carried. Continued development in the ensuing years has increased payload, range, and capability with multiple 747 variants. The 747 quickly became a mainstay of the world’s international airlines. The first 747 engine, the Pratt & Whitney JT9D, was an equally challenging engineering effort it experienced numerous problems in initial service. First flight occurred on February 9, 1969, followed by an extensive test program.

Boeing designed this mammoth aircraft to transport components for its 787 'Dreamliner' from worldwide suppliers to its US. With just four having been built, it is also among the rarest freight aircraft in the world today.

The leviathan 747 required an all-new factory, which was built almost simultaneously with the first 747 at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The Boeing 747 'Dreamlifter' is the world's longest cargo aircraft, and certainly one of the more visually striking as well. It triggered a revolution in air travel and represents a significant milestone in the evolution of aviation design. With its massive size and signature upper deck "hump," the iconic 747 is one the most recognizable aircraft in the world. But the gamble paid off – over 1,500 units have been produced. Developing what was then the world's largest passenger aircraft was a formidable undertaking, requiring the company to risk much of its net worth. The growing worldwide demand for air travel during the 1960s led Boeing to launch the 747, the first wide-body jet. Buy Tickets Site Search Search Toggle search box
