A famous handshake
The story of the 747 started with a handshake between Bill Allen from Boeing and Juan Trippe of Pan American Airways. Trippe said to Allen: If you’ll build it, I’ll buy it. To which Allen replied: If you buy it, I’ll build it.
Pan Am signed an order for 25 aircraft April 1966 and the rest is history. This gamble for Boeing would lead to what is the most iconic airliner ever made.
A new era
The 747 was made in the Boeing factory in Washington. It dwarfed all the present airliners of the day with its size and has become famously known for her 4 engines and humped upper deck. Her sized earned her knick name ‘The Jumbo’.
A first flight
The 747 project was led by Chief engineer Joe Sutter and its success was of paramount importance to Boeing. The aircraft would take flight for the first time on February 9th, 1969 from Boeing’s Paine field, Everett, Washington. City of Everett was Piloted by Boeing test pilot Jack Waddell. Her first flight would last one hour and fifteen minutes.
The aircraft made her first commercial flight for Pan Am on January 2nd 1970 from New York to London. Many airlines would then go on to purchase the 747 and long air travel would open up to the masses.
The aircraft has since lived a legacy of over 50 years, during which time we have seen a significant change in cockpit technology. Whilst the 747-400 and 747-8 remain prevalent in the skies and will remain so for many years to come. We are now in the sunset years of the aircraft and the opportunity to get to travel on her or even fly her is becoming increasingly rare.
Our full motion Boeing 747 flight simulator entered service in the mid nineties under licence from Boeing. It has trained many 747 pilots to date and remains one of the last places you can get your hands on this iconic aircraft. It has since been upgraded to incorporate the latest in visual technology to make this the ultimate and most accessible way to fly the jumbo.
Based at London Gatwick, where the Jumbo has spent much of her working life.
