The Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 is one of the most well-known planes in the history of commercial aviation. It's a large wide-body jet developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, first introduced in 1970 with Pan American World Airways. Boeing has produced over 1,500 units since then, selling them to commercial airlines all over the world. Even if you've seen the Boeing 747 before, the following facts about it may surprise you.

1. The First 'Jumbo Jet'

While many wide-body planes are now referred to as "jumbo jets," the Boeing 747 was the first. It was the largest wide-body jet on the market at its release. The Boeing 747 was dubbed a "jumbo jet" by aviation experts. Since then, other large wide-body jets have been given this designation, such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 777X.

2. 150 Miles of Electrical Wiring

To say the Boeing 747 has a lot of electrical wiring would be an understatement. The Boeing 747, like all planes, has a complicated electrical system with wiring and various components. However, if all of its electrical wiring were stretched out, it would stretch for over 150 miles.

3. Over 3.5 Billion Passengers Have Flown In It

One of the most famous commercial jets is the Boeing 747. According to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, since its release in 1970, it has carried over 3.5 billion passengers. That, in and of itself, is a remarkable achievement.

4. The first 747's fuselage was 225 feet long and had a tail that was as tall as a six-story building. The wing area of this ground-breaking machine was more prominent than a basketball court, but its sophisticated global navigation system weighed less than a modern laptop.

5. The plane was introduced in three versions: all passenger, all cargo, and a passenger/freighter model that could be converted.

6. Newer, more energy-efficient planes like the Boeing 777 and Airbus 350 have found more takers in the last five decades, and the iconic 747 is gradually fading into the background. A little more than 500 of these take to the skies today.

7.  The 747 was the first wide-body aircraft in history to reach the 1,500-plane milestone.
8. The first 747's fuselage was 225 feet long and had a tail that was as tall as a six-story building. The wing area of this ground-breaking machine was more significant than a basketball court, but its sophisticated global navigation system weighed less than a modern laptop.