Boeing 747: A Legends Of Flight Illustrated History (Legends Of Flight, 4),New

More than half a century ago the Boeing 747 took to the air for the first time; it is considered the first largecapacity civilian airliner. Lovingly nicknamed the Jumbo Jet, the aircraft quickly became the flagship of any airline that operated it. While sales were initially modest, the unmistakable fourengine jet became a bestseller after muchimproved and moreadvanced versions became available in the 1980s. Though recent technological developments have caused the age of the big fourengine passenger jet to slowly come to an end, the elegant 747 is undoubtedly an aviation legend that still turns heads at airports. Sadly, after a 50yearplus service career, the last 747s are due to come off the factory line in 2022. The history of the 747s design, development, and operational use is presented in detail in this book, as is its use by many of the worlds most famous airlines, including TWA, Pan Am, Lufthansa, Qantas, British Airways, El Al, Air France, and nearly 100 others throughout its long career. Governments and militaries worldwide have also flown the 747, for missions including ferrying NASA's former space shuttle fleet, and the current US Air Force One presidential aircraft. Technical specifications for the 747 and its variants, as well as period photographs, bring to life the fascinating history of one of Boeings most iconic aircraft.