The last in long line of revered Queens

An emotive image made the rounds on social media this week – the trace of the maiden flight of the last Queen to leave the production site in Everett, Washington, where the iconic Boeing 747 had been manufactured since 1967, in the world’s largest building (by volume) that had been erected especially for the task. To commemorate the occasion, the crew flew a special flight path drawing a huge crown in the sky along with the numbers seven - four - seven.

Everyone in the world of aviation will have their own stories to tell about their B747 experiences. My favorites, as a child shuttling between Europe and the UAE back in the late 1970s/early ‘80s, were the Boeing 747s operated by KLM and Singapore Airlines (the latter even awarded my sisters and me prizes in the initial version of their children’s frequent flyer program, and we ended up gracing the pages of the Khaleej Times in the early ‘80s). I also remember being in complete awe as I stood on the main deck of a Lufthansa Cargo B747F for the first time in Frankfurt, in 1996, looking out through the open nose door. I was fortunate to enjoy a few subsequent flights as a freighter passenger in various passenger-freighter conversions. I very much mourned their disappearance from the Lufthansa Cargo fleet a few years later, though my stories are nothing compared to Captain Bernd Tietzel’s memoires (CFG reported: https://www.cargoforwarder.eu/2022/12/11/an-homage-to-the-b747-200f/).

A fitting final delivery as a freighter
Thousands turned up or tuned in live on 31JAN23, to witness the delivery of the last Queen, Number 1,574 - registration N863GT. Among them, employees, customers, previous operators, suppliers, and even John Travolta – not in his own iconic Grease star function – but because he, too, is a licensed B747 pilot (though he never owned one – he has B707 and B727 in his fleet). A brand ambassador for Qantas Airlines, he hailed the B747 the “most well thought out and safest aircraft ever built.”
Of those built, 563 were delivered as production freighters (according to CAPA stats on CNBC). The last passenger versions were delivered in 2017, and from 2018 on just 29 more freighters were manufactured. To date, around 314 B747 freighters grace the skies, whether as production or conversion versions, 43 of them belonging to Atlas Air, which is the world’s largest B747 operator, today. On the day of the final delivery, Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ President and Chief Executive Officer, Stan Deal, stated: “This monumental day is a testament to the generations of Boeing employees who brought to life the airplane that ‘shrank the world,’ and revolutionized travel and air cargo as the first widebody. It is fitting to deliver this final 747-8 Freighter to the largest operator of the 747, Atlas Air, where the ‘Queen’ will continue to inspire and empower innovation in air cargo.”

It started out with just one B747F
In fact, the same company that began life with just one Boeing 747F. John Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide, declared: “Our company’s history and success are directly linked to the 747 platform, and we are honored to continue our long history of flying this iconic aircraft for our customers around the world. Atlas Air was founded over 30 years ago with a single 747-200 converted freighter. Since then, we have spanned the globe operating the 747 into well over 800 airports in over 170 countries with nearly every series of the aircraft, including Boeing’s 747 Large Cargo Freighter for the transport of 787 Dreamliner parts.” He spoke at the Boeing ceremony on behalf of all of Atlas Air’s 5,000 employees, as Atlas Air took delivery of final of four new Boeing 747-8 freighters that had been ordered in JAN21. While the B747 is not welcomed by a growing number of airports, it should be pointed out that Boeing’s final version, the 747-8 has come a long way from its initial predecessor. It has an advanced design and modern engines that result in a 16% improvement in fuel use and CO2 emissions per ton, as well as a 30% smaller noise footprint.

A regal workhorse
And there is almost nothing it cannot transport. The 747-8 is well known for its huge payload capacity and range, not to mention its unique nose-load door. Dietrich detailed: “We’ve carried everything on the 747, from race cars to racehorses, from rocket parts to satellites, electronics, overnight express shipments – and various forms of perishables like fresh flowers, vegetables, and fish. The 747 has also been critical to carrying life-saving goods like medicine, vaccines, and personal protective equipment during the pandemic and other times of need. And we are proud to serve the U.S. military as the largest provider of their airlift – carrying both troops and cargo – and the 747 is the backbone of this critical work."

On behalf of Apex Logistics
Atlas Air will operate this aircraft for Apex Logistics, a Kuehne+Nagel company, under a long-term agreement. Regarding this, Dietrich said: “We are pleased to operate this aircraft on behalf of Apex Logistics, a Kuehne+Nagel company. This is the second 747-8F delivery as part of our long-term strategic partnership with Kuehne+Nagel, which is reflective of our deep commitment to provide additional capacity for the expansion of their air cargo network. As the world’s largest operator of 747 freighters, Atlas is especially proud to take the last 747 ever to be built. We are grateful to Boeing for their shared commitment to safety, quality, innovation and the environment, and for their partnership to ensure the continued success of the 747 program as we operate the aircraft for decades to come.”

Inspire and Empower
A long-term relationship that has been cemented by specially chosen names and a custom livery. Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics, explained: “The names we chose for the last two iconic aircraft fit their legacy – ‘Inspire.’ and ‘Empower.’ We are looking forward to see the last 747-8F aircraft taking off to fulfill the versatile needs of our customers around the world with unmatched capability.”
Tony Song, Apex Group Chief Executive Officer, added: “In 2001, when Apex was founded, our guiding principle was to empower employees with the common goal of offering customers flexible and reliable solutions to their logistics needs. Twenty years later, as part of Kuehne+Nagel Group, we are proud to introduce ‘Empower.’, the newest and most exciting addition to Apex Logistics. This aircraft will reinforce our ability to provide strategic solutions and unique alternatives, with passion. Together with our Apex Logistics colleagues, we are delighted to celebrate this very special occasion with Kuehne+Nagel, Atlas Air and Boeing.” That celebration included a special livery on the final aircraft: it shows the Atlas Air logo on the right flank and tail, and the Apex Logistics logo on the other side. At the front, to the right of the nose, there is an image of Joe Sutter, known as the “Father of the 747” within Boeing, to especially honor his legacy of the “Queen of the Skies.”
The final Boeing 747, the result of a group of aviation engineers back in the 1960s, known as the “Incredibles,” who built the first 747 at that same Everett factory in 1967, will now be “empowered” to fly the skies for a good couple of decades, if it follows in its predecessors’ footsteps.

Brigitte Gledhill

We welcome and publish comments from all authenticated users.