Boeing Delivers the Final 747

After a production run of almost 54 years, Boeing has today delivered the last ever new 747.

The aircraft, a 747-8 freighter, was delivered to Atlas Air on 31 January 2023. It has the registration N863GT and wears Apex Logistics titles along with the Atlas Air livery.

In addition, there are decals commemorating Joe Sutter – the so-called ‘father of the 747’ – near the cockpit. Joe led the design team on the 747 project in the 1960s.

The Ceremony

With a packed crowd of staff, former staff, journalists and aviation professionals, the main production building at Paine Field witnessed the ceremony for the final delivery.

Starting with flags of all original customer airlines, the event spoke of the people who developed the 747, including Joe Sutter, and the legacy of the aircraft.

The final flag marked Pan Am, and was carried by Charles Tripp – the grandson of Juan Trippe, who pushed Boeing to build the 747 for his airline.

Many airline executives – from the likes of Atlas Air, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa and UPS – gave speeches about what the 747 has meant to their airlines. Even John Travolta talked about his own training on the type.

Finally, the giant doors were opened to reveal the last aircraft outside.

The Delivery Flight

The final flight took place the day after the ceremony, 1 February 2023.

The aircraft departed Paine Field and flew a special flight path writing the numbers ‘747’ in the sky, topped by a crown, before proceeding to its final destination – Cincinnati (CVG).

1,574 Aircraft

The first Boeing 747

This aircraft is the 1,574th Boeing 747 airframe to be built in a legacy which started in 1969.

The 747 is an aircraft that ‘shrank the world’ according to historian Michael Lombardi. Boeing and launch customer Pan Am literally put their finances on the line to develop the aircraft, but it became such a success that it will still be known for generations to come.

In fact, despite this being the last delivery, it is expected that 747 aircraft – and indeed this final airframe – will be active in our skies for up to 20 years, or even more.

Nevertheless, the days of passenger-carrying 747s are numbered, with only a few 747-400 operators still operating them, and a limited number flying the newer 747-8. There are sadly no classic variants (-100, -200, -300 and SP models) flying passengers.

The Future of Paine Field

This final delivery was from Boeing’s huge manufacturing plant at Everett’s Paine Field, to the north of Seattle.

Here, in the world’s largest building by area, the 747 has been built for over 50 years and across all variants. However, the line has now gone quiet and Boeing is making changes.

With 787 Dreamliner production also moving elsewhere and the 767 line almost down to its final 100 orders, Boeing has decided to add an additional 737 MAX line in the building. This will complement production at Renton, and will allow the manufacturer to catch up with the huge backlog of orders for its narrowbody jet.

Where to See the Last 747

N863GT, the last 747 built and delivered, will now join Atlas Air in flying freight all over the world.

If you want to catch up with its movements, and maybe even see it at an airport near you (or just flying overhead), you can track it at this link: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n863gt

More Boeing 747 Content

A LauncherOne rocket is released from Cosmic Girl during the aircraft’s first drop test in July 2019. (Photo: Virgin Orbit)

This month we’ve been adding lots of content to mark the final Boeing 747 delivery.

You may wish to read some of these articles:

• A Guide to Boeing 747 Variants
• Cosmic Girl’s New Role – The Virgin Galactic 747
• All About the Boeing 747-8
• British Airways Boeing 747s Through Time
• 15 Classic Boeing 747 Operators