After more than half a century of production, the last Boeing 747 has rolled off the assembly line at the US factory in Washington State.
The latest customer was Atlas Air, the carrier, which ordered four 747-8 freighters earlier this year. The last plane was removed from a major Boeing facility in Everett, Washington this week.
According to The GuardianThe giant jet 747 played many roles in its life: a cargo plane, a commercial plane capable of carrying around 500 passengers, and even an Air Force One presidential jet.
When first launched in 1969, it was the world’s largest commercial aircraft and the first two-aisle aircraft. It still soars above many other planes.
The aircraft’s design included a second deck extending from the cockpit aft over the forward third of the aircraft, giving it a distinctive mound that made it instantly recognizable and gave it the nickname “The Whale”.
But in the last two decades, Boeing and its European rival Airbus have turned to more economical and profitable aircraft; The 747th twin-engine wide-body aircraft instead of four.
Delta was the last American airline to use the 747 for passenger flights, and it expires in 2017, although some international carriers continue to use it, including German airline Lufthansa.
Boeing announced in May that it would relocate its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia. The move to the Washington, DC area brings its leaders closer to key federal government officials and the Federal Aviation Administration, which approves Boeing passenger and cargo planes.