Boeing 747-400 KLM F-GITD 1/50th Scale Solid Model New Colors

The Boeing 747 is an American jet airliner with a wide fuselage built since 1969 by Boeing, often referred to by its nickname, Jumbo Jet or Queen of the Skies. Its characteristic « hump » at the front of the fuselage makes the 747 a particularly recognizable device. The 747 is also the first airliner with a wide fuselage. Built in the United States by the Boeing Commercial Airplanes group, the 747 in its first version has a capacity two and a half times greater than that of the Boeing 707 which is one of the great commercial aircraft of the 1960s. Making its first flight on February 9, 1969 and putting into service in January 1970, the 747 held the passenger capacity record for 37 years, until the arrival of the Airbus A380.

This quadri-jet has a double bridge over part of its length. It is available in passenger transport, cargo aircraft and other versions. The upper deck is designed to serve as a first-class lounge or accommodate additional seats and also allows the aircraft to be easily converted to cargo by removing the seats and installing a cargo door on the nose. Indeed, Boeing expects the arrival of supersonic airliners, the development of which was announced in the early 1960s, which would make the 747 and other aircraft obsolete while the demand for subsonic cargo aircraft is expected to be sustained. The 747 is destined to become obsolete after 400 devices sold but it exceeds the expectations of critics and, in 1993, the 1000th device is built. As of May 2020, 1,555 aircraft had been delivered since 1970 and 16 remain on order.

The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 airliner family of jet aircraft. While retaining the four-engine layout and wide fuselage of its predecessors, the 747-400 incorporates many technological and structural changes designed to produce a more efficient cell. Its most distinctive feature compared to the previous 747s are the 1.8 m (6 ft) winglets mounted on the 1.8 m wing salmon extensions, which are found on all 747-400 except for the Japanese domestic market versions.

The 747-400 is equipped with a two-crew cockpit with an all-screen dashboard, which eliminates the need for a flight mechanic officer. It incorporates more economical engines, a fuel tank in the horizontal empennage and revised firings at the junction between the wing and the fuselage. The aircraft also receives a completely new interior with improved in-flight entertainment. Just like the 747-300, the passenger versions have the upper deck extended compared to the older models. It can carry 660 passengers, for the 747-400D version, and make a non-stop flight of more than 14,200 km (7,670 nautical miles) at maximum load, depending on the version.