Final Aircraft 

After half a century of production, Boeing is close to finishing its last ever 747. The aircraft in question, a Boeing 747-8 freighter (747-8F), is expected to roll off the assembly line later this year in October. The final aircraft is set to be delivered to US cargo carrier Atlas Air, ending a glorious era once delivered. The delivery will follow two other 747-8F deliveries to Atlas Air: one next month in September and one previously in July. 

The End of an Era 

The Boeing 747, otherwise known as the "Queen of the Skies", is arguably one of the most iconic and recognizable aircrafts in history. The production of this icon began in the late 1960s as Boeing's reaction to the large boom in air travel at the time. The reason this aircraft even exists is largely due to the influence of Pan Am, and more specifically, their founder Juan Trippe. At his request, the Boeing Aerospace Company—based in Chicago at the time—took on the challenge of building a wide-body aircraft that had the capability to fly long haul routes Pan Am desired. The first 747 took to the skies in February 1969 and was delivered to Pan Am in January of 1970. Since then, Boeing has gone on to produce over 1,500 examples of the 747. This aircraft has served with numerous airlines since then. 

Only Remaining Variants 

Since its introduction, five main variants of the 747 have been produced. These being the -100,-200,-300,-400, and -8. The most popular versions being the -400 and -400 freighter, along with the -8F. 

Cargo Strong

While most passenger airlines have retired, scrapped, or handed off their 747s due to their inability to fill the aircraft during the pandemic, along with its inefficiency as a result of the four engines on each 747, cargo airlines have all but embraced this storied plane. The same large fuselage and fuel guzzling engines that scare airlines away have consistently attracted cargo carriers. For cargo airlines, the capacity of an aircraft matters more over the efficiency of it; airlines such as Cargolux and Atlas Air have fleets almost entirely made up of 747s.

Still Widely Used

Even though the Boeing 747 is almost gone from passenger airlines, cargo carriers will continue to operate this aircraft for many years to come. While you probably won't be able to buy a ticket to fly on one after the late 2020s, they will still be soaring high in the sky carrying cargo or wealthy individuals in VIP jets.