Thursday, October 18th. Dual-Polarized

Phased Array Radar

National Weather Radar Testbed Advanced Technology

Demonstrator tour, ribbon cutting and reception.

Thursday, October 18th. Dual-Polarized

Phased Array Radar

National Weather Radar Testbed Advanced Technology

Demonstrator tour, ribbon cutting and reception.

Karen Dunn Kelley, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Visits the NWC including stops at the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, the Norman National Weather Service Forecast Office, and the NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed.

Catalog #: 00054918

Manufacturer: Convair

Designation: Model 340

Official Nickname:

Notes:

Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Thursday, October 18th. Dual-Polarized

Phased Array Radar

National Weather Radar Testbed Advanced Technology

Demonstrator tour, ribbon cutting and reception.

Seen here in a yard adjacent to the Brooklands site of the Spring Gathering in April 2003 are two unregistered testbeds presumably in the ownership of Dennis.

Pratt & Whitney Flying Engine Testbed

National Air Force Museum of Canada, CFB Trenton

Week 1 of the Hazard Services - Probabilistic Hazard Information (HS-PHI) experiment in the NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) at the National Weather Center in Norman, OK. The HS-PHI experiment is part of the Experimental Warning Program. This is the third year of the HS-PHI experiment in the HWT.The HS-PHI experiment advances the Forecasting A Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) initiative by testing software which allows National Weather Services (NWS) forecasters to issue Probabilistic Hazard Information (PHI) at the severe weather warning time and space scales.

The In-Situ Instrument Laboratory (ISIL) is where engineers test spacecraft in a simulated Mars environment. See a model of NASA's Mars lander, InSight, and a Mars 2020 testbed.

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Thursday, October 18th. Dual-Polarized

Phased Array Radar

National Weather Radar Testbed Advanced Technology

Demonstrator tour, ribbon cutting and reception.

Built by Brush of Loughborough in 1937 and entering service at Blackpool as no. 299. In the 1968 renumbering it became no. 636. Withdrawn in 2004 and sold two years later to be used as a bogie testbed by a company in Derby a role it is still used for.

Just out of MEI in East St. Louis and on point of KCS train MVNKC is the #3997.This unit was one of the former EMD demos and the first in "Southern Belle" paint.Sort of a testbed for the 4000 series motors yet to come.04/12/2007

Arriving on RWY 09 from Lasham (QLA) for respray by Air Livery. Due to be the 'Excalibur' testbed aircraft for the BAE Systems Tempest fighter. Ex G-POWH.

Operator: 2Excel Aviation

Aircraft: Boeing 757-256

Registration: G-FTAI

Callsign: Broadsword 25 // BRO25

Location: Norwich (NWI / EGSH)

Michigan Balloon Recovery & Satellite Testbed (MBuRST) members move to launch position.

Photo: Ben Logan, Social Media Guru – Communications and Marketing, Michigan Engineering

Premier John Horgan toured the Clean Energy Testbeds Site at the University of Washington as part of a two-day visit to Washington State.

With a commercial handlebar bag that I'm using as a testbed for various ways that I can use to mount it to the rack

edited-Not part of my personal collection

N515NA

Boeing 737-130

NASA / Museum of Flight BFI

Built 1967

C/N 19437 / 1

Think this is the first time I have seen a 100... Boeing prototype and testbed as N73700 until sold to NASA in Jul 1973. Joined the museum in Sep 2003.

On the ramp.

Delta Air Lines 767-432ER, N825MH. Originally used by Boeing on August 26, 1999 as a testbed aircraft. MIA. 3-8-2026.

Catalog #: 00054959

Manufacturer: Convair

Designation: Model 340

Official Nickname:

Notes:

Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive

Thursday, October 18th. Dual-Polarized

Phased Array Radar

National Weather Radar Testbed Advanced Technology

Demonstrator tour, ribbon cutting and reception.

Edited NASA image of a NASA F-8A Crusader testbed aircraft.

Original caption: A Vought F-8A Crusader was selected by NASA as the testbed aircraft (designated TF-8A) to install an experimental Supercritical Wing in place of the conventional wing. The unique design of the Supercritical Wing reduces the effect of shock waves on the upper surface near Mach 1, which in turn reduces drag. In this photograph a Vought F-8A Crusader is shown being used as a flying testbed for an experimental Supercritical Wing airfoil. The smooth fairing of the fiberglass glove with the wing is illustrated in this view.

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Thursday, October 18th. Dual-Polarized

Phased Array Radar

National Weather Radar Testbed Advanced Technology

Demonstrator tour, ribbon cutting and reception.

Catalog #: 00054951

Manufacturer: Convair

Designation: Model 340

Official Nickname:

Notes:

Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive

Michigan Balloon Recovery & Satellite Testbed (MBuRST) members make final preparations before launch.

Photo: Ben Logan, Social Media Guru – Communications and Marketing, Michigan Engineering

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Catalog #: 00054891

Manufacturer: Convair

Designation: Model 340

Official Nickname:

Notes:

Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive

Michigan Balloon Recovery & Satellite Testbed (MBuRST) members unload equipment at launch site.

Photo: Ben Logan, Social Media Guru – Communications and Marketing, Michigan Engineering

Sukhoi's beast of a 4.5 Generation fighter testbed

Thursday, October 18th. Dual-Polarized

Phased Array Radar

National Weather Radar Testbed Advanced Technology

Demonstrator tour, ribbon cutting and reception.

Michigan Balloon Recovery & Satellite Testbed (MBuRST) members move to launch position.

Photo: Ben Logan, Social Media Guru – Communications and Marketing, Michigan Engineering

Newark Emergency Services Show 2015

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651

Pima Air and Space Museum

The Boeing 747 began as a concept for a U.S. Air Force contract competition to design a heavy lift cargo aircraft. That contest was eventually won by the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but Boeing’s failure to win that contract led it to develop one of the most iconic aircraft ever. The first 747 made its maiden flight in February 1969 and the type made its first commercial flight less than a year later. Since then the humpbacked shape of the 747 has become familiar to millions of travelers around the world. The “Jumbo Jet” is the first twin isle airliner and in some configurations could carry more than 500 passengers. This immense size allowed a much lower operating cost per seat and helped bring long distance air travel into the price range of vastly more people. Boeing has built more than 1,560 since 1969. As of 2018, only about 20 remain to be delivered. The era of the 747 as a passenger plane is coming to an end as it is replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, but it will continue to be in use as a cargo plane for many years to come.

It was built by Boeing Aircraft Company at Everett, Washington and delivered to Pan American World Airways on March 21, 1970. It is the twenty-fifth 747 built. Following Pan Am’s practice of naming its aircraft, this airplane flew with the name “Clipper Star of the Union” until 1982 when it was renamed “Clipper Ocean Spray.” It remained with Pan Am until the bankruptcy of the airline in 1991. In March 1992 it was purchased by General Electric for use as an engine test bed. Since then the plane has flown more than 3,000 hours carrying various test engines for GE as they develop the engines that power many of the planes that are replacing the 747 in airline service. General Electric donated the aircraft to the Pima Air & Space Museum in November 2018.

Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in.

Length: 231 ft 4 in.

Height: 63 ft 5 in.

Weight: 735,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed: 595 MPH

Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft

Range: 6,000 miles

Engines: Four Pratt and Whitney JD9D-3 turbofans with 43,000 pounds of thrust each

Crew: 3 flight crew, 15 flight attendants, 374 to 490 passengers

Manufacturer: Boeing

Markings: General Electric Aviation, 2018

Designation: 747-121

Registration: N747GE

Serial Number: 19651