747-400: 40 лет в небе
It was just before 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 9, 1969, that Boeing's newest airplane, a 747-100 named "The City of Everett," taxied onto the runway at Paine Field in Everett, Wash. Pilot Jack Waddell, Co-Pilot Brien Wygle and Flight Engineer Jess Wallick made their final preparations for the airplane's maiden flight.
Onlookers watched in the cold as the world's largest airplane at the time took to the sky for its first flight at 11:34 a.m. The hour-and-a-quarter flight tested the airplane's low-speed characteristics. It also proved that the 747 flew well and was stable, despite the windy conditions.
"Simulators in those days were not very good at predicting flight behavior," said Brian Wygle. "So, we didn't know what to expect. The 747 handled very well on the first flight."
The test flight was cut short due to a minor structural failure in one the flaps. Joe Sutter, commonly referred to as the "Father of the 747," watched anxiously as RA001 made its final approach.
"Many critics questioned whether an airplane as big as a 747 could safely land," said Sutter. "This was on my mind as RA001 descended to the runway."
After the airplane gracefully descended for a smooth landing, Boeing celebrated its newest airplane. The successful flight validated the enormous gamble that Boeing took to design, build and fly the 747.
The program would go on to garner more than 1,500 orders for various models of the 747 family and deliver more than 1,400 to 95 unique customers. Those airplanes would shrink the world carrying passengers and cargo to far-flung destinations, a mission soon to be carried on by the new 747-8 Freighter and Intercontinental.
The 747-8 Freighter, which is currently in production, will conduct its first flight later this year. The freighter will enter service in the third quarter of 2010, the 747-8 Intercontinental will follow approximately a year later.
The original 747, "The City of Everett", cruising during its first flight: