N7470

N7470 City of Everett RA001
General information
Type	Boeing 747-121
Manufacturer	Boeing
Flights	About 12,000
Total hours	5,300
History
Manufactured	September 30, 1968
First flight	February 9, 1969
In service	1969-1990
Last flight	1990
Preserved at	Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington
Fate	On static display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington

N7470 nicknamed "City of Everett" is a Boeing 747-121 that was built by Boeing on September 30, 1968, as the prototype of the Boeing 747.

History

Birth of the Jumbo Jet

N7470 "City of Everett" being displayed to the public for the first time.

On September 30, 1968, the Boeing 747-100 prototype, registered as N7470 had rolled off the production lines at Boeing's Everett, Washington plant. This iconic aircraft was designated internally as RA001, marking the beginning of the era of the "jumbo jet".

Distinctive features

The Boeing 747's upper-deck hump was already an iconic feature, but N7470 had an additional symbolic touch. Its paint design featured a simple white and red livery adorned with the logos of numerous airline customers. These logos included Japan Air Lines, Pan Am, KLM, Qantas, Lufthansa, and many more.

Given its origin from the Everett production factory, Boeing affectionately nicknamed it the "City of Everett" after the city.

First flight

Although N7470 was publicly revealed in September 1968, it didn't take to the skies until February 9, 1969. The inaugural flight was piloted by Boeing Chief Test Pilot Jack Wadell, accompanied by Engineering Test Pilot Brien Singleton Wygle and Flight Engineer Jesse Arthur Wallick. This historic test flight marked the beginning of the Boeing 747's journey.

Versatility and transformation

N7470 continued its test flying duties until July 1970. Boeing then re-registered the aircraft as N1352B to explore missions beyond its original design specifications. These missions were primarily military, including using N1352B as a refueling tanker for the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. Unfortunately, the idea of using the Boeing 747 as a refueling tanker wasn't ideal, and the aircraft was eventually re-registered back to its original identity as N7470.

Operational service

After its initial test flights, N7470 transitioned into operational service. Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) became the first airline to operate the Boeing 747 commercially. On January 22, 1970, Pan Am Flight 2 departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Heathrow Airport in London, England, marking the beginning of the jumbo jet era for passenger travel.

Global impact

The Boeing 747 revolutionized air travel by significantly increasing passenger capacity. Its spacious interior allowed airlines to accommodate more travellers, making long-haul flights more accessible and affordable. The 747's range and payload capacity opened up new routes across continents, connecting people and cultures like never before.

Retirement and preservation

N7470 "City of Everett" on display at the Museum of Flight in Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington.

On April 6, 1995, N7470 embarked on its last-ever flight, not as a commercial airliner, but as a symbol of innovation and progress. The aircraft, still in its test-configured state, was officially donated to the Museum of Flight in Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington where it was placed on static display at the museum.

References

Sources

• Davies, Carl (2007). Plane Truth: A Private Investigator's Story. Algora Publications. ISBN 9781892941312.

Further reading

• Wagner, Mark (1996). Boeing Jetliners. Motorbooks International Publishers. ISBN 9781610607063.
• Bowman, Martin W. (2014). Boeing 747: A History: Delivering the Dream. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 9781473838239.

External links

• N7470 | This Day in Aviation