Remembering Boeing 747’s legacy as final plane nears delivery

EVERETT, Laundry. — It made its first flight here, west of Washington, more than 50 years ago.

Now is the last Boeing airplanes The freighter 747-8, now painted and ready to take off, will be delivered to Atlas Air on Tuesday.

It is considered the plane that changed the route around the world. Artist Jeff Barlow was a child when 747 was born.

“I looked at it and I was intrigued by it,” says Barlow.

He always carries a sketchbook with him wherever he goes,

“I like to draw with pencils,” says Barlow. It has a source of energy that nothing else has.”

Currently sitting under Boeing’s first Super Jet, Barlow is drafting the final 747 for Boeing as it prepares to deliver.

“It’s my favorite plane in the whole world,” Barlow said.

Seattle Museum flight instructor Thomas Gray remembers watching the 747’s first test flight.

“You suddenly see a giant mass in the air, it’s unbelievable,” Gray said.

More than 50 years later, Gray guides museum visitors through this monstrous aircrafttells the history of how she became.

“It’s an incredible story,” Gray said.

It took 50,000 men and women to design and complete the 747. They are considered “The Incredibles.”

“Thousands of men and women really put their hearts and souls into the formation and construction of this aircraft,” said Gray.

Gray is one of those employees who put his heart and soul into it. Before the museum, Gray was a flight test engineer for Boeing.

“We were the data collectors for the 747 test plane,” Gray said.

The patch on his jacket shows the number one of the original 747. Gray made one of the first test flights on February 25, 1969.

“It wasn’t until the 747 actually went live that we realized it was going to be a game changer in the world,” Gray said.

“If we go back to the 1960s, right before the 747 first came out, Seattle is probably best known for wood and salmon,” says Michael. Lombardi, Boeing historian.

Not only does this jet make it economically feasible for ordinary people to fly, but they can also go wherever they want in the world.

“It captured the world’s imagination and its roots are right here in our region,” Lombardi said.

This plane put western Washington on the map as an aviation power. Boeing employs thousands of people, grows the community.

“BILLIONHe’s the hard work, the imagination, the dedication of everyone right here in our area,” Lombardi said. “They made it.”

In late 1969, Ebony Magazine published a photograph of Gray working on a Jet.

Lombardi said the press initially referred to her as a jumbo or wide-body, but Boeing preferred to call her the Super Jet. The best known plane name came out a little later and stuck.

“Ordere Queen of the Sky is the proper nomenclature for this aircraft,” Gray said.

Sky Queen is no longer in production and her final delivery and voiceover from Everett is on the horizon.

“Sad is not the right word,” Barlow said. “Because, you know, I think part of the magic is that it’s finite.”

After completing the final shading, Barlow intends to photograph the final 747 when it is delivered.

“I feel like it’s really, really important to me,” says Barlow.

The Sky Queen is expected to fly for many more decades.

“So I’m going to keep looking up at the sky and hoping to see another sky,” Barlow said.

Boeing told KING 5 that the 777 will replace the 747. More than 1,500 747s have been built.

Final The 747 will officially be delivered on Tuesday and the plane will take off on Wednesday, leaving Everett for the last time.