As the world has been following in recent months, the last aircraft of one of the longest-running and most iconic projects in aviation history is nearing completion and is about to be delivered to the customer.
The Boeing 747-8F (freighter) with registration N863GT, to be delivered to U.S. carrier Atlas Air, left the assembly line on Dec. 6 to become the 1,574th Jumbo manufactured in 54 years, and yesterday, Dec. 18, has left the ground for the first time to begin flight testing, as reported by our partner media, Aeroin.
In communications on the air traffic control frequency, it was said to be the last 747 («Boeing seven zero four, last seven four seven»), as can be heard in the following audio:
The plane took off from Everett, north of Seattle, shortly after 2 p.m. this Sunday (9 a.m. local time) and made a flight of just over an hour through the region, returning to its departure airport.
With this test flight, what is the last Jumbo in history should soon fly to Portland, where the U.S. manufacturer’s Boeing 747 painting plant is located, and where it will acquire the colors of Atlas Air, although as the penultimate aircraft, with the name Kuehne+Nagel on the fuselage, since it will operate for that Swiss logistics company.
The last Boeing 747 B1 is in the books, BOE704 having returned to Paine Field after a short flight of ~one hour. https://t.co/lfubyuyCN2 pic.twitter.com/PzvZa4mRJk
— JDL | @photoJDL@avgeek.social (@photoJDL) December 18, 2022
After the return, final adjustments and tests will be performed, and the N863GT is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2023, bringing this long success story to an end.
