The New Boeing 747 Experience
“Good Day Atlanta” explores the Boeing 747 Experience.
The veteran commercial aircraft, the Boeing 747, has been going strong for 45 years. Fondly referred to as the “Queen of the Skies,” the Boeing 747 became an industry mainstay thanks to its exceptional range and size. It was briefly believed that supersonic jets would quickly render the 747 obsolete, but the four-engine layout of the jumbo jet won out. The standout 747-400 advanced from the 747-100, -200, and -300 with several new and improved features, including a brand-new cockpit, tail fuel tanks, advanced engines, and a redone interior. Thanks to the Delta Museum, visitors can now see and learn about the 747-400 from the inside out.
Ship 6301 was the first of the 747-400s, and its first flight on April 29th, 1988 marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the 747. Originally registered by Boeing as N401PW, Ship 6301 was used by Pratt and Whitney for engine testing before being registered again as the N661US for service with Northwest Airlines on December 8th, 1989. Ship 6301 would become part of the Delta fleet after the 2008 merger between Northwest and Delta. The plane traveled 61 million miles before its retirement in September of 2015.
This morning, Good Day Atlanta published a brief overview of the Delta Museum exhibit with reporter Paul Milliken, museum president John Boatright, and exhibits manager Tim Frilingos. The plane has many fascinating parts and systems that only a museum experience can deliver, such as the first two-man cockpit to have flown in service, the cabin air system, the flight control cabling, part of the 171 miles of electrical wire, and plenty of other incredible attachments. Visitors are even allowed to walk on the wings of the plane! With all of the opportunity to see what truly makes a commercial aircraft, the Boeing 747 Experience is sure to be a popular exhibit for years to come.
