In a ceremony held at Boeing’s delivery center in Everett this week, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings received the Boeing 747-8F registration N862GT, which has the distinction of being the second to last 747 aircraft to be manufactured.
In this way the world is just a Jumbo away from witnessing the end of the most iconic passenger aircraft in history.
Atlas Air will operate this 747-8F for the Swiss logistics company Kuehne + Nagel under a long-term agreement that will include another aircraft of the same model, the very last 747 to be manufactured, which will receive the registration N863GT.
«This 747-8F delivery underscores the importance of our long-term strategic partnership with Kuehne+Nagel and our commitment to support their continued growth and expansion,” said John Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide. “We are pleased to provide their first dedicated aircraft which will proudly fly in a custom Kuehne+Nagel livery. The two 747-8Fs we will operate for Kuehne+Nagel will add more capacity and versatility for their network», he added.
Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics, said: “It is a very special moment for us to see Kuehne+Nagel 747-8F ‘Inspire.’ taking off. Together with the very last 747-8F that we named ‘Empower.’, these aircraft will support our customers with reliable and flexible solutions globally, continuing the legacy of the most incredible aviation programs in history. We are delighted to celebrate this with our partners Atlas Air and Boeing and looking forward to seeing our aircraft connecting the world.”
«With Atlas Air taking delivery of the final 747s for its customer Kuehne+Nagel, this iconic Boeing airplane will continue to move cargo around the world for decades to come,» added Kim Smith, vice president and general manager of the Boeing 747/767 Program.
«As we say goodbye to the ‘Queen of the Skies’, we’re proud of her legacy as an airplane that propelled aviation innovation and later laid the foundation of our family of freighters.» he concluded.
Since the prototype of the 747 left the hangar on September 30, 1968, 1571 aircraft of the different variants of the Boeing 747 have been manufactured, so, after the delivery of these last aicrafts to Atlas, the Jumbo Jet will count 1574 units manufactured in just over 54 years.
It was the Jumbo that took Boeing to Everett, a small town north of Seattle. The manufacturer, at that time, began with a site of 3,500 square meters to produce the aircraft that was growing to reach almost 400,000 square meters today. The complex houses the production line of the 747, 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner models, all twin-aisle aircraft.
