Most aviation enthusiasts adore the Boeing 747 jumbo jet, which debuted in 1969 as the world's first widebody plane.
A Turkish government Boeing Business Jet 747-8i.Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty
Boeing will stop making the 747 after more than 51 years of passenger flight. Here's the history of how the iconic plane changed the world.
The Queen of the Skies was built to meet the growing demand for air travel and was the first jetliner to make international flying affordable.
Air India Boeing 747Renatas Repcinskas/Shutterstock
Source: Janet Bednarek
The first 747 was built at Boeing's gigantic assembly plant in Seattle and was delivered to Pan American World Airways in 1970.
First Boeing 747-/Getty Images
Source: Insider
The jumbo jet was the first of several 747 variants and featured four engines and two levels.
The Japanese government's former Boeing 747-400 aircraft,Manabu Takahashi/Getty
Source: Insider
The massive plane ushered in a new era of aviation and became a symbol of status and extravagance for airlines.
British Airways Boeing 747.Jed Leicester/Shutterstock
Source: Insider
Particularly, carriers like Qantas and Pan Am used the upper deck for luxuries like bars, restaurants, and lounges.
Lufthansa 747 lounge.Hutmacher/ullstein bild/Getty
Source: Insider
Dozens of global airlines purchased the jet, like Dutch flag carrier KLM …
A KLM 747-400.Louis Nastro/Reuters
Source: Insider
… United Airlines …
United Airlines 747.Vytautas Kielaitis/Shutterstock
Source: Insider
… and Hong Kong's national airline Cathay Pacific Airways.
Cathay Pacific Boeing 747LAURENT FIEVET/Getty Images
Source: Insider
After triumphantly serving airlines as a long-haul workhorse for decades, the 747 started falling short of its twin-engine competitors that could operate the long journeys more efficiently.
An Etihad Airways Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner nicknamed the "Greenliner" at the Dubai Airshow 2021Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: Insider
Specifically, airliners like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 were more cost-effective for carriers and, as a result, the new planes slowly started taking over markets historically served by the 747.
Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner.Norse Atlantic Airways
Source: Insider
The retirement of the Queen of the Skies started before the pandemic when airlines like Delta sent its 747s to the boneyard.
Delta Air Lines Boeing 747aviation-images.com/Getty Images
Even more iconic planes are disappearing from the skies earlier than planned as the coronavirus continues to wreak airline havoc
However, the COVID-19 crisis exacerbated the cost issues surrounding the jet, forcing several other carriers to retire it during the pandemic, like Qantas …
Qantas 747.REUTERS/Daniel Munoz
Qantas just retired the iconic Boeing 747 with a commemorative last flight flown by the airline's first female captain who drew a kangaroo in the sky
… and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Virgin Atlantic Airways 747.Virgin Atlantic Airways
Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic will cut thousands of jobs, retire its most iconic planes, and close one of its biggest bases as it fights to survive the pandemic
Despite the plane leaving the skies, not everyone is ready to see it reduced to parts.
Pinal Airpark in Marana, Arizona.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Inside a remote Arizona aircraft boneyard storing nearly 300 planes grounded by the pandemic
Instead, several organizations have scooped up the jet and repurposed it into flightless hotels, event spaces, and tourist attractions. Here are six recycled Queen of the Skies that can still be enjoyed by fans.
Atlas Air 747s.Matheus Obst/Shutterstock
How the world's largest airplane boneyard stores and regenerates 3,100 retired aircraft
The most recent repurposed 747 to open to the public is the "party plane" in Cotswold, England.
Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport
A retired British Airways Boeing 747 was bought for $1.35 by an English airport and converted into a flightless 'party plane' event space — see inside the renovated Queen of the Skies
Cotswold Airport bought the plane from British Airways for £1 ($1.35) and rents it out for £1,000 per hour ($1,340) or €12,000 for 24 hours ($16,100).
British Airways 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport
Source: Insider
The space can be used for things like birthday parties, film sets, or weddings.
Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport
Source: Insider
The jet is unique because it features the company's old Negus livery that was painted in 2019 for the company's 100th anniversary.
Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport
Source: Insider
Renovation of the plane cost £500,000 ($670,000), which included transforming the economy cabin into a dance floor with a DJ stand and bar.
Boeing 747 "party plane."Cotswold Airport
Source: Insider
The rest of the plane has remained untouched, including the upper deck ...
Boeing 747 "party plane" upper deck.Cotswold Airport
... and the cockpit, which has been sealed off from the public via a transparent door because there are still some working controls.
Boeing 747 "party plane" cockpit.Cotswold Airport
Source: Insider
Another 747 converted into a tourist attraction is the Queen of the Skies parked outside the Corendon Village Hotel in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Corendon 747 in Amsterdam.Aerovista Luchtfotografie/Shutterstock
Source: Corendon
Corendon Tourism Group is a leisure travel brand that has an airline based out of Turkey called Corendon Airlines. But, the 747 did not come from the company's fleet.
Corendon Airlines is based in Turkey.Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock
Source: Corendon
The jumbo jet is actually a retired KLM aircraft named "City of Bangkok" that flew for the Dutch airline for 30 years. It was taken out of service in 2018 and acquired by Corendon.
KLM Boeing 747.Angel Di Bilio via Getty Images
Source: Corendon
To get the 160-ton plane to the hotel, it was transported via highway and through fields on a 200-ton trailer with 192 wheels.
Corendon 747 being transported to the hotel.Maarten Bell/Shutterstock
Source: Corendon
The aircraft has been adorned in Corendon colors and put on display so the public can walk around or sit underneath the jet. Visitors can also tour the 747's interior to see its seats, cockpit, and galleys.
Corendon 747.Corendon
Source: Corendon
Moreover, the 9th floor of the hotel has a lounge called SkyBar where guests can admire the parked 747 as well as other planes flying over Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.
Corendon SkyBar.Corendon
Source: Corendon
While most retired 747s are daytime tourist attractions, there is one parked in Sweden that hosts overnight stays.
Jumbo Stay 747.Jumbo Stay
This Jumbo Jet Was Transformed Into A Beautiful Hotel — And You Can Even Sleep In The Cockpit
Jumbo Stay Hotel is a retired Queen of the Skies that opened in 2009 and is parked next to a busy taxiway at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport, giving guests panoramic views of the airfield.
Jumbo Stay 747 reception area.EQRoy/Shutterstock
Source: Jumbo Stay
The plane flew for a number of airlines before finding its home at Arlanda, including Singapore Airlines, Pan Am, Canadian carrier Nationair, US charter company Tower Air, and Swedish airline Transjet Airways.
Jumbo Stay 747 entrance.Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Source: Jumbo Stay
There are several onboard guest accommodations, including 33 rooms that can be either private or shared.
Jumbo Stay 747 leading to rooms.Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Source: Jumbo Stay
Specifically, there are multi-bed dorms …
Jumbo Stay 747 dorm.Jumbo Stay
Source: Jumbo Stay
… single-person pods in the engines …
Jumbo Stay 747 engine room.Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Source: Jumbo Stay
… a private room in the wheelhouse …
Jumbo Stay 747 wheelhouse room.Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Source: Jumbo Stay
… and even a double bed in the cockpit.
Jumbo Stay 747 cockpit room.Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Source: Jumbo Stay
Also onboard is a cafe and bar for guests to eat and relax …
Jumbo Stay 747 cafe.Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Source: Jumbo Stay
... a conference room/lounge area with eight original seats from 1976 ...
Jumbo Stay 747 conference room/lounge area.Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
… and an observation deck to see Arlanda's airport operations.
Jumbo Stay 747 deck.Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Source: Jumbo Stay
Another Queen of the Skies converted into a tourism site is Dive Bahrain's sunken 747 to attract diving enthusiasts.
Boeing 747 submerged off the coast of Bahrain.Dive Bahrain
Countries around the world have sunk aircraft like the Boeing 747 to boost diving tourism — here are 6 intentionally submerged planes
The jet, which spent most of its life with Malaysia Airlines, was submerged off Bahrain's coast in 2019 by Falcon Aircraft Recycling.
Falcon Aircraft Recycling specially modified the structure of the 747 to sink it.Falcon Aircraft Recycling
Source: Dive Bahrain
The plane is part of Dive Bahrain's "underwater theme park" that will house the jet, boats, and several other structures when it is complete.
Boeing 747 sunken off the coast of Bahrain.Dive Bahrain
Source: Dive Bahrain
As of today, professional divers from over 50 countries have visited the mammoth 747's underwater site.
Boeing 747 sunken off the coast of Bahrain.Dive Bahrain
Source: Dive Bahrain
There are two must-see 747s that are permanently on display in the US. One is part of Delta Air Lines' aviation museum in Atlanta, Georgia.
Delta Flight Museum 747.Delta Air Lines
Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum
The first-ever 747-400 ever built went to Northwest Airlines in 1989 but was taken over by Delta in a 2008 merger between the two carriers.
Northwest's 747-400.Delta Air Lines
Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum
The jumbo jet, called Ship 6301, was retired in 2015 after flying over 61 million miles. The plane's final flight was from Honolulu to Atlanta, where it has remained ever since.
Delta's first 747-400 last flight.Delta Air Lines
Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum
For its retirement, the historic jet was transformed into "The 747 Experience" and welcomes guests who want to learn about the history of the Queen of the Skies and see its inner workings.
Delta Flight Museum 747 opening.Delta Air Lines
Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum
At the exhibit, which opened in 2017, visitors can also sit in the upper deck's first class seats …
Delta Flight Museum 747 upper deck.EQRoy/Shutterstock
Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum
… check out the cockpit …
Delta Flight Museum 747 cockpit.Delta Air Lines
Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum
… walk on the wing …
Delta employees standing on the 747 wing.Delta Air Lines
Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum
… and see the plane's skeleton, including its wiring and electronics.
Inside the Delta Flight Museum's fuselage.Delta Air Lines
Source: Delta, Delta Flight Museum
Also in the US is a 747 on display at Universal Studios in California.
Universal Studios California Studio Tour.Universal Studios
Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying
Visitors to the theme park can go on the Backlot Tour to see the broken-up jet, which was destroyed to create an airplane crash set for Steven Spielberg's movie, "War of the Worlds."
Broken up 747 at Universal Studios California.Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images
Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying
The plane cost the production team $60,000, which was just a third of what transporting the decommissioned All Nippon Airways jet to Universal cost.
ANA 747 being broken down in Victorville.Aeroprints.com
Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying
Transporting the 747 required a helicopter, a series of trucks, a police escort, and $200,000.
Universal Studios 747.Usa-Pyon/Shutterstock
Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying
The scene was filmed at the studio in January 2005, and the plane has been there ever since.
Broken up 747 at Universal Studios California.Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images
Source: The Studio Tour, Simple Flying
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