Boeing 747-100

The Boeing 747-100 was designed to seat approximately 366 passengers in a typical three-class configuration. In a high-density single-class layout, it could carry up to 452 passengers. The distinctive upper deck, originally intended as a first-class lounge, could seat up to 32 passengers. The 747-100 introduced the concept of wide-body air travel with a 6.50 m wide cabin.

The Boeing 747-100 had a maximum range of approximately 9,800 km (5,300 nautical miles) with a full passenger load. This was sufficient for transatlantic routes but not transpacific routes without a fuel stop. The aircraft was powered by four Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7A turbofan engines, the first high-bypass-ratio engines developed for a commercial aircraft.

The 747-100 established the basic design that would endure through four major generations. The later 747-400 extended range to over 13,000 km and added winglets, while the 747-8 stretched the fuselage and added modern engines. The 747-100 was significantly heavier per passenger than modern aircraft and consumed roughly twice the fuel per seat compared to a modern Boeing 787. Only 205 747-100 series aircraft were built.

The 747-100 is no longer in passenger service, so it cannot be spotted at airports. It can be identified in photographs by its short upper deck (extending only to the wing root), lack of winglets, and four Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines. The original 747-100 had a three-window upper deck cockpit configuration and a distinctive body stripe line that extended from the nose to the tail.

The Boeing 747-100 is arguably the most significant commercial aircraft ever built. Its first flight on February 9, 1969, and entry into service with Pan American World Airways on January 22, 1970, revolutionized air travel by making intercontinental flight affordable for the masses. The 747 more than doubled the capacity of the largest existing airliner (the Boeing 707) and its low per-seat costs helped create the modern era of mass air tourism. Boeing nearly went bankrupt developing it, betting the entire company on the program.