The 747 is unarguably the Queen of the Skies. The "Queen of the Skies" has been playing
a pivotal role in inspiring long-haul travelers for more than five decades. With new models,
more modern and efficient to be launched in the market and with the reduction of global
fleets due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 747 was gradually being withdrawn of operation,
becoming more and more rare to be seen in the main airports around the world.
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Hit the like button to show your support. And in today's video, we are going to discuss “Top
10 Modified Boeing 747.” So without any further ado, Let's begin.
10. Boeing 747 Dreamlifter:
The Boeing Dreamlifter is a wide-body cargo jet. It has approximately 65,000 cubic feet
of cargo space, offering a substantial amount of storage space for commercial airlines.
To put the size of its cargo hold into perspective, the Dreamlifter can transport up to three
times the volume of cargo than a traditional 747-100F jet. Boeing originally announced
the Dreamlifter back in the early 2000s. Of course, the aerospace manufacturing company
encountered several hurdles when designing
the wide-body cargo jet. In 2003, for instance, Boeing discovered that the 787 parts were
too large for the Dreamlifter, so it began using parts from 747-400 instead. After rigorous
testing and certification, Boeing officially introduced the Dreamlifter in 2008. In terms
of size, the Dreamlifter measures over 235 feet long and 70 feet tall. It also has a
maximum takeoff weight of over 803,000 pounds as well as a cruising speed of Mach 0.82.
9. B747 Pratt & Whitney Tester:
Pratt & Whitney operates a Boeing 747 with five engines. The spare engine configuration
allows the company to test conceptional engines in real-life flight conditions. This kind
of new generation engine family uses an advanced gear system allowing the engine’s fan to
operate at a different speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine in such a way to improve
the engine’s efficiency, environmental emissions, and noise.
However, along with the reduced environmental
impact, the new geared turbofans provide a better FOD (Foreign Object Damage) resistance:
as pointed out by a recent AOL Defense article, since they have a much higher “bypass ratio”
(meaning that a higher amount of air sucked by the engine bypasses the core of the engine
where the air is mixed with fuel and ignited), there’s a higher chance that anything sucked
by the engine bypasses the most delicate part of the engine.
8. NASA’s Space Shuttle Carrier:
NASA introduced the re-usable Space Shuttle in 1977. After landing, the shuttle vehicle
needed to be returned to its base at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A modified Boeing
747-100, NASA 905 (N905NA) is 231 feet, 10 inches long; 63 feet, 5 inches high (from
the top of the vertical stabilizer) and has a wingspan of 195 feet and 8 inches. It weighs
(without an orbiter) 318,053 pounds.
After being purchased from American Airlines, NASA 905 had removed all of its interior furnishings
and equipment aft of the forward No. 1 doors. Instrumentation was then added so that SCA
flight crews and engineers could monitor orbiter electrical loads during the ferry flights
and during pre- and post-ferry flight operations. In anticipation of tours during the final
series of ferry flights, NASA outfitted the SCA with a new display of photos documenting
the history of the aircraft in its service to the space shuttle program.
7. Boeing 747 Supertanker:
Only 4 Boeing 747 Supertankers were built, not by Boeing, but rather, based upon Boeings
747 aircraft that were retrofitted by a company called Evergreen International Aviation to
fight fires. Aviation buffs may be familiar with the man versions of the Boeing 747 such
as the Boeing 747-100, 747-200, 747-300, 747-400, and similar passenger and freight carrier
designs for the 747. Since early in 1970 when the first Boeing
747-100 was delivered to Pan Am, Boeing built
and sold over 1500 of the humpback jets. One plane many aviation enthusiasts may not be
familiar with was the Boeing 747 Supertanker. Primarily a helicopter, agricultural, and
forestry service company, Evergreen also hauled freight using Boeing 747 Freighters. Evergreen
proposed to convert up to 4 Boeing 747-200 airplanes into fire fighting systems and spent
millions to convert the first 747-200 to firefighting supertankers.
6. The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared
Astronomy (SOFIA): Boeing 747 SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory
for Infrared Astronomy), equipped with a telescope whose mirror measures 2.5 m in diameter. This
aircraft converted into a flying observatory is stationed, with other NASA aircraft, in
a 19,500-m²hangar in Palmdale California. It flies by night at high altitudes (up to
approximately 14 km) to observe the stars in infrared from the stratosphere.
During this mission in February 2017, SOFIA
enabled observation of the Orion Nebula, the region nearest to the solar system in which
massive stars form. A map of Orion will thus be produced to characterize the dynamics of
gases from observations of carbon ion emissions, very abundant in regions of star formation.
5. The Boeing VC-25A:
The Boeing VC-25A are two highly modified Boeing 747s used by the USAF for the transportation
of the President of the United States of America or high patents of American policy that came
to replace the VC-137C. The VC-25A is capable of flying 7,800 nautical miles (12,600 km)
without refueling. Among more general characteristics, the Boeing
VC-25A has a crew of 26 elements: 2 pilots,
1 flight engineer, 1 navigator, plus a cabin crew and a mission crew. Even though its 370
m² of space has been reconfigured for presidential functions, it is still possible to accommodate
76 passengers in a VIP configuration.
4. Sultan Bolkiah Flying Palace: The Sultan of Brunei occupies the honor of
being one of the richest men in the world. He has shown the world that he possesses enormous
wealth and leads his life in boundless luxury, besides having to suffer several allegations
from many people who envy his wealth. He is famous for buying luxury at the most expensive
prices. The same thing happened when he bought the Boeing 747-430 through Lufthansa for the
huge amount of 100 million USD. This private jet was the center of his attention
as he was not hesitant to spend more money
on it. He spent another $120 million to outfit the aircraft with an interior that befits
a Sultan. 3. the United States Air Force E-4B:
The E-4B, a militarized version of the Boeing
747-200, is a four-engine, swept-wing, long-range high-altitude airplane capable of refueling
in flight. The main deck is divided into six functional areas: a command work area, conference
room, briefing room, an operations team work area, communications area, and rest area.
The E-4B is protected against the effects
of electromagnetic pulse and has an electrical system designed to support advanced electronics
and a wide variety of communications equipment. Other improvements include nuclear and thermal
effects shielding, acoustic control, an improved technical control facility, and an upgraded
air-conditioning system for cooling electrical components.
2. The Boeing YAL-1:
The US Air Force airborne laser, (ABL), designated YAL-1A, is a high-energy laser weapon system
for the destruction of tactical theatre ballistic missiles, which is carried on a modified Boeing
747-400F freighter aircraft. The ABL is being developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory
and Team ABL, comprising Boeing, TRW (now Northrop Grumman Space Technologies), and
Lockheed Martin.
Boeing is responsible for program management, systems integration, battle management system,
and modification of the 747-400F aircraft. TRW is building the laser systems. Modification
of the aircraft, involving installation of the turret in the aircraft’s nose and modifications
to accept the laser, optics, and computer hardware, was completed in May 2002.
1. Air Force One:
Although Air Force One is used as the call sign for any aircraft carrying the president,
the name has become most closely associated with planes that are specifically built for
presidential use. Beginning in 1962, the first two of these crafts, both modified Boeing
707s, were used by President John F. Kennedy. Boeing and McDonnell Douglas were the only
aircraft manufacturers to submit proposals,
with the Boeing 747 and DC-10 respectively. On June 5, 1986, Boeing was chosen to receive
the contract, pending congressional approval.
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