| City of Everett | |
|---|---|
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| General information | |
| Other name | RA001 |
| Type | Boeing 747-121[Note 1] |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Registration | N7470[1] |
| Total hours | 5,208 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | September 30, 1968 |
| First flight | February 9, 1969 |
| In service | 1969–1990 |
| Last flight | April 6, 1995 |
| Preserved at | Museum of Flight inSeattle, Washington |
| Fate | On display |
The "City of Everett", is aBoeing 747, registered asN7470, that was built byBoeing to be the prototype for the Boeing 747-100. The aircraft rolled off the assembly line on September 30, 1968, and had its first flight on February 9, 1969. After the conclusion of the 747-flight testing program, Boeing retained the aircraft, using it for research and testing purposes until the early 1990s. The aircraft took its final flight on April 6, 1995, to theMuseum of Flight inSeattle, Washington where it remains on display.
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On September 30, 1968, the Boeing 747-100 prototype, registered asN7470 had rolled off the production line at theBoeing Everett Factory, a massive building that was constructed to build the 747 and was built almost simultaneously with the aircraft.[2][3] The aircraft carried manufacturer serial number 20235[3] and was designated internally asRA001,[clarification needed] marking the beginning of the era of the "jumbo jet".[4]
N7470 has a paint design featuring a simple white and red livery adorned with the logos of the more than two dozen airline customers who had ordered the aircraft type.[5]
Given its origin from the Everett production factory,Boeing nicknamed the aircraft the "City of Everett."[6]
Although N7470 was publicly revealed in September 1968, it didn't take to the skies until February 9, 1969.[3] The inaugural flight was piloted by Boeing Chief Test PilotJack Wadell, accompanied by Engineering Test PilotBrien Singleton Wygle and Flight EngineerJesse Arthur Wallick. This historic test flight marked the beginning of the Boeing 747's journey.[7] N7470 continued its test flying duties until the type was certified by theFederal Aviation Administration (FAA) on December 30, 1969.[8]
After the 747 test flights, Boeing re-registered the aircraft as N1352B in July 1970 to explore missions beyond its original design specifications. These missions were primarily military, including using N1352B as a refuelling tanker for theLockheed SR-71 Blackbird and theBoeing B-52 Stratofortress. Unfortunately, the idea of using the Boeing 747 as a refuelling tanker wasn't ideal, and the aircraft was eventually re-registered back to its original identity as N7470.[citation needed]
The plane was stored in Las Vegas between October 1983 and August 1986, when it was sent to Wichita where it was used as a mockup for the development of theBoeing VC-25, the aircraft commonly associated withAir Force One.[8]
The aircraft also served as a testbed for thePratt & Whitney PW4000 turbofan during its development for theBoeing 777.[3]
Boeing retained ownership of N7470 over its entire lifetime in service, never being delivered to a customer and never being used in commercial service.[9] The aircraft only accumulated about 5,200 hours of flight time over its lifetime, relatively low compared to a commercial aircraft which typically sees 3,000 to 4,000 hours every year. However, the aircraft was subjected to more extreme conditions including repeatedstalls anddives.[8]
On April 6, 1995, N7470 embarked on its last-ever flight.[8] The aircraft, still in its test-configured state, was donated to theMuseum of Flight located atBoeing Field inSeattle, Washington where it was placed on static display.
By the early 2000s, the aircraft was in need of restoration due to its advanced age and prolonged exposure to the wet weather of the Pacific Northwest.[10]
The board of the Museum of Flight authorized the restoration in the summer of 2012 and embarked on a nearly two-year-long effort. The aircraft was restored in place, not moved into a hangar, which complicated the effort. On the aircraft's exterior, the faded paint was sanded down, and crews applied more than 60 gallons of fresh paint. The interior, damaged with mildew, was restored to the aircraft's first-flight configuration, with testing equipment on the main deck, and period-appropriate upholstery was located to recreate the upper deck lounge's furniture. The aircraft reopened for public tours in 2014.[11][12] After the restoration, a large roof was built over the Museum's Aviation Pavilion to better protect N7470 and other aircraft on display.[13]
Media related toN7470 (aircraft) at Wikimedia Commons