747 historical events 2001-2005 - Boeing 747 | information center

I collected all the important milestones of the mighty  BOEING 747  in the past 50+ years. I tried to do my best to recall every important moment of more than fifty-year. I hope my efforts serve your reading enjoyment.

Corrections and additions are warmly welcome at postmaster@boeing747.net
Dates are in yyyy.mm.dd. format


747 milestones | 2001-2005

• 2001.04.10  United Airlines announces 747-400 operations on the world's longest air route, flight UA821 from New York to Hong Kong, 8.439 miles (13587 kilometers).
  

• 2001.04.30  Boeing launches second member of its Longer-Range 747-400 Family - the 747-400ER Freighter - with an order from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) for 5 examples.
  

• 2001.12.18  Boeing engineers complete 90 percent of the design work for both the passenger and freighter versions of the new Longer-Range (400ER) 747-400 family.
  

• February 2002  Boeing scheduled to begin assembly of "Longer Range 747" for far reaching overseas routes; launch customer: QANTAS
  

• February 2002  Boeing asks for airline feedback on a "quiet" version called the 747-400QLR
  

• November 2002  Boeing confirms studies to design a more capable 747-400 called the 747-800X
  

• 2002.02.11  Boeing workers load the 747's forward section floor grid into an assembly tool, marking the start of major assembly for the 747-400ER.
  

• 2002.04.10 PH-BFY the last 400M Combi delivery to KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines.
  

• 2002.06.17 N747ER Thousands of Boeing employees gather in the world's largest building to celebrate rollout of the first 747-400ER.
  

• 2002.07.31  First flight of the 747-400ER begins a three-month flight test program that will culminate with certification and delivery to launch customer Qantas Airways.
  

• 2002.10.16. FAA certification received by FAA for the 400ER/F
  

• 2002.10.17 F-GIUA Delivery of first 747-400ER/F freighter to Air France (financed by International Finance Lease Corporation).
  

• 2002.10.29. FAA certification received by FAA for the 400ER
  

• 2002.10.31 VH-OEF Delivery of the first 747-400ER passenger version to Qantas Airways.
  

• 2002.11.28 The last 747-400 order placed by China Airlines.
  

• June 2003  Boeing discloses plans to revive 747-400 derivative with 7E7 technologies.
  

• 2003.01.15  Connexion by Boeing service aboard a Lufthansa 747-400 provides commercial airline passengers the opportunity to experience in-flight broadband Internet access for the first time.
  

• 2003.07.30 VH-OEJ the last 400ER delivered to QANTAS.
  

• 2003.10.13  747 Dreamlifter program kicks off.
  

• April 2005  Boeing chooses General Electric GEnx-2B67 engines to power "747 Advanced"
  

• 2005.04.26 B-18215 the very last passenger dash 400 delivered to China Airlines of Taiwan.
  

• 2005.08.17  United Parcel Service (UPS) orders its first eight 747-400 Freighters.
  

• 2005.11.14  The Boeing 747-8 program, including the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane and the 747-8 Freighter airplane is launched with an order for 10 747-8 Freighters from Cargolux, based in Luxembourg.