On what date did the Boeing 747 make its first flight?

The Boeing 747 made its first flight on February 9, 1969.

The prototype, known as the 747-100, took off from Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington. Test pilots Jack Waddell and Brien Wygle flew the aircraft during its first flight, which lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The 747 was developed for Pan Am, whose president Juan Trippe had asked Boeing to build a much larger passenger aircraft. Its distinctive upper-deck “hump” allowed the main cabin to carry many more passengers than earlier wide-body designs. The aircraft entered commercial service with Pan Am in January 1970.

The first flight date is sometimes confused with the 747’s first commercial flight or its public rollout. Boeing rolled out the prototype in September 1968, while Pan Am’s first scheduled passenger service occurred in January 1970. The 747 later became one of the most recognizable aircraft in aviation history.