Which Boeing 747 variant was the first to fly?

The Boeing 747-100 was the first 747 variant to fly.

The 747-100 was the original production version of Boeing’s 747 family. Its prototype made the type’s first flight on February 9, 1969, launching a program that would become one of commercial aviation’s most recognizable achievements. The aircraft was designed as a large, long-range wide-body jet with a distinctive upper-deck section.

Pan Am introduced the 747 into scheduled passenger service in January 1970. The 747-100 normally carried about 366 passengers in a typical three-class arrangement, although actual seating varied by airline configuration.

The 747-100 is often confused with later variants because the family retained the same basic silhouette. The 747-200 increased fuel capacity and maximum takeoff weight, the 747-400 added major aerodynamic and cockpit improvements, and the 747-8 introduced a new wing and longer fuselage. All trace their lineage to the 747-100.