Boeing 747-100

Boeing · United States · first flew 1969 · airliner

Variant of the Boeing 747-400 — family overview.

The 747-100 was the original production 747, introducing the wide-body era to commercial aviation with its iconic forward upper-deck hump and four wing-mounted engines.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Short upper-deck hump with only 3 cabin windows on each side — fewer than later variants
• Pratt & Whitney JT9D or RR RB211 engines in large round pods; no raked wingtips
• Short lower-lobe cargo holds; straight, non-raked wingtips

The short upper-deck hump with only 3 side windows distinguishes the -100 from production -200s carry a ten-window upper deck per side — the quickest -100 vs -200 tell.

Specifications

• The Boeing 747-100 has a length of 70.7 m (232 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 59.6 m (196 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 988 km/h (614 mph).
• Typical crew: 3 flight crew.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Pan Am inaugurated the type on the New York–London route in January 1970. Only 168 were built; the short upper deck limited its seating advantage over contemporaries. Most were retired by the 1990s, with some converted to freighters.

Variants

The -100B added increased gross weight; the -100SR was a high-cycle short-range version for Japanese domestic routes.

Where you'll see it

All passenger examples retired; a handful of freighter conversions operated into the 2010s.

Related aircraft

• Boeing 747-400
• Boeing 747-200
• Boeing 747-300
• Boeing 747SP
• Boeing 747-400BDSF
• Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter (Dreamlifter)
• Boeing CC-137 Husky
• Boeing 727-200
• Boeing 737-100
• Boeing 737-200

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.