Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is a dream location for plane spotters given the wide variety of planes overhead each day. Anyone lucky enough to look up at the sky over DFW early on a Sunday, at precisely the right moment, is in for a royal treat. The Queen of the Skies is making her presence known over North Texas as the big cargo hauler sets her sights on DFW Airport, marking the end of her weekly Sunday sojourn here. However, one thing many onlookers likely won’t realize is the significance of this particular Boeing 747. It happens to be the last 747 ever to roll off the assembly line.
When the first Boeing 747 took to the skies in 1969, it’s unlikely anyone knew they’d be cranking these legendary planes out for more than five decades. The 747 has been a familiar sight at DFW for many of those decades, with passenger and cargo carriers alike sending the jumbo jet to and from the Lone Star State. The 747 redefined luxury in the skies for many, but the massive plane also allowed far more passengers than previous jets making air travel an option for more people than ever before. As a result, many of us can close our eyes and remember the first time we saw the impressively large plane, and the luckiest among us have gotten the chance to catch a flight on one. It’s no wonder it was emotional news for many worldwide when it was announced the 747 would halt production. The 747 program officially ended in December 2022, as the very last Queen left the assembly plant in Everett, Washington.
The newest 747 is nicknamed “Empower” by its owners Kuehne + Nagel and is operated by Atlas Air, running cargo mainly from Asia. DFW is proud to be a weekly stop for this beautiful jet. To our avid aviation enthusiasts and hobby plane-spotters trying to catch a peek of this special plane, we recommend spending a Sunday morning at Founders’ Plaza.
