I hope you will be able to answer this Jumbo question for me?

[JonnyBoy12]

Not sure if this is the right area for this type of question, but would really like to know how many types or configurations of Boeing 747 airplanes there are. Despite the effects of the new Airbus A-380 we all still think of her as Queen of the Skies. I know that there have been over 1,000 of them manufactured in the past, and they are made in the largest factory in the world, but how many kinds of Jumbo Jets are there?

Thanks for your ever helpful replies.

[Buenchico]

From Boeing's own website:
http://www.boeing.com...amily/background.html

Chris

[Answerprancer]

Have you tried the obvious fist port of call ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747
BTW have you heard of the Antonov AN225 Мрія ? it makes the 747 look like a midget !

[JonnyBoy12]

Thanks for the answers, but I only visit a 'fist' port of call when asking questions about boxing! Can you tell me more about the other plane which I can not pronounce?

JB12

[jno]

they originally planned it as a cargo aircraft, which is why the pilot is in a bubble upstairs: so containers could be loaded through the nose. It took quite a while for airlines to realise just how many thousands of passengers they could cram in. I flew on one in about 1975, and it still had a cocktail lounge upstairs.

[Buenchico]

Wikipedia to the rescue again!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-225

[Andyvon]

It's the best airliner ever built (DC-3 notwthstanding) and it will probably remain so for many years to come.

[Answerprancer]

As far as I know the AN225 is the largest aircraft ever built there are only two in existance and are used amongst other things to carry the Russian space shuttles.
Here are a couple of pics:
http://images3.jetpho.../53518_1087638085.jpg
http://www.buran.fr/b...aft_an225buran_50.jpg

[Answerprancer]

mmm ...nice anhedral !

[Aqualung]

Here is that Russian plane at Mancheter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVFhOpbHdok

[jno]

for comparison

http://en.wikipedia.o...ist_of_large_aircraft

[Clanad]

Surely, one of the most famous of Boeing's finest was N601BN... a singularly famous B-747 Model -100 operated by Braniff Airlines. N601BN, nicknamed "The Great Pumpkin", "Big Orange," or "Fat Albert" due to its bright orange paint scheme which covered the giant aircraft from nose to tail, was the 100th 747 to roll of the Everett line and was delivered new to the company on December 28, 1970.
"During the first two weeks in January the company sent the N601BN on a publicity tour covering 17 cities. These flights were meet with great public interest with one particular stop in Memphis attracting 10,000 people to the airport just to see "The Great Pumpkin." This was all in preparation for the inaugural flight from Dallas to Honolulu and back to Dallas.
This lone aircraft flew the route (beginning in January 1971) daily for the next 7 years and one month, accumulating a record 15.5 hours of flight time each 24 hour period.

Uniquely designed maintenance was done on the aircraft during a 2 hour lay over in HNL and was approved in lieu of maintenance usually done over a longer period of time.
To my knowledge, the aircraft flew more hours than anyother B-747...

[theshedman]

Hi, not an answer to your question but yes the 747 has probably had the greatest success of all airliners partly due to the number of passengers it carries and also to the number of years it has flown with not many accidents. The bit that I saw in one of the replies was the bit about BOAC, brought back memories. I flew on one many years ago from London to Sydney back in the 60s. BOAC 707 Whiskey Echo also famous but for the wrong reasons. My trip was uneventful but a later one wasn't.

[Trottie]

Loads. You have to remember that an airline can specify much of the internal fit. In the time I've been flying 744's, I've flown, maybe, 7 or 8 different configuration aircraft as well as the cargo version. If you also figure in the fact that there are, at least, 3 different engine fits (RB211's, GE's and P&W) flying around today on passenger 744's transitting LHR you'll start to get the pic.