<P> The Boeing 747 is an American wide - body commercial jet airliner and cargo aircraft, often referred to by its original nickname, "Jumbo Jet". Its distinctive "hump" upper deck along the forward part of the aircraft has made it one of the most recognizable aircraft, and it was the first wide - body airplane produced . Manufactured by Boeing's Commercial Airplane unit in the United States, the 747 was originally envisioned to have 150 percent greater capacity than the Boeing 707, a common large commercial aircraft of the 1960s . First flown commercially in 1970, the 747 held the passenger capacity record for 37 years . </P> <P> The four - engine 747 uses a double - deck configuration for part of its length and is available in passenger, freighter and other versions . Boeing designed the 747's hump - like upper deck to serve as a first--class lounge or extra seating, and to allow the aircraft to be easily converted to a cargo carrier by removing seats and installing a front cargo door . Boeing expected supersonic airliners--the development of which was announced in the early 1960s--to render the 747 and other subsonic airliners obsolete, while the demand for subsonic cargo aircraft would remain robust well into the future . Though the 747 was expected to become obsolete after 400 were sold, it exceeded critics' expectations with production surpassing 1,000 in 1993 . By June 2018, 1,545 aircraft had been built, with 23 of the 747 - 8 variants remaining on order . As of January 2017, the 747 has been involved in 60 hull losses, resulting in 3,722 fatalities . </P> <P> The 747 - 400, the most common variant in service, has a high - subsonic cruise speed of Mach 0.85--0.855 (up to 570 mph or 920 km / h) with an intercontinental range of 7,260 nautical miles (8,350 statute miles or 13,450 km). The 747 - 400 can accommodate 416 passengers in a typical three - class layout, 524 passengers in a typical two - class layout, or 660 passengers in a high--density one - class configuration . The newest version of the aircraft, the 747 - 8, is in production and received certification in 2011 . Deliveries of the 747 - 8F freighter version began in October 2011; deliveries of the 747 - 8I passenger version began in May 2012 . </P> <P> In 1963, the United States Air Force started a series of study projects on a very large strategic transport aircraft . Although the C - 141 Starlifter was being introduced, they believed that a much larger and more capable aircraft was needed, especially the capability to carry outsized cargo that would not fit in any existing aircraft . These studies led to initial requirements for the CX - Heavy Logistics System (CX - HLS) in March 1964 for an aircraft with a load capacity of 180,000 pounds (81,600 kg) and a speed of Mach 0.75 (500 mph or 800 km / h), and an unrefueled range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) with a payload of 115,000 pounds (52,200 kg). The payload bay had to be 17 feet (5.18 m) wide by 13.5 feet (4.11 m) high and 100 feet (30 m) long with access through doors at the front and rear . </P>

What is the top speed of a 747