Even to non-aviation enthusiasts, the Boeing 747 can easily be identified by its iconic “hump” that extends from behind the nose to just behind the wing. Did you know that the recognizable look actually came from a military design?
The military brief
In the early 60s, the United States Air Force was in the process of entering the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter into service. The now-retired strategic airlifter was a quad-engine jet that could take off with a maximum weight of 342,000 lb (147,000 kg).
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Despite its high lift capacity, the U.S. Air Force had foreseen that an even larger transport aircraft would soon be needed. Thus came the brief for a military aircraft dubbed Cargo Experimental, Heavy Logistics System (CX-HLS): 180,000-pound (81,647-kg) load capacity, 5,000-nautical-mile range, a speed of Mach 0.75, and a cargo bay measuring 17 x 13.5 x 100 feet (5.2 x 4 x 30.5 meters), with both front and rear cargo bay access.
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Boeing’s proposal
In May 1964, Boeing, along with other major American aeronautical manufacturers such as Lockheed and Douglas, put forward proposals for the CX-HLS. Here’s where Boeing’s distinguishable upper deck came into the picture.
Boeing proposed a long pod situated at the top of the aircraft, housing the cockpit and other crew compartments so that the rest of the aircraft space below could be used for cargo. This configuration meant that the nose of the aircraft could fully open to allow cargo loading and unloading from the front.
Unfortunately, the Air Force favored Lockheed’s design (the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, which also has a nose door) over Boeing’s – but this paved the way for the latter’s major success in developing the Queen of the Skies.
The dawn of the Boeing 747 project
Around the same time, Juan Trippe – who was the president of Pan Am – approached Boeing to design a passenger aircraft that was two and a half times larger than the existing Boeing 707. The airline was seeking to meet the rapidly increasing passenger demand, which was leading to congestion at airports.
Boeing transferred its military design to that of an airliner, calling it the Boeing 747. While initial designs included a full double deck (as in the later Airbus A380), there were concerns about emergency evacuation routes. So, Boeing decided to stick with the half-length deck.
The aircraft manufacturer also adapted the nose door into its airliner’s design, optimizing the Boeing 747 for cargo duties, which the original military design was intended for. This provided Boeing and Trippe with the reassurance that if newer (particularly at that time, supersonic) airliners were to catch on, the jumbo jet could remain profitable as a freighter.
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A variety of uses
When the Boeing 747 was introduced, it was a hit among airlines. Since its introduction, 1,572 units have rolled off the production line until manufacturing ceased in November 2022. Over the years, the jet’s hump has been used for first class and business class seating, as well as onboard lounges.
Today, the use of the Boeing 747 as a passenger jet has waned, but it continues to be a popular cargo aircraft – as Boeing and Trippe had hoped for.
In January this year, the final 747 ever produced was handed over to its final customer Atlas Air. This delivery marked an end to the program, a whopping 54 years of the type's first flight.
The innovation of Boeing's teams back in the 1960s helped the jumbo become a legend across the globe. The plane has left a legacy that will be remembered for generations.
What are your thoughts about the Boeing 747's hump design? What do you make of the overall history of the aircraft over the decades? Let us know what you think of the plane and its story in the comment section.