Aircraft

Boeing 747-400

Exhibition: The 747 Experience

Ship 6301 moved to the Delta Flight Museum on April 30, 2016. After almost a year of work, this famous 747-400 opened as an exhibition on March 28, 2017. Inside, visitors are able to sit in aircraft seats, check out the upper deck, walk out on a wing, examine what goes on behind the walls of an aircraft, and learn all about the history of the 747 and its role in Delta's history. The plane is open 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on days the Museum is open and is included with the cost of Museum admission.

Service

Ship 6301 was the first 747-400 built by the Boeing Aircraft Company. It was registered by Boeing as N401PW, and first flew on April 29, 1988. It was used by Pratt & Whitney for engine testing prior to entry into service with Northwest Airlines. 

Boeing changed the registration to N661US, and delivered Ship 6301 to Northwest Airlines in December 8, 1989. Ship 6301 joined the Delta fleet when Northwest merged with Delta in 2008.

After logging more than 61 million miles, Ship 6301 flew its final flight on September 9, 2015: Flight 836, from Honolulu to Atlanta.

Video Tour of the 747 Experience

This tour of the 747 Experience was created for Delta's BIG THANK YOU to their employees in April 2017. It gives a great idea of what to expect when you visit the 747 Experience!

The 747: Revolution in Aviation

Known as the “Queen of the Skies,” the Boeing 747 is one of the most popular and recognizable aircraft in the world today. When the first 747 made its first commercial flight 45 years ago, critics thought the aircraft would soon become obsolete as designers believed that supersonic aircraft would be taking over the skies. However, the four-engine jumbo jet revolutionized the industry with its exceptional long-haul flight capability and sheer size, nearly three times larger than the largest jet flying at the time.

The improved 747-400 featured a new glass cockpit, tail fuel tanks, advanced engines and a new interior.

747-400 model is called a “high-tech” jumbo to distinguish its advanced features from its predecessor, the “classic jumbo” of the -100 to -300 series.  747-400s have been flown from the U.S. to numerous long-haul destinations including Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Honolulu, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, and Manila during the past 26 years.  

More Information

Delta News Hub: See video and read about Ship 6301's final flight.

Atlanta Business Chronicle: See slideshow of Ship 6301 from Boeing factory to final flight. 

Airways News: Read trip report from Ship 6301's final flight.

This Day in Aviation Blog: Learn about Ship 6301 (then N401PW) setting weight record for greatest mass (892,240 lbs.) carried to a height of 2,000 meters on June 27, 1988.

Jalopnik Blog: Read Northwest Airlines Capt. John Hansen's account of experiencing a first-of-its-kind tail control failure in Ship 6301 on a flight from Detroit to Tokyo in 2002. This incident led to repairs on other 747-400s to prevent similar incidences.

YouTube: See Ship 6301 taxi to gate in Tokyo-Narita and tow to gate in Taiwan-Taoyuan, 2008.