For the Boeing 747, under ideal conditions, the aircraft must reach a speed of 184 mph to take off. Cruising speed is the speed the aircraft can reach and sustain for extended periods.

While the 747 remains one of aviation's most beloved aircraft, its future has become a question of practicality. The supersonic dreams Boeing once bet on never materialized in a meaningful way.

Aerospace Was Ready to Take Off. Then Tariffs Landed. The aviation supply chain was finally recovering from the pandemic but now faces upheaval just as Boeing and Airbus seek to increase production.

Today, with hindsight being 20/20, we know how the Boeing 747 revolutionized air travel. But that was anything but a sure thing back when it was still on the drawing board in the mid-1960s.

The carrier took delivery of its first Boeing 747-100 in 1970 but soon realized that a smaller widebody like the Lockheed L-1011 would better suit its needs. As a result, Delta had returned all ...