Freighters · Boeing
Boeing 747-400 B744
The Boeing 747-400 is the best-selling version of the 747 Jumbo Jet, with a two-crew glass cockpit, longer wings and winglets. Passenger 747-400s have almost vanished from US skies, but freighter versions remain busy. A 747-400F can carry about 113 tonnes of cargo.
747-400s airborne over the US now
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of all airborne aircraftplus — on the ground
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747-400s in the air over the last 24 hours
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Specifications
- ICAO code
- B744
- First flight
- 1988
- Typical cruise
- 490 kt / 564 mph
- Service ceiling
- 45,100 ft
- Range
- 4,500 nm / 5,179 mi
- Capacity
- ~113 t payload (747-400F)
- Length
- 70.7 m / 232 ft
- Wingspan
- 64.4 m / 211 ft
Engines: 4 x GE CF6-80C2, PW4000 or Rolls-Royce RB211-524 turbofans. Family: 747. Figures are typical published values, rounded; real performance depends on variant, weight and conditions.
What it does in US skies
Atlas Air, Kalitta Air, UPS and others fly 747-400 freighters on international cargo routes, military charters and humanitarian missions. They are frequent at Anchorage, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Main US operators: Atlas Air, Kalitta Air, UPS, National Airlines.
How to recognize a 747-400
- Classic 747 hump over the forward fuselage.
- Upturned winglets on passenger and converted versions; factory 747-400F freighters have a short upper deck.
- Four engines without chevrons.
- Smaller than the 747-8 and lacks its raked wingtips.
How it looks on a flight tracker
Typically cruises at FL300 to FL380 at 450 to 560 kt. Look for GTI, CKS, UPS and NCR callsigns, often on long ocean crossings or Anchorage tech stops.
History
The 747-400 entered service with Northwest Airlines in 1989. Boeing built 694 of them, and its E-4B Nightwatch cousins are based on the earlier 747-200.
Where 747-400s are right now
Open this view on airplanes.live →Questions
What is the ICAO code for the Boeing 747-400?
The ICAO aircraft type designator for the Boeing 747-400 is B744. Flight trackers and flight plans use this four-character code.
How fast does the 747-400 fly?
The Boeing 747-400 typically cruises at about 490 knots true airspeed (about 564 mph). Ground speed on a tracker varies with the wind.
How high can the 747-400 fly?
Its service ceiling is about 45,100 ft.