The story
The SP (Special Performance) is a 747 shortened to fly farther, built for Pan Am and Iran Air's ultra-long routes. Only 45 were made. One became SOFIA, NASA's flying telescope, retired to a museum in 2022. Today the last flying SPs are Pratt & Whitney Canada engine testbeds, and about eighteen more are stored or preserved.
A South African Airways 747SP flew nonstop from the Boeing factory in Seattle to Cape Town on its delivery flight — a distance record for a commercial aircraft.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Boeing 747SP?
A 747 that looks compressed — stubby fuselage, a taller tail, and the full-size hump make the proportions unmistakable next to any other jumbo.
What does a Boeing 747SP sound like?
Four JT9D turbofans — the deep, early-widebody rumble of the first jumbo generation.
How fast is the Boeing 747SP?
Top speed is Mach 0.92.
How many passengers does the Boeing 747SP carry?
Up to 331. A typical layout is 276-331 passengers.
How far can the Boeing 747SP fly?
Range is about 5,830 nmi.
How big is the Boeing 747SP?
It is 183 ft 3 in long and 195 ft 8 in across the wings.
When did the Boeing 747SP first fly?
Its first flight was in 1975.
How many Boeing 747SPs have been built?
45 built.
What do crews call the Boeing 747SP?
Sutter's Balloon.
How rare is a Boeing 747SP in Bogey?
LEGENDARY. The top tier. Spotters plan trips around a catch like this. Your first Boeing 747SP catch is worth 1,000 points.
