The Boeing 747 is still an absolute legend – despite being replaced.
People still talk about it in the same way they talk about a vintage car when the modern version is unveiled.
And we’re still finding out things we didn’t know: specifically a secret room aboard every Boeing 747 that most passengers don’t know about.
Boeing replaced the 747 with the 787 Dreamliner, which can apparently be built in two days before, and the 777, but the 747 is still the one people love.
The 747 was the world’s largest commercial aircraft when it was launched, and it’s also been used as an Air Force One for the U.S. President, as well as a private jet for the mega-rich.
And because it’s being used by so many different airlines, and therefore customized in so many different ways, it’s no surprise that we’re still learning new things about it.
As for this secret compartment, it’s there for a very good reason.
The ‘secret room’ in the Boeing 747
The 747 has a tiny secret room, which is used by the crew for naps on particularly long flights.
It’s quite cramped but the secret room features anywhere between 10 and 15 beds, depending on the flight, per The Guardian.
Perhaps the limited numbers that can get inside is the reason so few have heard about it.
For short-haul flights, a crew of 8-10 people is generally required, whereas for longer flights, it’s usually a crew of at least 15.
Goodbye, 747
Companies like Lufthansa and Qantas used to have a lot of 747s, but this is changing quite rapidly.
Qantas, for example, currently operates a fleet of around 125 aircraft, mostly Airbus A330, A380, as well as Boeing 737 and 787.
Qantas uses the Airbus A350-1000, which is quite massive, for the so-called ‘Project Sunrise’, ie non-stop flights connecting Europe to Australia.
Even though the record for the world’s longest flight will likely never be beaten, Qantas may soon be able to break the current record, which is held by Singapore Airlines.
