Boeing 747-400 Vs. 747-8: How The Last 2 Jumbo Generations Compare

The Boeing 747-400 and 747-8 look similar at a glance, but the market treated their generations very differently. The 747-400 entered passenger service in 1989 and first flew on April 29, 1988, featuring a revised wing with 6-foot-tall winglets, more efficient engines, and a redesigned glass cockpit that removed the flight engineer role. It was offered with powerplants from General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce. Boeing delivered 694 aircraft from the 747-400 family, including passenger, freighter, and combi versions, making it the best-selling 747 variant. The final passenger delivery was to China Airlines in April 2005, after which freighter production ended in 2009.