The day the Boeing 747 made its first appearance

Fifty years ago today the Boeing Corporation rolled out its Boeing 747 and showed it to the public for the first time.

Two years later, in 1970 the first wide-body aircraft made its first commercial flight.

Todate 1,548 Boeing 747s have been manufactured.

First Lady of the United States Pat Nixon christened the aircraft in Wahington in January 1970 and the 747 entered service on January 22, 1970, on Pan Am's New York London service.