Having grown up flying around the world on 707s, DC-8s, and other "narrow-body" aircraft, my first impression of the Boeing 747 was nothing short of awe. My first flight on a Jumbo was in 1971. Because the Pan Am terminal could not yet accommodate this newcomer, my family and I had to board a bus, which took us to our waiting aircraft. As the bus swung under the tail of our jet, this wide-eyed 11-year-old boy had to crane my neck to look way up to see the tail and lighted windows. The bus passed under the wing and an engine which appeared to be as large as our bus! Having flown a great deal in the 1960s, I was used to boarding an aircraft via an air stair, but the steps I was to climb had two storeys, twice as high as what I was used to. Upon entering the plane, I recall thinking how far the windows on the other side seemed. I was amazed by the grandeur of it all - those DC-8s and 707s I used to think were huge now seemed puny. Even today, to this 41-year-old wide-eyed boy, the 747 seems majestic, larger than life.

--Daniel B.

The B747 occupies a special place in my heart. I first remember reading about it as a young boy in The Weekly Reader at school. What facinated me was the fact that it was double decked,and ah! that spiral staircase.I didn't get a chance to actually fly on one until the mid eighties,by then the first class piano lounge and even the spiral staircase were history!I asked a flight attendant if it was ok if I went upstairs and have a look around,she looked at me quizzically and said sure.The upper deck was just more third class tourist seating.Despite being in service for over thirty years,I've noticed that the 747 is the only plane that people will stop whatever they are doing, and watch it as it passes low overhead.

--Anonymous

My memory has a historical flair about it and dates back to the first commerical flight for Pan Am between New York and London.

When my grandfather (J. W. Gordon) first heard about the plans to build the 747 and Pan Am's contract, he wrote a letter to Pan Am requesting tickets on the maiden flight. As it turned out, the request was granted, and he purchased the first two sold.

As a child in 1970, I remember sitting up watching our black-n-white TV while my grandfather and mother were being interviewed on one of the three national stations prior to their departure from New York. At the time, I didn't realize the significance, but today I wish I had more information.

Our family has several of the photos dispersed among various households, but what I've always wanted was to acquire a copy of the newsreel report. Then, convert it to DVD format to present it as a gift to my mother. Unfortunately, that goal has not been accomplished.

--Andy T

From the moment we drove into the airport. The first thing I was Thinking about. Was seeing a 747. As we Drove along the road in to the airport. I got my first glimpse of the massive plane it was a British airways 747-400. I gasped as we past it. I couldn't beleave how big it was. I always new they were big but I wasn't quite prepard for its size. Its giant tail fins its 60 metre wingspan. As we drove along further it was followed by a Korean air 747 each time we past one I stard at it. it felt safe looking at one. almost felt like home It gave me a warm feeling inside I'll never forget that flight in a boeing 747 me and my famaliy were going to bang kok first we got on to a qantas 737 which took us to Sydney I was dieing to get on the next flight because it would be a jumbo jet I eagly awaited the next flight we had to catch a bus to the plane as we drove out into a clearing I saw the plane.

--Anonymous