The Friday File: 1/3/18 was the last time a US passenger airline flew the iconic Boeing 747. It first flew on 2/9/69, and though designed for up to 660, the Israelis modified it to carry 1,087, service must have been spotty. It gets five gallons/mile and can travel 11,000 miles. It initially listed for $24 million; today a freighter is $379 million. Civilian 747s have collectively flown 3.6 billion passengers.