Boeing 747-300

What the Boeing 747-300 Is

The Boeing 747-300 is the third model of the 747. Its defining feature is a stretched upper deck, which was 280 inches (23 ft 4 in) longer than the hump on the 747-200.

Boeing built only 81 of them, between 1983 and 1990. That makes it the least common of the main 747 passenger models, and it was the last of the “Classic” 747s before the glass-cockpit 747-400.

How the 747-300 Was Developed

Boeing launched the 747-300 on June 11, 1980, and Swissair signed up a month later. The design grew out of studies to seat more people in the 747. Boeing rejected extra fuselage plugs and a full-length upper deck and settled on the longer hump.

The jet went through several names first. It was the 747SUD for stretched upper deck, then the 747-200 SUD and the 747EUD, before Boeing settled on 747-300.

The first flight was on October 5, 1982. Swissair began commercial service on March 23, 1983.

What Changed From the 747-200

The longer upper deck added seating and let airlines fit a straight staircase in place of the spiral one. The stretched shape also carried a higher cruise speed.

Underneath, it was still a Classic 747. It kept the same four-engine layout and the analog cockpit, flown by two pilots and a flight engineer. Airlines could choose Pratt & Whitney, General Electric or Rolls-Royce engines.

The full specification table for the aircraft is on this page. It lists the dimensions, weights and performance figures.

Variants of the 747-300

Three versions were built, and The delivery count shows how few there were.

The standard passenger 747-300 accounted for 56 aircraft. The 747-300M Combi, with a rear cargo door and a partition between cabin and cargo, added 21. The 747-300SR, a short-range version with stronger landing gear and structure for frequent short hops, added four. Those went to the Japanese domestic market.

Upper-Deck Retrofits

Boeing offered the longer deck to owners of existing aircraft. Few airlines wanted it, but KLM, UTA and Japan Airlines converted some of their earlier 747s.

The result was a 747-200 with a 747-300 hump.

Why the 747-300 Sold So Few

The 747-300 was an incremental step in a period when airlines wanted a full redesign. Customers told Boeing they disliked its piecemeal upgrades, and a Lufthansa executive said as much in a May 1984 interview.

Boeing answered by launching the 747-400 in October 1985, with a glass cockpit, new engines, winglets and a longer wing. Once that arrived in 1989, the 747-300 had no argument left. The last delivery went to Sabena in 1990.

Where the 747-300 Flew

Swissair was the first customer. Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Pakistan International, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Iberia, Air France, Thai Airways, KLM and Sabena all flew the type.

Airlines retired their 747-300s as 747-400s arrived. A former Pakistan International 747-300 was converted into a restaurant in 2017.

For the newer versions, see the 747-400 and the 747-8.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a 747-400ER?

Yes. Boeing built six 747-400ER aircraft, an extended-range version of the 747-400. It is a separate model from the 747-300.

Why is the 747 called the Doomsday plane?

That nickname belongs to the US Air Force E-4 series, a command-post aircraft based on the 747. The 747-300 was an airline model and was not used for it.

Which airlines are operating Boeing 747s?

Most operators now fly the 747-400 and 747-8, many of them as freighters. Wikipedia counted 462 747s in airline service in July 2019, and the last US passenger 747 left Delta in December 2017.

What is the fuel capacity of a 747?

For this model the panel lists 48,450 gal (183,400 L), a Jet A load. Other 747 versions carry different amounts.

How many 747-300s were built?

Boeing delivered 81: 56 passenger aircraft, 21 Combis and four short-range SR models.