On average, every commercial aircraft is struck by lightning once or twice a year. After the aircraft lands, an inspection must always be performed to assess the state of the aircraft prior to return to service. The Boeing 747 is no exception and here you will learn the ins and outs of lightning strike inspections performed on this aircraft type.
The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner and cargo aircraft whose origins go back to the late 1960s. After introducing the 707 in October 1958, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) asked Boeing to design an aircraft 2½ times its size, improving the capacity. The development of the 747 began in April 1966, led by Boeing engineer Joe Sutter, who has previously worked on the 707 and 737. The first flight took place on February 9th, 1969, and the 747 was certified later in December. Dubbed as “Jumbo Jet” the first twin-aisle aircraft entered service with Pan Am on January 22nd, 1970. The 747 and its increased capacity soon became iconic, democratizing air travel.