“空中女王”波音747正式退役

And up next, we will salute the queen of the skies, the Boeing 747.

接下来，我们将向“空中女王”波音747致敬。

This spacious and sleek aircraft that was once touted as the future of airplane travel when it took off in 1969 is now a plane of the past, as airlines are opting for more fuel-efficient alternatives.

这架宽敞开阔且线条流畅的飞机在1969年起飞时曾被标榜为飞机旅行的未来，现在这架飞机已经成为过去，因为航空公司正在选择更省油的替代飞机。

This week, Boeing completed and delivered the last 747 to ever be built.

本周，波音公司完成了对最后一架波音747飞机的交付。

And on Wednesday, the plane flew a path spelling out 747 on the flight tracker to commemorate the moment.

周三，为了纪念这一时刻，这架飞机沿着飞行跟踪器飞出了一条“747”轨迹。

Let's learn more about the history of this jumbo jet and what's in store for the airlines of the future.

让我们了解更多关于这架大型喷气式飞机的历史，以及未来航空公司将会面临什么。

When it was revealed in 1969, it broke the mold and defined jumbo.

当波音747在1969年问世时，这款飞机打破陈规，定义了巨型喷气式飞机的模样。

It brought jet travel to the people, carried world leaders, cultural icons, and even spacecraft.

这款飞机为人们带来了喷气式飞机旅行，运载过世界领导人、文化偶像，甚至宇宙飞船。

For half a century, it was the queen of the skies.

半个世纪以来，它一直是空中女王。

But now, the last model has been delivered, Boeing 747 is beginning to approach its final touchdown.

如今，最后一个飞机型号已经交付，波音747将开始它的最后一次着陆。

Built to meet the boom in demand for air travel in the 1960s, the 747 was a giant that needed the world's largest factory to match its jumbo proportions,

为满足20世纪60年代航空旅行的激增需求，波音747应运而生，它是一个庞然大物，需要世界上最大的工厂来匹配它的巨大机型，

225 feet from nose to tail, it had a wing surface bigger than a basketball court,

从机头到机尾有225英尺长(约合342米)，它的机翼面比一个篮球场还大，

and its innovative wide body double aisle and double deck design would allow it to carry up to 500 passengers, while ensuring it would also be a freight hauling behemoth with looks like no other.

波音747具有创新性的宽体双通道以及双层甲板设计，这使其能够搭载500名乘客，同时又确保其成为世界上独一无二的巨型货运飞机。

Taking to the skies for its first commercial flight in 1970, the 747 cut airfares in half and opened up a world of affordable air travel.

1970年，波音747首次开始商用飞行，将机票价格降低了一半，开启了一个廉价航空旅行的世界。

Airlines across the globe clamored to have a jumbo jet in their fleet, and airports and their equipment had to be modified to accommodate its enormous size and passenger capacity.

全球各地的航空公司都争先恐后地要求在机队中配备一架大型喷气式飞机，机场和相应设备都必须进行改装，以容纳其庞大体积和高载客量。

But spacious interiors, a trademark spiral staircase and superior service also had the world's rich and famous flocking.

宽敞的内部空间、标志性的螺旋楼梯与优质的服务也吸引了世界上的众多富人与名人。

Glamorous silver screen appearances cemented its lavish reputation, and it became the go-to transport for many of the world's elite, a trend set to continue with the presidentially modified Air Force One.

魅力四射的银幕形象巩固了波音747的奢华声誉，这款飞机成为了世界上许多精英的首选交通工具，这一趋势在改装的“空军一号”总统专机上继续延续下去。

The 747 was so capable, it was even used to transport NASA's space shuttles and it continues to be used to launch satellites with Virgin Orbit.

波音747能力超凡，它甚至曾被用来运输美国宇航局的航天飞机，会继续被用来发射维珍轨道卫星。

But the queen of the sky's days of carrying passengers are entering their final chapter.

但“空中女王”的载客之旅即将进入最后阶段。