# Jumbo Jets **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291 "2004-05-21T02:26:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/1 "2004-05-21T02:26:21Z")
Are “jumbo jets” still in use? How many passengers could they carry? Have they been the largest airliners to date? Anything larger planned for the future? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/2 "2004-05-21T02:31:58Z")
The phrase “Jumbo Jet” was first applied to the Boeing 747. It still flies in the 747-400 version. See [http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747family/flash.html](http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747family/flash.html) ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/3 "2004-05-21T02:46:56Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Are “jumbo jets” still in use? Yep. Like Duckster said, it’s the nickname of the 747. > [@](#): > > How many passengers could they carry? 524 > [@](#): > > Have they been the largest airliners to date? Yep. > [@](#): > > Anything larger planned for the future? [Yep.](http://www.airbus.com/product/a380_backgrounder.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/4 "2004-05-21T03:05:36Z")
Looks like the Japanese variant (747-400D) will carry 568. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/5 "2004-05-21T03:26:04Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > The phrase “Jumbo Jet” was first applied to the Boeing 747. It still flies in the 747-400 version. > > See [Boeing: 747-8](http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747family/flash.html) Bah! You can still find [747-100s](http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=581606&WxsIERv=Qm9laW5nIDc0Ny0xNDYoU0Yp&WdsYXMg=S2FsaXR0YSBBaXI%3D&QtODMg=QW1zdGVyZGFtIC0gU2NoaXBob2wgKEFNUyAvIEVIQU0p&ERDLTkt=TmV0aGVybGFuZHM%3D&ktODMp=TWF5IDE2LCAyMDA0&BP=0&WNEb25u=TWlndWVsIFNub2Vw&xsIERvdWdsY=TjcwMkNL&MgTUQtODMgKE=TmljZSBvbGQgMTAwIHNlcmllcyBmcm9tIDE5NzEhIEFzIHlvdSBjYW4gc2VlIGl0J3Mgc3RpbGwgZ29pbmcgc3Ryb25nIGFmdGVyIDMzIHllYXJzIG9mIHNlcnZpY2UhIEZ1bGwgcG93ZXIgb24gMzZMLiBbQ2Fub24gRDYwIC8gMTAwLTQwMEwgSVMgLyAxNzBtbV0%3D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=NTg%3D&NEb25uZWxs=MjAwNC0wNS0yMA%3D%3D&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=MjAzMzIvMTYx&static=yes) flying!! (Check the date on the photo). 😉 Pretty cool, if you ask me. It proves the basic value of the design. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/6 "2004-05-21T03:57:00Z")
Not only are the planes still around, they are commonplace. As such the word **Jumbo-Jet** is pretty dated. Sounds a little silly too. Kind of like calling something ‘Space-Age’ today. **Wide-body** is usually how they’re refered to these days. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/7 "2004-05-21T05:04:45Z")
In addition to the Boeing 747, the Douglas DC-10 (later the Boeing (McDonnell-Douglas) MD-10, and the Lockheed 1011 Tri-Star were all called Jumbo Jets. About the time that Airbus began looking to build something similar (and Boeing introduced the 757 and 767) the Wide Body appellation became more common. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/8 "2004-05-22T03:51:45Z")
Thanks for the direct answers and the links. ( **Berkut** , do you also _look_ like Gary Cooper?) **Hail Ants** , I also appreciate being brought up to date on the current terminology. I flew on a 747 New York to Copenhagan in 1972. I can remember thinking at the time that the plane would hold my entire school of origin – grades 1-12. It was beautiful! I had not flown since until April of this year. I seem to remember more leg room and more personal service by attendants on the old flights. I am only 5’3" and I can’t imagine how taller folks can stand it. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2004, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/9 "2004-05-23T06:15:51Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > **Berkut** , do you also _look_ like Gary Cooper? Nope. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumbo-jets/246291/10 "2004-05-24T03:23:56Z")
> [@pilot141](#): > > Bah! You can still find [747-100s](http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=581606&WxsIERv=Qm9laW5nIDc0Ny0xNDYoU0Yp&WdsYXMg=S2FsaXR0YSBBaXI%3D&QtODMg=QW1zdGVyZGFtIC0gU2NoaXBob2wgKEFNUyAvIEVIQU0p&ERDLTkt=TmV0aGVybGFuZHM%3D&ktODMp=TWF5IDE2LCAyMDA0&BP=0&WNEb25u=TWlndWVsIFNub2Vw&xsIERvdWdsY=TjcwMkNL&MgTUQtODMgKE=TmljZSBvbGQgMTAwIHNlcmllcyBmcm9tIDE5NzEhIEFzIHlvdSBjYW4gc2VlIGl0J3Mgc3RpbGwgZ29pbmcgc3Ryb25nIGFmdGVyIDMzIHllYXJzIG9mIHNlcnZpY2UhIEZ1bGwgcG93ZXIgb24gMzZMLiBbQ2Fub24gRDYwIC8gMTAwLTQwMEwgSVMgLyAxNzBtbV0%3D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=NTg%3D&NEb25uZWxs=MjAwNC0wNS0yMA%3D%3D&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=MjAzMzIvMTYx&static=yes) flying!! (Check the date on the photo). 😉 > > Pretty cool, if you ask me. It proves the basic value of the design. Quite an airplance and basic design. As an aside, it has a way to go to catch up with the B-52. First flown in April of 1952 Boeing and the Air Force expect it to last in Boeing’s words: _“Boeing has extended the structural life of the B-52 airframe to at least the year 2040 through a service-life extension program that has become an industry standard.”_ And the design and construction go-ahead to Boeing was in 1949 so the plane design will be crowding 100 by the time its expected life is finished. Sorry for the semi-hijack but I just had to get it in.