I recently took a quick trip to Atlanta, Georgia. There I visited the 747 Experience. It’s part of the Delta Flight Museum. The museum is located at the back of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The 747 Experience takes you onboard a Delta Boeing 747, also known as the “Queen of the skies“. It is an actual full-size airplane located in the parking lot. The specific plane is Delta’s ship 6301. It was the first 747-400 version ever built. (The very first 747 model debuted about 20 years earlier in 1968.)

If you visit this museum, call before you go. The 747 Experience was the only exhibit open the day I visited the museum. There was a special event going on. Events are frequently held at the museum, and this determines which exhibits are open on which days. So, definitely verify what will be open before you visit.

History of the Boeing 747

When the Boeing 747 was built, it was the largest commercial airplane in the world. It remained the largest commercial airplane in the world until the Airbus A380 came out in 2005.

This particular plane logged 61 million miles and carried close to 4.9 million passengers before it was retired in September 2015.

I enjoyed the displays within the 747 Experience. Not only are you able to walk around the airplane. You are also able to view vintage photos of different plane layouts from the 1970s.

The rear first floor section of the plane is completely empty. It’s full of displays that explain more about the plane. There are also clear floor panels that show you some of the mechanicals of the plane.

Exploring the 747 Experience Cabin

I flew the Boeing 747 on my first flight to South Korea on Delta Airlines in 2014. I was sitting in the back in Economy Class, so I did not get to experience the Business Class cabin. The 747 Experience allowed me to have a brief moment in Business Class luxury. The seats were dated of course, but they were still very nice.

The Boeing 747 has two levels, which means taking the stairs in between levels.

It was time to check out the Economy Class cabin and galley. This plane had really nice seats for Economy. They were leather, and each had a good-sized entertainment screen. I appreciated these great seats for my first flight to Asia, a whopping 12 hours.

I regret spending so little time in the galley. If you do visit the 747 Experience, be sure to check out the galley. Feel free to move the carts around and explore all the cabinets. When would you ever have this chance unless you became an actual flight attendant?!

Besides seeing the Economy Class and Business Class cabins, you are able to visit the flight deck and see what the pilots see. It’s amazing to see all the instruments needed to get such a massive plane off the ground and into the air. This plane is older, so it does not have all the modern features of a newer plane. It didn’t matter though, because the pilots that flew this plane had all they needed. 

Behind the flight deck was the sleeping area for the pilots. This was interesting to see, because it’s not something that you would normally see when you get on an airplane. When a flight is super long, it’s impossible for the same pilots to fly the plane from start to finish. They need a place to rest while the other pilots replace them. They sleep in this room on bunk beds. It’s right across from the lavatory.

In the rear of the plane, you can find the area where the flight attendants sleep. The lighting was not the greatest, so excuse my photos. I didn’t have my camera.

Bonus Exhibit – DC Planes

There were a few other planes located in the parking lot. I got to look at these before I went inside the Boeing 747. The first plane below is a Douglas DC -7B. It was manufactured in 1957 by the Douglas Aircraft Company. This plane is the only surviving Delta DC-7B. Its final flight was in early 2019 when it flew from Coolidge, Arizona to the Atlanta airport, and became part of the museum.

The other plane (pictured below) is a DC-9, made by McDonnell Douglas (formed by the merging of McDonnell Aircraft and the Douglas Aircraft Company). This aircraft was manufactured in 1975. Delta flew this type of plane until 1993. Delta was the first and last US airline to fly these planes for commercial flights. They used a total of 177 DC-9s as part of their fleet.

Visiting the 747 Experience, and the rest of the Delta Flight Museum, is the perfect activity for any aviation geek. How often can you get so close to great planes? The 747 Experience even allows you to board the plane. If you are in the Atlanta area, definitely check out the Delta Flight Museum, including the 747 Experience. If you show up to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport early, it’s the perfect way to pass some time.  Don’t worry about missing your flight, because you’re only a few minutes away from the main airport.