The last Boeing 747 leaves the factory

EVERETT, Washington - More than a half-century ago, Boeing unveiled the 747, a massive and striking airplane that captured the public imagination and brought air travel to the masses. The jet has been a workhorse since, ferrying passengers and cargo around the world. But its days are numbered: On Tuesday, Boeing handed over the last 747 it will ever make.

With a distinctive hump, the 747, nicknamed the "Queen of the Skies," is perhaps the most widely recognizable commercial airplane ever built. The plane transformed air travel and became a symbol of American ingenuity. It could still be flying decades from now, a longevity that aviation historians said was testament to the work that engineers, designers and others put into repeatedly remaking the airplane.

"It's one of the great ones," said Shea Oakley, who runs an aviation history consulting firm and is a former...