Editing Boeing 747 (section)

=== 747-300 ===
[[File:Swissair Boeing 747-357 HB-IGF "Zürich" (27487433646).jpg|thumb|A {{not a typo|747-300}}, displaying the stretched upper deck. [[Swissair]] took the first delivery on March 23, 1983.<ref name=B747_milest />]]

The 747-300 features a {{convert|23|ft|4|in|m|sigfig=3|adj=mid|-longer}} upper deck than the -200.<ref name="airl_300" /> The stretched upper deck (SUD) has two emergency exit doors and is the most visible difference between the -300 and previous models.<ref name="airliners_747-300">[http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=99 "Boeing 747-300."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040811062901/http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=99 |date=August 11, 2004}} ''airliners.net''.</ref> After being made standard on the 747-300, the SUD was offered as a retrofit, and as an option to earlier variants still in-production. An example for a retrofit were two [[Union de Transports Aériens|UTA]] -200 Combis being converted in 1986, and an example for the option were two brand-new JAL -100 aircraft (designated -100BSR SUD), the first of which was delivered on March 24, 1986.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Bowman, Martin W. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42912717 |title=Boeing 747 |date=2000 |publisher=Crowood |isbn=1-86126-242-6 |location=Marlborough |oclc=42912717}}</ref>{{Rp|68, 92}}

The 747-300 introduced a new straight stairway to the upper deck, instead of a spiral staircase on earlier variants, which creates room above and below for more seats.<ref name="Boe_747_classics" /> Minor aerodynamic changes allowed the -300's cruise speed to reach Mach&nbsp;0.85 compared with Mach&nbsp;0.84 on the -200 and -100 models, while retaining the same takeoff weight.<ref name="airl_300" /> The -300 could be equipped with the same Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce powerplants as on the -200, as well as updated [[General Electric CF6]]-80C2B1 engines.<ref name="Boe_747_classics" />

Swissair placed the first order for the {{not a typo|747-300}} on June 11, 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seven Series |url=http://www.boeing.com/news/feature/sevenseries/747.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328074016/http://www.boeing.com/news/feature/sevenseries/747.html |archive-date=March 28, 2010 |access-date=December 15, 2007 |publisher=The Boeing Company}}</ref> The variant revived the 747-300 designation, which had been previously used on a design study that did not reach production. The 747-300 first flew on October 5, 1982, and the type's first delivery went to Swissair on March 23, 1983.<ref name=B747_milest /> In 1982, its unit cost was US$83M ({{Inflation |US|83|r=1|1982}}M today). Besides the passenger model, two other versions (-300M, -300SR) were produced. The 747-300M features cargo capacity on the rear portion of the main deck, similar to the -200M, but with the stretched upper deck it can carry more passengers.<ref name=plan /><ref>Jenkins 2000, p. 97.</ref> The 747-300SR, a short range, high-capacity domestic model, was produced for Japanese markets with a maximum seating for 584.<ref name="747class_report">[http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/acaps/747_123sp.pdf "Boeing 747-100/-200/-300/-SP airport report."] (pdf) ''The Boeing Company'', May 2011. Retrieved: September 1, 2014.</ref> No production freighter version of the 747-300 was built, but Boeing began modifications of used passenger -300 models into freighters in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boeing Delivers First 747-300 Special Freighter To Atlas Air |url=http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2000/photorelease/photo_release_001017b.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001027192806/http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2000/photorelease/photo_release_001017b.html |archive-date=October 27, 2000 |access-date=December 17, 2007 |publisher=The Boeing Company}}</ref>

A total of 81 {{not a typo|747-300}} series aircraft were delivered, 56 for passenger use, 21 -300M and 4 -300SR versions.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071210173616/http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747family/pf/pf_classics.html "Technical Specifications – 747 Classics"], ''The Boeing Company''. Retrieved: July 11, 2008</ref> In 1985, just two years after the -300 entered service, the type was superseded by the announcement of the more advanced 747-400.<ref>Lawrence and Thornton 2005</ref> The last 747-300 was delivered in September 1990 to [[Sabena]].<ref name=Boe_747_classics /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Seven series |url=http://www.boeing.com/news/feature/sevenseries/747.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328074016/http://www.boeing.com/news/feature/sevenseries/747.html |archive-date=March 28, 2010 |access-date=December 17, 2007 |publisher=The Boeing Company}}</ref> While some -300 customers continued operating the type, several large carriers replaced their 747-300s with 747-400s. [[Air France]], [[Air India]], [[Japan Airlines]], [[Pakistan International Airlines]], and [[Qantas]] were some of the last major carriers to operate the {{not a typo|747-300}}. On December 29, 2008, Qantas flew its last scheduled 747-300 service, operating from Melbourne to Los Angeles via [[Auckland Airport|Auckland]].<ref name="B743">[http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/qantass-final-boeing-747300-heads-for-graveyard-20090120-7lfi.html "Qantas's final Boeing 747-300 heads for graveyard."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034434/http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/qantass-final-boeing-747300-heads-for-graveyard-20090120-7lfi.html |date=September 7, 2017}} ''[[The Age]]''. Retrieved: January 21, 2009.</ref> In July 2015, Pakistan International Airlines retired their final 747-300 after 30 years of service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drum |first=Bruce |date=June 29, 2015 |title=PIA to retire its last Boeing 747 "within a month" |url=https://worldairlinenews.com/2015/06/29/pia-to-retire-its-last-boeing-747-within-a-month/ |access-date=July 17, 2016 |website=World Airline News |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821211448/https://worldairlinenews.com/2015/06/29/pia-to-retire-its-last-boeing-747-within-a-month/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Mahan Air]] was the last passenger operator of the Boeing 747-300. In 2022, their last 747-300M was leased by [[Emtrasur Cargo]]. The 747-300M was later seized by the [[United States Department of Justice|US Department of Justice]]<!-- and scrapped (NOTE: This will be added once a reliable source is found for this claim)--> in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Arshad |first=Minnah |date=12 February 2024 |title=U.S. seizes Boeing 747 cargo plane that Iranian airline sold to Venezuelan company |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/02/12/seize-boeing-747-cargo-aircraft-iranian-airline/72578543007/ |work=[[USA Today]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref> As of 2024, [[TransAVIAexport Airlines|TransAVIAExport]], a Belarusian cargo airline operates one Boeing 747-300F.{{cn|date=April 2024}} As of 2024, a former [[Saudia]] 747-300 is used for VVIP transport, operated by the [[Saudi Arabian Government]].{{cn|date=June 2024}}