I very recently acquired a small number of slides from a former Swissair employee (who prefers to remain unidentified) who visited Paine Field, WA in 1970 and 1971 for the delivery of Swissair’s two Boeing 747-257B aircraft, HB-IGA and HB-IGB.

In addition to the Swissair aircraft he was there to pick up for his airline, he was able to photograph other early 747s on the Paine Field flight-line, including those of Pan, Air India, National Airlines, the Boeing demonstrator and BOAC (all of which are illustrated in the images below). One aircraft was still devoid of markings and engines and could not be identified.

Boeing has always been overly anal in not allowing photography on their property. As such, private photos such as these, depicting the early days of what was to become such an iconic aircraft, are particularly rare. A number of these images were taken in late March, 1971.

On March 31, 1971, our photographer was lucky to be aboard Swissair 747-257B HB-IGB during a crew training sortie that was conducted at Moses Lake, WA, and his photos of the event are probably unique in that there would not have been many other people on hand to photograph the event.

Swissair 747-257B HB-IGB at Paine Field, March 30, 1971.

Air India Boeing 747-237B VT-EBD at Paine Field WA March 1971

Air India Boeing 747-237B VT-EBD at Paine Field WA March 1971

Air India Boeing 747-237B VT-EBD at Paine Field WA March 1971

National Airlines 747-135 N77773 at Pain Field WA October 1970.

National Airlines 747-135 N77773 at Pain Field WA October 1970

Unidentified Pan Am Boeing 747-121 at Paine Field late March, 1971

Unidentified 747-100 pre-delivery Paine Field October 1970

BOAC Boeing 747-136 G-AWNC at Paine Field WA March 1971. This was BOAC’s third Boeing 747.

Boeing 747 prototype series 121 N7470 Oct 1970 at Moses Lake, WA

Crew training on Swissair 747-257B HB-1GB March 30, 1971, prior to delivery.

Crew training on Swissair 747-257B HB-1GB March 30, 1971, prior to delivery.

Crew training on Swissair 747-257B HB-1GB March 30, 1971, prior to delivery.