News
News

VIDEO: Here's why Boeing 747s have a giant hump in the front

APRIL 30, 2016 ATLANTA Crews move a retired Boeing 747-400 to the Delta Flight museum Saturday, April 30, 2016. Delta Air Lines Ship 6301 made its final journey to Delta’s Atlanta world headquarters campus in preparation for the Delta Flight Museum's latest exhibit featuring the retired aircraft. KENT D. JOHNSON /kdjohnson@ajc.com #delta747experience
APRIL 30, 2016 ATLANTA Crews move a retired Boeing 747-400 to the Delta Flight museum Saturday, April 30, 2016. Delta Air Lines Ship 6301 made its final journey to Delta’s Atlanta world headquarters campus in preparation for the Delta Flight Museum's latest exhibit featuring the retired aircraft. KENT D. JOHNSON /kdjohnson@ajc.com #delta747experience
Jan 25, 2017

The hump on the Boeing 747 or “Jumbo Jet” has been around since the 1960s, but why was it there in the first place?

According to Tech Insider, to understand why the iconic hump exists, you should know that the plane is used for both passengers and cargo.

When the plane was first designed to help with storage needs, engineers turned the front of the plane into a giant door. But because the cockpit is also located at the front of the plane, the structure looks like it has a hump.

Watch the video below from Business Insider to learn more about the structure and history of the iconic hump.

More on BusinessInsider.com.

More Stories

Keep Reading

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. — pictured during a Senate Finance Committee hearing in Septembera — appeared on NBC's “Meet the Press" on Sunday morning. (Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times 2025)

Credit: Tierney L. Cross/New York Times

Warnock urges ‘a common humanity’ in wake of shootings

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., appears on "Meet The Press" on Sunday, sharing his thoughts on the fatal shootings in the news, health care costs and the 2026 elections.

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

The Greene County High coach was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple battery, according to investigators.

Georgia Power, PSC staff strike deal for $16B expansion to power data centers

Georgia Power and the Public Service Commission’s staff unveiled a deal that would allow the utility to build huge amounts of new power plants, mostly to serve data centers.

The Latest

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. — pictured during a Senate Finance Committee hearing in Septembera — appeared on NBC's “Meet the Press" on Sunday morning. (Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times 2025)

Credit: Tierney L. Cross/New York Times

Warnock urges ‘a common humanity’ in wake of shootings

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

Sweet Tea: Use your time wisely

Featured

Students at Carver Early College School of Technology attend the school’s art class on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. Atlanta Public Schools plans to convert the campus to a school of the arts that will serve grades 6-12. The plan depends on voters extending a one-cent sales tax for education. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller

School closures loom as metro Atlanta grapples with enrollment decline

Demographic changes and the rise of school choice are driving a public school enrollment decline in metro Atlanta.

Temperatures dip to near freezing as arctic blast moves into Atlanta

Lows in the teens and 20s are in store for Sunday and Monday mornings, the National Weather Service said.

Washington County coach Robert Edwards let go

Washington County coach Robert Edwards was let go on Saturday after his fifth season at the helm. The former UGA running back went 20-24 in his five seasons.