[A.A. Cunningham]

Photo (November 4, 2010)

The FAA said the first plane that passed over Willis Tower recently, stirring the crowd below and leading a reader to e-mail the Tribune about it, was a Boeing 747-400 cargo plane, the largest plane that operates in the Chicago area. It crossed over the top of the Willis (formerly called Sears Tower) at 4,000 feet, said FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro.

"At this height the plane was about 2,300 feet above the top of the building, or more than double the needed distance," Molinaro said. Willis Tower is 1,730 feet tall.

[Uncle Miltie]

That’s not a 747. That one has two engines near the tail. The 747 has four engines under the wings.

[Rappini]

Looks like a DC-9.

[ridesthemiles]

Since when did 747 engines get moved to the back & off the wings?

[dusttoyou]

Is the plane in your photo claimed to be a 747? Looks more like a Canada RegionalJet.

[ridesthemiles]

Maybe there is more sotry here:

The FAA said the FIRST plane was a 747, etc, etc, etc.

THIS plane is NOT a 747.

I sure would like to hope that the FAA knows the difference.!!!

Were there 2 planes ? More?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

When did Boeing decide to take the four engines off the wing and put two on the rear? I must have missed that design change.

[mad_as_he$$]

Hate to break it to the FAA but that is an S80 not a 747.

[ArrogantBustard]

This image does not show a Boeing 747 of any sort. Anyone with even two functioning brain cells can determine that ...