I was stationed in Spain in the late 60’s and to this day can recall the incredible public interest when PanAm flew the first 747 into Barcelona. Must have been 25k spectators to see the plane land, and later take off.. (PanAm’s flight was 154..JFK to Lisbon, Barcelona, Nice, Rome, then 155 on the return trip....I flew it often)
Even in the early 1970s, 747 sightings were relatively rare. I grew up next to Logan Airport and the planes would come right over my house. Upon hearing a 747 approach, we’d run out of the house to see it as it was still a novelty. You could always tell when it was a 747, it had such a distinctive roar. Back then, only Pan Am and TWA seemed to be flying them.