January 31st, 2023 has been a date that many avgeeks will surely not have wanted to come. Today, Boeing will officially deliver its final ever production aircraft from its legendary 747 family. The recipient will be Atlas Air, and the plane will be a cargo-carrying Boeing 747-8F. Let's take a look at how you can watch the ceremony.

Boeing will provide a live stream

There will have been many times over the last half a century or so when the 747 will have felt almost eternal. However, later today, Boeing will close the book on the 'jumbo jet' with its 1,574th and final delivery of the type. Given the magnitude of this occasion, it will be a much larger affair than your average delivery ceremony.

Indeed, Boeing explained last week that "thousands of people, including current and former employees as well as customers and suppliers, will celebrate the final delivery in the factory" in Everett, Washington. Naturally, there is also a great deal of public interest in this occasion, but Boeing has opted not to make the event a public affair.

However, it will be providing a live stream of the ceremony, so that those unable to attend can watch the events unfold live. Additionally, the footage will be made available for on-demand viewing after the event for viewers who can't tune in live. The stream will commence at 13:00 Pacific time / 16:00 Eastern time at this link.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

The aircraft in question

As established, the aircraft that is the subject of the final-ever Boeing 747 delivery ceremony is an Atlas Air 747-8F. Bearing the registration N863GT, this quadjet has already entered the history books, having been the subject of the final first flight for a Boeing 747 on December 18th. You can read our coverage of this event here.

Since then, data from FlightRadar24.com shows that the aircraft has made a further five test flights. Most of these were circular in nature, although it did fly from Everett to Portland, Oregon on December 21st, and back on January 10th. Its last flight was a jaunt that lasted for two-and-a-half hours on January 25th.

With N863GT being the last 747 ever to roll off the Boeing production line, its livery features a subtle nod to its history. Specifically, as pictured in the tweet above, it has been emblazoned with a decal paying tribute to Joe Sutter. Sutter was considered to have been the father of the Boeing 747, so the decal is an apt tribute.

Photo: Arjan Veltman/Shutterstock

Simple Flying will also be on the scene

With members of the media also present at the final delivery ceremony, Simple Flying's very own US Lead Journalist Lukas Souza will be on-site to cover the event. As such, keep an eye on our various social media channels for coverage of the ceremony as it happens, with more articles to follow in the near future. While it may be a bittersweet afternoon, it will certainly be a memorable occasion.

Sources: Boeing, FlightRadar24.com