Pratt And Whitney Rare Boeing 747SP Turns Heads at Oshkosh Air Show 2025, What You Must Know Now

Published on July 23, 2025

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin July 21-24, 2025 – Pratt & Whitney had a strong presence at this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest aviation celebration, as one of the rarest flying Boeing 747 variants still in operation – the 747SP flight testbed – As part of the company’s centennial celebrations, the aircraft was flown into Wittman Regional Airport and has quickly become one of the most visited attractions at the show.

The fifth-engine mount over the cockpit on this plane fascinated those who wanted to see it up close, as it was being displayed. Arriving on July 20 and open for public tours from July 21 to 24, it has captured imaginations for both its engineering legacy and its ongoing role in the future of aerospace propulsion.

A Centennial Star Takes Center Stage

A century of innovation by Pratt & Whitney Founded in 1925, this year’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, marks 100 years of innovation for Pratt & Whitney. To mark this great anniversary, the company chose to highlight its special Boeing 747SP platform. The moment it was on the ground, the plane was a headlining attraction over at Boeing Plaza‎, rivalling the birthday superstars, drawing enthusiasts, photographers and industry players of all types.

The opportunity to board a rare and still-airworthy 747SP lent historic significance and a futuristic touch to the anniversary festivities.

Boeing 747SP, The Dusty Jumbo with A Never-Ending Legacy

The Boeing 747SP, with its all-too-familiar hunchbacked silhouette, is the result “Special Performance” model of the royal family of jumbo jets, introduced by Pan Am in the 1970s to fly farther and higher than the full-length 747. It remains one of the rarest widebodies in history. Two of them remain airworthy and both are flown by Pratt & Whitney.

The short fuselage and long range of the SP made it the ideal candidate to be converted into a test bed aircraft, so engineers could develop a real-world platform for testing jet engines in flight. This plane has been part of Pratt & Whitney’s research and development flight-test fleet since 2001.

Inside The Flying Test Lab

The most distinct feature of this plane is its fifth engine pylon, which is attached above the cockpit. This System facilitates the mounting of experimental engines for flight testing at different altitudes and air densities.

It has accumulated over 1,400 flight hours with over 70 experimental engine configurations, which also includes the PW800 and the Geared Turbofan (GTF). Such test campaigns have contributed to validate the performance, safety and emissions characteristics of engines that already equip modern commercial and business airplanes throughout the world.

Not SOFIA, But Equally Special

Although it was mistakenly identified as NASA’s SOFIA (a modified 747SP with a space telescope) this aircraft serves a different purpose. Whereas the SOFIA was dedicated to astronomy research, the Pratt & Whitney 747SP testbed was used for aerospace propulsion research.

While the show’s fifth-engine mount was empty, it did give a good indication of what the aircraft was for. Attendees were able to observe the interior of the VC-25, look at data consoles and visit with flight engineers to learn about how the system operates while in flight.

Boeing Plaza Draws Crowds and Cameras

The Oshkosh Air Show audience roared in enthusiasm and curiosity. The jet’s cabin and flight deck saw long lines early each day, as aviation fans queued up for a chance to explore the plane’s interior. Local and national media conducted interviews with test pilots and engineers, regaling tales of past missions and the jet’s accomplishments throughout world aviation.

The unusual shape and longevity of the aircraft impressed many of the guests. Reporters called it a niche 747 with a future-focused mission, and when that vision became reality, it captured the public’s imagination, burnishing the company’s reputation for technical prowess.

A Living Legacy of Innovation

While NASA’s SOFIA program wrapped up in 2022, Pratt & Whitney’s 747SP testbed is still breaking new ground. It is a shining example of how well the old can be made to complement the new, as well as how some of the ideas of old can be re-purposed to solve a modern problem.

At the Oshkosh Air Show 2025, this plane was more than a 100th anniversary tribute—it embodied how vision, versatility and engineering can unite in the air. Now, as Pratt & Whitney enters its next hundred years, this 747SP serves as a flying symbol of that legacy.