On Nov. 7, United officially retired its fleet of Boeing 747s (the Boeing 747-400, to be exact), flying its last flight from San Francisco to Honolulu — the same route United inaugurated its first 747 on — and there has been an outpouring of love among the aviation community. The iconic plane with its signature hump and four engines, dubbed “Jumbo Jet” and “Queen of the Skies,” has been exiting airline fleets in recent years, replaced by more fuel-efficient, two-engine models with long range capabilities. Delta, the other U.S. carrier that operates the 747, is also retiring its fleet of jumbos; no U.S. airline will be ferrying passengers on a 747 after that.

Aviation enthusiasts have been lamenting the dwindling numbers of the 747s flying, and rightly so — hence why United had created much fanfare leading up to the final flight (the actual revenue-based flight ended on October 29, but a special celebratory 747 was still flying afterward). The 747 isn’t only unique in looks, but it’s special for introducing a number of aviation firsts; airports have been redesigned to accommodate it; and it helped open the door to intercontinental travel for more travelers. It’s the presidential aircraft for world leaders, and the ride the Space Shuttle piggybacked on. It’s even helped fight deadly wildfires. Here’s a look at why this particular plane is so well loved, and what the future brings.

This article was originally published on November 7 and updated on November 8.