Can a Boeing 747 fly with just one engine from four working?

Yes it could fly on 1 engine, at minimum weight -

In training, we perform takeoffs with loss of 1 engine at speed V1 on runway -

We do approaches/landings with 3 engines operating - then 2 engines (same side) -

Doing approaches/landings with 3 engines failed (1 operating) is not required -

But being an instructor I often "played the game" in simulators - (just "to see") -

It works if you maintain the flaps to 5 until short final landing speed reduction -

No go around for missed approach is possible on 1 engine -

It is doubtful to go around even if on 2 engines once landing gear is extended -

Pilots extended the gear 800 feet above ground in final, when on 2 engines -

Final flaps extension is done some 200/300 feet above ground -

4 engine jet airliner pilots must practice 1 and 2 engine failures in training -

So, it is the case for A380, A340, DC8 and... 747 -

As far as gliding - a 747 has a glide ratio of 16% - "no engines operating" -

At 36,000 ft (11 km high) it can glide a distance of 11 x 16 = 176 km -

Just to mention - pilots of 3 engine airplanes must fly approaches with 1 engine -

It is a required maneuver in training for DC-10, MD-11, L-1011 and 727 pilots -

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A Boeing 747 would be able to stay in the air with no engines, however it would start a gradual decent as it would have no thrust and the wings generate lift. So a Boeing 747 with one engine working could generate some thrust and stay in the air most definitely. If you want more proof that a jumbo jet can still perform with 1 of 4 engines working, in 2010 a Qantas airbus a380 lost 3/4 engines and had to perform an emerngency landing in Singapore. That got down on one engine. So YES a Boeing 747 can fly and perform well on one engine.

At a Pinch yes. For how long i do not know as obviously the remaining engine would be working very hard. In normal flight you are flying at a height of around 6 miles up from the ground so in the shallowest dive it can hold it would take quite a while to get back down to ground level. In general Jet engines are extremely reliable. I can remember hearing about a 747 losing all 4 engines after flying through a cloud of volcanic ash, i believe that the Pilots were able to re-ignite 3 of the 4 and it completed its journey safely.

Yes. It can also glide with NO engines working. So it can land.

THIS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Fligh...

Will tell you all you need to know, research the links, and it will open your eyes to a miracle (of course explained by Science)

A few minutes, before it crashes as one engine cannot sustain both sides of the plane so only one side would push and the plane would spin around crazily and out of control and so it would crash.