747 going out of production

[LVSteve]

If anybody reported this already, apologies. Apparently Boeing are no longer taking orders for the 747. Sales of four-engine airliners have been flat to nonexistent for a while. The big twins have the same range and lower running costs.

Report: Boeing to shut down production of storied 747 jumbo jet | KOMO

 

[steveno]

the 747 had a long and very good run. I was thinking that they still might keep making freighters. there is a lot of the 747-400 available for converting to freighters and the conversions will probably be cheaper than a new airplane. there is still a need for freighters

 

[Sevens]

If I recall correctly, this was going to happen quite some time ago but a large order by UPS kept the 747 in production. UPS has a lot of equipment that is designed around the 747 and the order convinced Boeing to keep ‘er in production longer than planned.

 

[steveno]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhFsPEtwnVA[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruoS61Cw1Ww[/ame]

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

A friend of mom's was a aviation engineer, and he designed a strut suspension for an entirely deferent plane that was never put into production. Boeing decided to use it on the 747! He got a $2500 royalty on 747 made until he dies in the early 90's. That extra income let him have a very upgraded retirement! (it sure beat selling use Piper Cubs)

Ivan

 

[vt_shooter]

I believe the two Air Force 1's on order are the last ones.

 

[jpage]

Perhaps the most beautiful airplane ever. The only plane that I will stop and watch at an airport.

 

[Kurusu]

Perhaps the most beautiful airplane ever. The only plane that I will stop and watch at an airport.

Tastes vary.

Even though I agree the 747 is beautiful.

My all time best looking commercial airplane is still this one.

 

[steveno]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQjr7zVOdF4[/ame]

 

[Absalom]

At the Evergreen Aviation Museum, not too far from where I live, a retired 747 sits on top of a building as the main attraction of a waterpark; slides actually start inside the fuselage.

May seem a bit undignified, but it looks quite impressive and is a better resting place for the old lady than some boneyard in the desert.

They actually lifted the plane onto the building in one piece.

 

[steveno]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCxMh_1n0uc[/ame]

 

[DWalt]

I was an earlier flyer on a 747. Flew on one for the first time from Columbus OH to Miami in early 1972, but I don't remember the airline. Quite a thrill at the time. I frequently flew Lufthansa 747s from DFW to Frankfurt back in the early 1980s. Lufthansa had three nonstop flights per week on that run, and the 747 was half freight, half passenger. Lufthansa carried about every German beer brand there was for their drink service, and I tried all of them. I didn't really like most of them.

 

[Onomea]

Rode my first, to Japan and back from NYC, in October, 1975. (In those days, needed a pit stop in Anchorage.)

 

[Farmer17]

I flew on many 747s over the years and always wanted to take a look upstairs but that was only for first class. I remember as a kid when they were first built they were testing them in Tulsa were I grew up and one would fly over fairly low and some kid would yell and we would all run outside and watch it. They looked so enormous back then.

 

[Absalom]

And let’s salute the old bird for all the abuse it has survived in movies ...

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-H4id1IiO1k[/ame]

 

[steveno]

in 1973 the Air Force (Rhein Main AB) was offering programs to work with American companies for civilian training after we got out of the Air Force. I got to work in the avionics shop for PANAM for 3 months. the avionics boss took us out to one of the PANAM 747's that was in the Lufthansa hangar. this hangar at the time was supposed to be the largest hangar in the world. it would hold 6 747's and close the doors.

the early 747's had a circular staircase that went up to the flight deck. it is a long ways up above ground level. I think getting one around on the ground would be the hard part compared to actually flying the 747.

compared to today the entertainment system was really basic. if you wanted to watch the movie the stewardess would pull down a movie scree, and there was a reel type projector that was lowered out of the ceiling. everybody could watch the movie. if you wanted to listen to the sound you have to pay the stewardess a a couple of dollars and that got you a cheap headset to use.

I was actually able to help their shop because they used the same HF radios that we used and their radio man was new to them.

 

[Absalom]

.... it is a long ways up above ground level. I think getting one around on the ground would be the hard part compared to actually flying the 747.
....

You may have to be a pilot to appreciate this:

I remember reading a story by a flight instructor. A 747 airline captain signed up for refresher lessons in a Cessna 172 because he was planning to buy his own small plane for fun, but hadn’t actually flown anything smaller than an airliner for years and was smart enough to realize that he’d need help.

The instructor wrote that the flight went just fine and the experienced pilot remembered all the basics and the instructor let down his guard a bit.

Until the approach to landing. The instructor said he just about had a heart attack when the pilot pulled all the power and flared about 60 feet above the runway, just about stalling the little 172 and pancaking it into the ground. The instructor intervened just in time.

That 747 pilot had visually reverted to his 747 landing picture, where you are still that high off the ground when the wheels are kissing the pavement.

 

[cowboy4evr]

My PanAm friend told me that when the main wheels touched down , he was still 104 feet off the ground . I got a little left seat time in a 747 , was offered the chance to go to work flying for Pan Am when I was 24 . I turned down the offer , " Roads not taken " . Regards Paul

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I flew on Braniff Airlines from Honolulu to Dallas Love Field on a 747
in the fall of 71. Also flew for 1/2 price military standby.

 

[Rudi]

A fine bird, at least some will still be around for some time. For a long flight over water I like 4 engines better than 2.