The end of the 747


Four engine aircraft have had their day now. The likes of the twin engine dreamliners and the airbus A350 made from new materials to keep weight down are so much more fuel efficient. The 747 was a hell of a plane though.
 
Went on one for the first time when I went to Australia years ago. Was a Japanese Airlines plane, was shocked at the sheer size of it when I saw it out the airport window. Lovely plane mind.
 
First flew on a wardair one to Vancouver in 1983
used to fly into newcastle, was an "event" when it did - obvs the 80s were a more simpler time. looked huge in comparison to a dan air 1-11 & i think it was only the short body 747 which landed up here.
 
How long are they still gonna be flying?
There’ll still be some around in 25 years….but probably only flying in south-east Asia, Russia and Africa by then.

I’m pretty sure British Airways for example has already got rid of all of theirs.

Edit - just checked and, yes, they retired their last one in 2020.
 
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There’ll still be some around in 25 years….but probably only flying in south-east Asia, Russia and Africa by then.

I’m pretty sure British Airways for example has already got rid of all of theirs.

Edit - just checked and, yes, they retired their last one in 2020.
Mainly used for cargo these days although as you say a fair few will be lingering around airlines that don't have the investment

I think BAs last one flew in 2021
 
W

Whenever I see one amazed it can actually get off the ground
I think the The blueprint was scaled up from the b52 ww2 Flying Fortress so in reality it’s been around for nearly 80 years
I’d heard that when Boeing first started developing it (in conjunction with Pan Am) their initial design was based on basically adding an extra full-length deck to a ‘standard’ aircraft. However, that design could meet FAA regulations for evacuation in an emergency.

Boeing’s genius was to double the width of the ‘ground floor’ :…and wide-body jets were born.

They retained the ‘bubble’ providing (at first very small) an upper deck because Pan-Am really liked the use of an upper deck for 1st class.
 

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