20 thoughts on “FAREWELL – The Boeing 747 Retirements”
Interesting to inject the A350 into this conversation. It currently plays no role in the efficiency currently being enjoyed by Qantas. That's thanks entirely to the 787-9.
Also, the A350 was never meant to replace the 747.
Those BA 747 😢 some turned up near me at Kemble – if you are an aircraft that is not a place to find your self and it was so depressing seeing them gradually cut up. At least a few went to museums.
Hopefully sometime in the future i will have a chance to fly onboard the Boeing 747. In fact, according to an analysis data as of May 2023, reveal that at least 460 Boeing 747 are still flying in Passenger, Cargo, VIP or in Charter service across all variants.
As someone old enough to have flown on 747s quite a few times. I can’t say I’m going to miss them. Compared to modern aircraft they where loud, old fashioned and the air inside was always very dry. I’ll take an A350 or 787 any day of the week over these old ladies. Heck the best plane I’ve ever flown on was a A380, that’s truly an amazing aircraft
What was not mentioned is the exact reason why KLM kept their 747’s flying until October. They had the 747-400M (Combi) version that has maindeck cargo capability which was needed as most belly cargo capacity was grounded. They could now fill up these 747-400M planes with full cargo in the belly, as there is no baggage, and on the main deck getting it close to maximum payload.
Have flown on many 747s including Pan Am (my first ever 747 experience from London to New York) United, Virgin and the last flight was on a BA 747 in May 2018 from Heathrow to DC it was my 3rd BA flight on a 747 however many of the BA fleet were getting on in years and were looking extremely tired, post Covid the 380 has taken over where the 747 left off. Perhaps some of the later 747s could have remained in service with the major carriers but the 380 is now the undisputed King of the Skies
How many retired B747s were converted in to freighters vs how many were scrapped? At least, we'll be seeing the Air Force One B747 for quite some time.
Both BA and Virgin needed to retire those very old tired 747,s I flew both many times and both were worn out, noisy and bits falling inside,but all being said still missed and such a great experience
1970 on a Qantas flt Hong Kong – Tokyo 😅a Pan Am 747 followed us into disembark area.Just trying to take in the size of the AC was amost impossible believe it could fly. Fortunatley for me in the following years when a ll the majors had them in their fleet I enjoyed the experience many times.Flight Deck invitations on 3 occasions before security restrictions put a halt to that.😂
Im lucky my home airport (CVG/KCVG) has daily 747-8F and 747-400F and 747-400(BCF) operations and the occasional 747-400 charter flight out of CVG/KCVG with Atlas as Atlas has a base and MRO base at CVG/KCVG as CVG/KCVG is the 7th largest cargo hub in the US and i see them fly over my house every day
Interesting to inject the A350 into this conversation. It currently plays no role in the efficiency currently being enjoyed by Qantas. That's thanks entirely to the 787-9.
Also, the A350 was never meant to replace the 747.
Well, Lufthansa is keeping it going at least
Those BA 747 😢 some turned up near me at Kemble – if you are an aircraft that is not a place to find your self and it was so depressing seeing them gradually cut up. At least a few went to museums.
I Have Fly A Lot On The B747-400 Whit KLM,Some Few Fligths On Qantas,British Airways And Lufthansa
Seen them, spotted them and hopefully by God's Grace I'll fly on one eventually with either Lufty, Korean Air, Air China or Asiana.
Hopefully sometime in the future i will have a chance to fly onboard the Boeing 747. In fact, according to an analysis data as of May 2023, reveal that at least 460 Boeing 747 are still flying in Passenger, Cargo, VIP or in Charter service across all variants.
I love the 747 😢. I'm glad it is still in service though. Richard Branson would've kept em in service with virgin Atlantic
I flew on a nearly empty redeye from SFO to ORD on a 747 in the 90s. Epic.
Long live the Queen of the Skies.
As someone old enough to have flown on 747s quite a few times. I can’t say I’m going to miss them. Compared to modern aircraft they where loud, old fashioned and the air inside was always very dry. I’ll take an A350 or 787 any day of the week over these old ladies. Heck the best plane I’ve ever flown on was a A380, that’s truly an amazing aircraft
What was not mentioned is the exact reason why KLM kept their 747’s flying until October. They had the 747-400M (Combi) version that has maindeck cargo capability which was needed as most belly cargo capacity was grounded. They could now fill up these 747-400M planes with full cargo in the belly, as there is no baggage, and on the main deck getting it close to maximum payload.
I was lucky to have flown in a 747-400 Virgin Atlantic in 2001
Awesome aircraft will always miss ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Have flown on many 747s including Pan Am (my first ever 747 experience from London to New York) United, Virgin and the last flight was on a BA 747 in May 2018 from Heathrow to DC it was my 3rd BA flight on a 747 however
many of the BA fleet were getting on in years and were looking extremely tired, post Covid the 380 has taken over where the 747 left off.
Perhaps some of the later 747s could have remained in service with the major carriers but the 380 is now the undisputed
King of the Skies
How many retired B747s were converted in to freighters vs how many were scrapped? At least, we'll be seeing the Air Force One B747 for quite some time.
Ty dj!!
Both BA and Virgin needed to retire those very old tired 747,s I flew both many times and both were worn out, noisy and bits falling inside,but all being said still missed and such a great experience
so so sad
1970 on a Qantas flt Hong Kong – Tokyo 😅a Pan Am 747 followed us into disembark area.Just trying to take in the size of the AC was amost impossible believe it could fly.
Fortunatley for me in the following years when a ll the majors had them in their fleet I enjoyed the experience many times.Flight Deck invitations on 3 occasions before security restrictions put a halt to that.😂
Im lucky my home airport (CVG/KCVG) has daily 747-8F and 747-400F and 747-400(BCF) operations and the occasional 747-400 charter flight out of CVG/KCVG with Atlas as Atlas has a base and MRO base at CVG/KCVG as CVG/KCVG is the 7th largest cargo hub in the US and i see them fly over my house every day