NEW Boeing 747 Is Now Making A MASSIVE Comeback! Here's Why
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ย. 2023
- The Boeing 747 AKA The Queen of the Skies could be set for a return to where it belongs.
This fan-favourite aircraft hasn't exactly been favoured by carriers for over half a decade now but all of that is on course to change. This is because the Boeing 747, which was famed for revolutionizing the aviation industry, could be about to undergo some vital enhancements. And these enhancements are gearing the aircraft up for what would be a massive comeback after years without a single passenger program.
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I am currently a B747-400 captain for a freightet company. They don't call it "The Queen" for nothing
I love 747. I feel so safe with 4 engines at middle of Pacific Ocean!
That is what actually I am thinking. Having more macchines...
...because so many planes ditch in the ocean.
The more engines it has, the bigger the ocean gets!
more engines, the more chances something will break inside one of them . . . . the odds get worse not better the more engines you add
Flying to LA and back regularly have always felt safer on that long time in the Sky.Rog.Pacific Sunset ( LA).
And, of course, the one thing that sets the 747 above all other airplanes currently flying. . . It is flat-out the coolest looking commercial airliner in the skies-and has been for over a half-century.
Addendum: Now, if you want to go Old School, I would suggest that the the Lockheed Constellation was the first plane to revolutionize the design of commercial aircraft. It would easily make the top five list for both military and commercial aircraft.
A close second to the Airbus A380 I would argue :)
@@Shinbaal99A380 is kind of bland, a big blob.
I'd say the 747 is a close second just behind the Concorde.
747 a failed Military Transport Aircraft, lost out to the Lockheed Galaxy, and that is WHY it has the raised flight deck so that it could have a hinged front door and the long slope at the back for the rear cargo/ramp door. Concorde IS the stand out design, the Jumbo Jet not even close.
@@trevorhart545 While I'll agree about the Concorde being an awesome design, they never made any money on it, was always subsidized and a maintenence nightmare. It's still my favorite commercial airline despite those things.
The 747 took a failure and turned it around, made tons of money and boeing produced 1574 units. Someone somewhere in Boeing had a back up plan, that wasn't dumb luck. Their relation ship with Pam AM didn't hurt.
Concorde only produced a handful, twenty Concorde aircraft were built: two prototypes, two pre-production aircraft, two development aircraft and just 14 production aircraft for commercial service. I wish there were fleets of them world wide.
Side note: I blew the chance to fly on the Concorde w an older family friend who worked for BA, she ran and flew with their private Concorde charters from the near the start to the end of the Concordes life. She lost count of her flights aboard, been everywhere. She'd send me stamps from all the places she traveled to, still have them.
That was a chance of a life time, but too young too dumb to appreciate it at the time.
I need to badger her to write a short book about those experiences before it's too late, she's in her 80's now.
In fact Concorde was a flawed design with problems surrounding the delta wings. With its appalling fuel characteristics and the noise issues, the plane never really got off the ground. The only carriers to use it were the counties that made it
The Queen has kept me busy. I first started in the mid nineties and I retire in 2025, I see 4 of these amazing machines every week at my place of work and feel very privileged when I sign the airworthiness release. I started on the four engine Shackleton in the seventies and, God willing, I will sign out my last aircraft, a four engine 748F in 2024.
You wouldn't be 'Big Eddy' of 7 Sqdn Shacks at Changi 1970 would you? Eddy the Kat charmer!
Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us.
You will miss that job!
Economics might not agree, but I love 4 engine aircraft
Agreed. But if an airline doesn't make money it Will not be an airline very quickly.
4 medium sized engines do look better than 2 ginormous engines. Also safer.
I trust them more on long hauls
Me too man
IMHO, the B747 is the most beautiful and elegant passenger airplane to date.
100% agree
No, The Lockheed constellation❤
As a B747 captain currently. I can say that she is not called "The Queen" for nothing. 😊
@@user-gf3lw5pi4tThe Lockheed Constellation was much slower taking 23 hours to cross the Atlantic.
@@farsiga2899 it had the look❤️❤️
I was a Senior Captain on the 747/200/300 Aircraft for over 19 yes and can say without doubt it was the Safest Aircraft ever Built , especially with all these Computer Aircraft, which very Unfortunately are getting the Pilots to loose the Skill's they had.
I also Flew Airbus 340 series and after 4yrs had problems that Factories couldn't fix , so I remember so well these problems and chucked it in and went back to 747 until my Retirement at 65 yard of age
As a prospective aviator, if I could get augmented reality enhancement that uses radar, GPS and ATC data to show the locations and types of other aircraft, the locations, types and entry/exit corridors of various airspaces, weather data, VORs, optimal departure/approach paths, and other critical information in real time, I could definitely do the rest.
You are right, though. Computer assistance is the future of commercial aviation, but pilots need to have the skills and knowledge to fall back on when that computer assistance ultimately fails. There are also moments where most forms of computer assistance are outright impossible due to the age of the aircraft. This is why, even in the 21st Century, pilots are still required by international aviation laws to learn and know how to use paper maps and E6B calculations.
It must be hard to imagine that soon pilots will be a thing of the past.
I am a retired 777 Captain and I could not agree more about automation and deteriorating pilot skills.
I had a neighbor that was a pilot and he said the exact same thing! He said the 747 was the best aircraft he ever flew and he hated Airbus.
B747! The most beautiful, elegant, majestic and charismatic airliner ever built!! ❤
You should take a look at the Lockheed Super Constellation.
Not relevant today, but in my eyes it easily beats the Jumbo!
Concorde
@@alexandergutfeldt1144 You took the words out of my keyboard! That dolphin hull is unmatched for beauty.
I was in the Air Force in Alaska 1968-71, my wife and I got to see the very 1st 747 land at the Anchorage airport 1969 on its way to Japan, BEAUTIFUL aircraft!
Flew on a brand new 747 back in 73, Chicago to Anchorage, best flight ever!
I watched my first 747 flight at Boeing field in 1968 or 69. They were doing test flying. The freeway stopped to watch. Literally. It looked like the whole field was taking off. To be still flying essentially the same aircraft 55 years later is a remarkable achievement.
The last production 747 was delivered This year, 2023, to Atlas airline. It is a remarkable production run. However, the longest production run is for the C-130. The C-130 does carry passengers: it is still in production.
I had a similar experience 1969. The city of Billings, Montana sits in a valley cut by the Yellowstone River into a massive layer of sandstone, and the airport sits high above the city on top of the "Rimrocks," several-hundred-foot-high sandstone cliffs cut by the river. I was working outside in a lumber yard when I looked up and saw this gigantic plane execute three "touch-and-go" landings at the Billings Airport. I read in the paper the next day that the Billings airport was being tested as an emergency diversion airport for the 747 for flights between Minneapolis and Seattle-Tacoma airport.
I was there February 1969 - I was 15 years old visiting family in Tacoma Washington and we all drove out to watch this massive four engine jet fly out of Everett Paine Field the freeway was stopped and people couldn’t believe the size of the plane
The 'freeway' ended at Everett, into SR99 at that time, important to set the expectations of your readers.
It would be great to see the 747 back in operation with improved technologies and capabilities!
It would. I love the 747 and I wish they would keep building them. I would love to fly on one. And pay extra to do so.
Of course, it's called 747-8, duh!
That's literally what the 747-8 is...
Boeing better get their act together before China builds a knock off!
They are it's the 747-800 global jetliner
I just got offered a position with Kalitta Air flying the 747…can’t wait to start training! ✈️
Being a retired military person, I flew on the 747 many times. Love the plane. Enjoyed its comfort and its looks. Hopefully, with tech improvements and upgrades it can find its place again. Engine tech is constantly improving. Cargo use is good, but I would like to see carriers keep using it for passenger travel.
>
Heh, heh! Perhaps we will see the day when the 747XP flies ---- a TWIN ENGINE 747!
Solve all those noise and pollution problems.
@@SeattlePioneer Maybe a tri-jet ? Slap one on the tail ?
I AGREE, THE MOST ELEGANT, ENJOYABLE PLANE I HAVE EVER FLOWN ON - MAY SHE LIVE ON FOREVER!
She will just like the A380
Highlight of my travel history was a business class BA 747 round trip from London to Cape Town.
The 747 was the most comfortable aeroplane I have ever flown on. From its wide seats, pleasant temperature and smooth flight it was my 1st choice aeroplane and I managed to book one of the last British Airways flight to the USA.
Then you have not flown a lot I guess . The Airbus 380 Is a lot quieter , has more room above the seats and is overall a lot more comfortable .
Ditto , in my 50 plus years of flying. Nothing has come close to the comfort of thee Boeing 747. The DC-10 was a close second. But, thee Boeing 747 is in a class by itself. 😎👍
@@ralphreinhardt6020 never flew Airbus a380 . That is a different class . Very quiet , lots of space overhead , …
@@ralphreinhardt6020DC-10 crashes weren't very comfortable tho
Nothing beats the A380,even in Economy.
I always liked the 747. It's safe its cool has 4 huge jet engines and rides smooth.
I flew from Germany to China and back 20 years ago twice, all 4 on 747s and all 4 flights were horrible, grueling experiences.
The cabin was cold, the air was stale and the air pressure constantly fluctuated even when the plane was flying at cruising altitude, making my ears pop constantly for the whole 13 hour flight.
I still wonder how they justified the ridiculous First Class prices they charged back then, since the First Class chairs weren't those luxurious small cabins they are now, but just bigger and maybe more comfortable chairs with a little more leg room. I think they didn't even have individual screens with entertainment systems back then.
Considering that people in First Class also had to deal with the cold, shitty air and the pressure fluctuations, paying 10 000 Dollars for a flight was just demented.
In Economy Class we definitely had no screens and back then nobody had smart phones yet, iPads didn't exist and the batteries in laptop computers only lasted for like 2 hours.
So the only possible ways to entertain yourself on such a long flight was to read, listen to a small selection of songs from your 32 MB storage space MP3 player or play on a Nintendo GameBoy.
It was horrible.
I basically spent the whole 13 hours shivering under a shitty, coarse blanket, swallowing to pop my ears every 30 seconds or so, staring at the one big cabin screen at the wall separating the front crew area from the passenger cabin 8 rows ahead of me, which showed the barely moving position of the plane on a world map.
I still feel slight PTSD when I read the name "Ulan Bator" to this day, hehehe.
*Tiny* yet engines. By today's standards.
To me as a person who worked in airfreight for 43 years I say keep the 747 coming as is the best type of freighter ever , apart from the AN/225 payload wise..but that is a different story.
As a Maintence guy the 74 was my life, However but it was also easily sorted after damage ( unlike the AIRBUS and later Boeing's with bonded structure) and so Up gradable a bit like a classic car.
I suppose that's the point, it's made in an old fashioned/classic way and manufacturing has moved on hence its decline.
It is a solid airframe. If can be upgraded with new engines and avionics at a good price it might be a cost effective option for many airlines.
Boeing has completely retooled the 747 line to produce 737s. The 747 is not going to make a comeback unless someone pays massive amounts of money to retool again.
How do all you people talk about what a great idea and update would be when the 787-8 WAS the update with new engines, wing, avionics, interiors, everything. And guess what? The age of the 4 engine jumbo is over and the 747-8 is now out of production. This video is of course pure nonsense, the 747 is not making a comeback as sad as that is. Take a trip to one of the aircraft boneyards like Mojave, Victorville, Kingman, Marana.......hundreds of 747s parked and being chopped up for scrap, even newer ones.
As one who has been a passenger on the 747 over the years, it has always been my preference for comfort and status to fly on this plane. Im retired now bit I envy those passengers now who can enjoy the luxury of this airplane. BOEING and the airlines who used this aircraft always had the best passenger aircraft ever designed and used.
Best plane ever built . Put it in the sky before computer 🖥️ tex started in 1968 . 27 months later it’s in the sky.when engineers were engineers. Now we have collage kids spent 8 years 737 with technology and we all know how that when .China will be buildings planes so good luck
Over 50 years and the 747 is still flying and being considered for upgrades to try and bring it back to its former prominence. There can be no other testament that I can think of to the brilliance and the being so far ahead of its time than this reality. People forget or didn't know that the 747 was originally designed as a freight hamuler and was supposed to be phased out of passenger service when Boeing's highly touted supersonic jet was supposed to take over passenger service. The government pulling the plug on the very inefficient SST was probably the biggest favor it did Boeing. The queen of the skies does not care if it hauls foreign dignitaries or freight or flies the rubber dog s*** out of Hong Kong to paraphrase a line from top gun. It's just a beautiful sight to see any 747 flying, hell it's actually quite thrilling just to see one on the ground. Physics can't be altered so severely in that 4 engines will most likely never be near is economical as 2 engines; conversely two engines will not be most likely able to haul the weight of 4 comparably sized engines. Boeing probably could develop more fuel efficient engines may be increased the 747-8 size a little more and utilize the benefits of the two extra engines by hauling more freight.
You should try flying on a modern long haul aircraft like an Airbus 350. As much as I liked the 747 when it was current, it;s old, clunky and noisy.
I loved this plane. Comfort was unmatched.
A380 is quieter and more comfortable.
@@michaelphillips1701who care’s, i like the 747 even if the a380 is a bit better
@@youradoptedlol7691Those who hate the proliferation of alternative facts or reckless inaccuracies care very much, that's who.
I only flew in one a few times, but yes.. Loved it.
Then again, I'm old.. I miss the L-1011 too.
@@jonhutto580 I’m old too. Also flew the L1011. And just took the A380. No doubt the 380 is good, but the Queen of the skies is nostalgic.
I would like to see the 747 make a comeback with more fuel efficient engines and a slightly longer fuselage using a biofuel.
will not happen, if it is only the engines, then other aircrafts will use them also , and since the engines are mainly from GE or RR they are open for anybody. If it would make a come back , it would need a much lighter hull design ( composite) also , making it not a 747-1000 but rather a new nr . I do not hate the 747 at all , it surely was a "queen of the skies" for decades , only its time is gone. I only see use right now in A380 for a 4 engine plane , and that is making a slow come back ( i would not be surprised to having production back). For 2 engines , A350XWB ( the promised land) , 787 and 777 rule right now. The 777 is imho not very good .
@@sergesmets5685 I wonder if the upcoming CFM Rise external turboprop engine might work in a four engine config. It would give the extra fuel savings needed.
@JoeHamelin Apples And Orange's
Why would you want something as environmentally damaging as biofuel?
That's literally the 747-8
I do hope that the Boeing 747 makes a comeback carrying passengers.I first flew on one in 1971 and have always enjoyed my flights on them.
Always enjoy our flights on The 747
I loved the PANAM' s '747' travel - brings great memories!
0:42 those were the days, when you could light up a smoke in a plane.
The 3 types of 747's used for cargo are, 747-F & 747-8 are nose-loading freighters straight off the line, and 747-BCF (Boeing Converted Freighters), converted from pax to cargo.
Absolutely loved flying on the 747 I remember flying 1st Class upstairs in the bubble to Australia from America it was absolutely a memorable experience become part of the mile high club on that plane LOL.
Wish Boeing, and others, would go back to designing planes with the passengers in mind primarily and not the stock holders. Great video!
I have flown on many 747 flights from 1970 to my last flight in 2017 ftom Seoul to Saigon in Business Class on Asiana. Miss the Queen!!
I worked on the 1st 5 747s in Everett' Paine Field. Massive plane & the building is still I think the largest s. f. On earth. It would fit 28 747s inside. 14 on each side. Before the HVAC system was working, certain weather outside caused CLOUDS to form in the ceiling, & it would actually drizzle in the factory. The Documentary on the whole project. Was amazing.
I was there in 1969, worked on the first one at Paine field,then down to Boeing field on the flight test prigram using the first 5 for certification, Amazing plane, Flew down to NM for landing gear and break testing, First two had fireman's pole to get from the cockpit to the cargo hold so they could bail out if needed, I sat in the upper deck on the flight.
had to change antenna connection on top of the tail using a cherry picker, 60 ft to the top of the tail. I could wiggle the whole plane from up top, Certication took 3 fully loaded landings. full panic stop , no thrust reversers, no flaring upon landing and immediate take off. amazing
The 747 is the best airframe ever built, the redundancy and stability are great. Try ANY other aircraft to have the ability to have taken on top the space shuttle. No current aircraft could've done it as well. I had the honor of helping work on one at Edwards. It was amazing. Stripped out of course for the weight, but that made it better to actually see the details of the construction of the aircraft. I'm glad I was able to fly one of Lufthansa's after United retired theirs. The only passenger jet plane they'll ever be where if you could afford the seat, you could actually sit more forward than the pilot!
@ddc163264
Actually, i have been in that Seat , which you reference, and The view is a Blank Plastic Wall, which gives you plenty of time to think about the Pilot's and have they had heavy hands with Spirits the previous day.
Having seen crash sites of 747 Aircraft, the pilots appear to use the nose section Passenger's as a crumble zone Passenger's, Who never survive.
An-225
Some 747 development work was done at Kempton Park, South Africa 🇿🇦 by the then prime airline SAA. A relative was CEO of that once proud airline in those days.
I am South African, 78, and yearn for the days when SAA was a great International Airline flying all variants of 747 200, 300, SP, and 400.🇿🇦🇿🇦.
The 747-800 First class from Lufthansa between FRA and LAX is an unforgettable experience regarding comfort, silence and service 😊 absolutely fantastic !!!
Boeing 747 will always remain among the most beautiful passenger aircraft to have ever adorned the skies.
While the 747 began life as Boeing's version of the Air Force C5A, the 707 began life as the (five seat abreast) 377-80, later to be enlarged to become the six-seat abreast 707. Only later that variants of the smaller cross-section Dash 80 fuselage were built as tankers and AWACs planes.
The last time I flew a B747-400 was back in year 2000 onboard a Saudia Airlines flight from Riyadh to Manila. Hopefully it will make a comeback to fly to the skies once more.
They should make more 747’s
Be great to see more of them fly again
I spent far more hours in the cockpit than in the passenger cabin, but that first class cabin was amazing!
I have rode in one through really bad storms and it held together. Whew !
The main advantage of the 747 over ALL other cargo planes is the lift nose for loading longer items that don't fit through side doors. So, could Boeing put a 747 style nose on a 777? Or a smaller 747 variant (I.e., SP sized) with only 2 100,000 lb class engines?
The wiring and hydraulics another reason for nose door.
Uhh no.
SEATTLE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Boeing (BA.N) bid farewell to the iconic 747, delivering the final plane to Atlas Air on Tuesday afternoon and marking an end of an era when the first-ever "jumbo jet" ruled the skies.
Thousands of Boeing employees - including some of the so-called "Incredibles" who developed the jet in the 1960s - watched the last delivery of the historic plane, which brought air travel to the masses and represented an indelible slice of Americana.
So, basically you are saying this Reuters clip dismisses this video.
I'm not, nor have I ever been a Government Offical, just a soldier.
In 1991 at the end of Desert Storm I, as well as my US Army Company and several other Companies, rode home in a 747. It was configured as one would expect a regular Airliner to be. Flight attendants, in-flight meal. Best seat spacing on a military contract flight; it beat the other wide body contract flights I have suffered.
The neat thing about the 747 was it could carry a Space Shuttle on its back..( PIGGYBACK)...
The biggest model I ever built was a 747 carrying a Space Shuttle..
It took up almost half of my model cabnet but I loved it!!!
Sadly I had a fire in my workshop in 2013 and it and all my model collection ( over 60 aircraft) perished in the mishap.....maybe one day....
I will be able to recover my loss...
But I have my memories........
I will rebuild......
Oh about the 747..a biofuel..twin engined version..with lighter wings (composite material) could put in next level status...
It could work....
😮
50 + years old now , catching up to the C130 and B52 with longevity.
I truly believe the last production 747 has left the factory. We will see mods to existing aircraft for probably 30 years to come. It is probably cheaper and more profitable to fly 2 777’s loaded than one 747.
I miss flying the 747 everyday.
The B747 has always been my favorite aircraft. Great to fly in and great to watch coming and going. My fist international flight in 1980 was via a Pan Am 747. Unfortunately here in New Zealand I fear that we won't see the her return even as a freighter.
ANA the world's sixth largest airline, at least at one time, got rid of all its 747s on account that it uses too much fuel. I cannot hardly wait for the Boeing 797 to come out. I'll bet it'll be a huge monster.
GEnx-2B Engine addition to the AC did reduce fuel usage for the 747-8 or what we called during engine development was the 747-ER (extended range), the nx motors were cool to work on during engine development.
My favorite. Hope they modernize it
probably due to the fact the Everett plant had a stipulation with the city of Everett that the plane would never be NOT built there, and will be back in that factory again being built...as one who crawled around that factory for years as an electrical designer for the facilties group, the Everett Boeing plant has always been the highlight of my career...Johnne now in Clallam Bay WA...
Last production 747 was delivered in 2023 and it went to Atlas Airline the largest current operator of 747's. No more 747s are scheduled to be built. All of Atlas 747 are for cargo. Lufthansa Airlines operate s about 30 passenger 747's and is the largest operator of passenger 747's. About 500 747's currently fly. The first production 747 was in 1969. A great record.
Not all Atlas 747s are cargo jets, although most are. Atlas covers the Defense Department's contracts for hauling GIs to overseas assignments, and they're also the Jacksonville Jaguars' carrier. They have five 747s with seats in them.
Yes, the 747 has always been a favorite of mine. For me, it is 'looks'. It's 'the hump' ... who doesn't like a good hump ... ?
I love the 747 and first flew it in 1976. We last flew it to Australia in 2002 on Quantas. Our last trip to Australia was on a Dreamliner in 2016 with United. In the next year or so, I will be booking the 747-8 on Lufthansa for one last nostalgic flight to Germany, this time in Business Class. The 747 is my favorite plane of all time.
In the mid 80's I gave a radar remote demo at then Andrews AFB for the AF-1 people. I had just taken a 767 flight and after the demo I said they should use that instead of the 707. The chief pilot looked me in the eye and said "the president flies on 4 engines!"
The Queen is going to fly for sometime in cargo mode. What a beautiful, well designed airplane.
Saw my first 747 while stationed at NAS Barbers Point, Oahu. Our airfield, now converted into the civilian Kalaeloa Airport, lay due west of Honolulu Airport. Sometime in 1970, while we were outside our squadron hangar (it's still there, as a facility for the Honolulu Community College Aviation Department!), everyone's eyes turned upward as we saw this gigantic bird, hardly seeming to move, as it climbed into the sky after takeoff from Honolulu). We stared in awe as this behemoth lumbered away from us (it was so big, to us at least, that it didn't seem to be moving fast enough to stay in the air). That was 53 years ago!
I flew on a 747 from LA to NY in 1979. Maaan, what a beautiful aircraft, so big and nice. I was all over that big bird just trying to see how Boeing did it. I would like to see her back in the skies. Maybe Boeing will attach the GE90's engines to her? I hope they do. The most beautiful bird I have ever seen and flew on. Thanks for your video.
Q: Why is the 747 making a massive comeback?
A: It's not but wouldn't it be great if it did?
Especially with upcoming Boeing 777x-es
She is a beautiful machine. I had the honor of being a passenger of a 747 on my trip to Saudi Arabia during my deployment to Saudi Arabia.... one of the best experiences of my life. (The flight of course not the combat) However as you said there are issues with fuel efficiency, noise and of course Carbon Emissions. So yeah not actually a "Comeback" but it is actually quite amazing that after 50 years, they are still flying the skies.
When i was 12 years old in 1978 i remember flying from London to Dallas in a Braniff 747.
Would be cool to see a new 747 with a 777X cockpit so like 747X.
Keep the cockpit of the 747 8 but put 4 brand new Trent XWB Or uprated RR Trent 700 jets on her beautiful wings (and skip the MCAS)
Bring 747 back, there is a need for energy efficient 4 engine plane
I love and actually fly the 747, but there is no engine efficiency reason to have 4 engine aircraft. Actually the 777-300ERSF is being set up to replace all the 747BCF (Boeing Converted Freighters) aka passenger aircraft converted to cargo, and even replace a big chunk of the regular Freighters. This particular 777 has a similar payload, 25%-30% more fuel efficient and longer range
@@Eldanyveneboy 2 engine is definitely more efficient, however, the unique design & comfort is exclusively 747, I want to see it again from Boeing. . Thanks
First trip to America was on a 747 in 1976 for the American Bi Centennial with the British Army and was stationed at Quantico marine corps what a trip that was happy days for a young 19 year old Scottish soldier
As a young aspiring pilot in the 1970s I was one day invited into a 747 simulator by one of my students who was a simulator technician with a major airline. We spent two hours doing landings and takeoffs at different airports while he made adjustments to the computers and such, reloaded the program with those huge 8" floppy disks and away we went again. I recall the simulator even dipping when you taxied it over the seams in the tarmac and taxiway! We only did it that one time but what a memory it evokes even 50 years later. How I envied the guys and gals that got assigned to it and always paused to think when one flew by that the guy or gal doing was having the time of their life!
I 100% agree and precise the Boeing 747 is one of my top favorites.
It would be ironic if the 747 outlived the A380.
Looks like it will.
There's no question it's going to. The 747s production was shut down after the A380 and will be flying long after due to Cargo variants.
It did 🤣🤣🤣🤣 60 years compared to 20. A380 failed and couldn’t do a freight version
I like Boeing 747-8F back to service. I love it very much. It's very comfortable airplane.
My first ever flight in December 1975 was in a Jumbo. That was when tickets were interchangeable between airlines and if the flight was overbooked the airline would apologise for forcing you into first class to eat juicy medium-roasted leg-of lamb and freshly roasted or steamed vegetables. Cigarettes and beer were complimentary, as many as you could force down your guts.
I will never forget my first sight of the 747. I was in my '69 Mustang Fastback. So I was likely in '69 or'70. I was driving past Love Field in Dallas when I saw a building moving. I pulled over and stopped at the end of the runway. As it slowly came closer, I realized that it was an airplane. The stunning realization that this monster was about to fly overwhelmed me.
It's really difficult to overcome 50 years of design progress. Today's planes are more efficient for both fuel and maintenance. Redesign of almost all surfaces and especially propulsion will be needed. If that is done, is it still a 747? Or is it the next generation of a marvelous design - maybe the 847 that will be launched in a ceremony including a pair of 747's flying on its wings.
I got upgraded to business class on the top level. As someone who has issues with flying (primarily the feeling of takeoff and rough turbulence), it's a damn shame 747s are on their way out. Such a smooth ride, very easy takeoff, it was nothing like I've ever experienced.
Yes, after the efficiency and safety elements are corrected and the focus should be on bulk cargo.
The 747 design came from a call from the US Air Force in the early 60’s for a massive haul cargo . The famous hump was incorporated to accommodate cargo and the swing up nose to allow military equipment to be loaded and unloaded quickly.
But Boeing lost the competition to the Lockheed C-5A, so the passenger version was developed and became the world wide legend it is today. The 74 has faded because as the video said, engine technology has advanced to the place where either the twin GE90’s or the Pratt and Whitney PW9000 on the Boeing 777 generates the same thrust output as the 4 engines on the 747 using 20% less fuel. Due to that as well as the composite materials being used in the 777 which makes the aircraft lighter and more fuel efficient, the 747 simply is no longer competitive in the passenger market.
But the 74 is still very much in demand in the freight sector, because freight is simply more lucrative than hauling passengers and the 747 shines as a freighter because cargo hauling is what it was principally designed for.
For that reason, the 747 400 series and the new-8 guarantee the Queen will be around for at least another decade or two.
Question: Can the 747 operate with only two engines? That’s what it’s going to take.
@Ebros415 I watched a documentary on that.
Not worth the engineering of the wings and manufacturing plants.
She will be flying freight for decades.
That's not the issue. The issue is, can it fly on one? All multi-engine aircraft must be able to safely take off at MTOW after a single engine failure after V1. In order to get an engine big enough to lift a 747 off the ground onto the plane, you'd have to move the wings to the top of the fuselage.
And even that won't work. In order to make this plane make sense as an airliner, you'll have to show you can fill it to at least 80 percent of capacity on a regular basis. Only Lufthansa seems to be able to do that. And Lufthansa can do it because they run hub-and-spoke out of Frankfurt am Main.
While I too love the 747, reality says 777s and 787s work better for hauling passengers.
Freight? Totally different story. They can pack those things so full of freight there's no room for air in the cargo bay and head out to the other side of the ocean. When you're hauling freight you want the biggest plane you can get your hands on...and since the A380 hits MTOW long before it cubes out, the 747 is the best freight hauler in the skies.
I was fortunate enough to help build the last of the legacy 747 and build the newer 747-8. Structure wise its old school but in a good way, solid, overbuilt and durable.
YES - Bring back the Queen of the Skies!
Power, style, function: the 747 will always be Queen of the Skies!
The legend will return.
In the 80's Boeing was working on putting a new wing on the 747 with less sweep to fly at a lower critical Mach number and higher efficiency. They could have also changed to higher efficiency engines or reduced the number to two. Maybe they should dust off that redesign.
I only flew a few times in a 747. I still remember one landing that was the smoothest landing I’ve ever experienced. I did feel it touch down, it was so smooth.
Funny thing I watched a presentation by GE they built and tested the most powerful Engine ever. It was so powerful that when they turned off the other 3 engines it was able to power the test aircraft 747 with just that 1 engine.
Nothing beats the 747. Bring her back.
I've noticed on flight aware that the 747 seems to cruise on average about 30 to 40 knots faster than most other airliners
They need to bring back the L1011 as well.
I hope this is true and absolute beautiful aircraft incredible history and I was lucky enough to be in the cockpit of a British Airways 747 400. I’ll never forget it.
As a flight attendant this was my favourite aircraft to work on!! The layout and numerous galleys made so much sense! I loved working the upper deck! ❤
I flew on a 747 once the flight was so smooth from Spain to New York that when it landed i thought we had hit a little turbulence because it was very foggy and i could not see the Airport a beautiful memory.
747 FOREVER !
My # 1 choice for long distance travel.
Well most of the assembly line has been dismantled with the building set for building other models. There was talk of changing it over to a twin engine design utilizing state of the art mega engines used on the A380. Again wings would have to be redesigned to carry the load and stresses on the wings that a two engine variant would need. The -8 variant utilized a wing design from one of their newer jet designs. They just had to adapt it to four engines and complete hundreds of hours of qualification testing to receive its airworthiness certificate, a very costly endeavor.
Why redesign a classic? They can keep the same design by using fuel efficient engines. The air frame is the best there is currently. Built for durability which is why cargo companies love them.
Because old airframes are much heavier than new ones that incorporate composites. It would be insane to use the "original" airframe from ANY airliner that was being updated due to its much heavier empty weight than a new design. The Boeing 727-200 weighed about 102,000 empty and required 3 engines. The 737-400, roughly the same size in capacity weighed 71,800 pounds empty, used two engines and was about 45% more economical to operate. Same goes for the 747-100 vs the 747-8. The 747-8 could lift 40% more while burning 30% less fuel due to its advanced materials and upgrades. So yes, there is a reason to "redesign a classic" because its all about operating costs.@@Darkk6969
Still so beautiful in proportion and in flight, making the 380 look 'piglike'. A creation of America's greatest period for sure.
Hopefully airliners will increase the use of the 747 . Such a beauty
Having traveled at the front, back and up top on the 747. Even got the cockpit tour as a kid (when that was still allowed) ......I just love this plane! Shame, as she is a jewel of the past. The Queen of the sky's....says it all. I loved the Iron Maiden painted one too...bought the model!
I got a picture of my wife sitting in the Co-pilot seat in mid flight of a 747 with his cap and jacket on in 1989 was a incredible memory on our honeymoon
As a former USAF aircrew member, I had the oppurtunity to fly on the four 747s SAC owned (and still own as ACC). As the original airframes reach their end of life cycles, it would be awesome to see the new replacements be another set of newer 747s. The old stuff needed would fit into the new frames easier that a total rebiild, and be more cost effective too.
KLM could dust off PH-BFN for a last KL785 approach. The unworthy send off was making me cry...
The 747 was a wonderful plane to be passenger in.
I flew on my first 747 flight, Sydney-Tokyo on JAL, in 1974. I've flown them dozens and dozens of times since, and will forever love my seat 74K. :)
I think many of us would feel a lot better flying in a modernized 747 with a couple more heads and way better entertainment systems. The aircraft was safe and had good padded seats.
I hope it makes a comeback..... Most comfortable aircraft Intelligent.. I think we have a bunch of people in charge who couldn't change a tire let alone tie there own shoelaces.....
I would love and prefer to see it back in service for Passenger travel.