Short Stuff - Boeing 747SP (Reworked)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ค. 2024
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This is a reworked and reuploaded version of the original video.
Hello! :D
In today's episode, we look at the history of perhaps the most obscure variant of the Boeing 747, the Special Performance or SP. While its bizarre proportions may come across as comedic, the airliner was actually built to fill a gap in Boeing's line-up during the 1970s, but was ultimately a victim of ever-changing circumstances and external economic factors.
Chapters:
0:00 - Preamble
0:57 - Undercutting a Giant
3:31 - Sutter's Balloon
7:30 - Into Production
9:56 - Struggling to Find Appeal
13:05 - A Victim of Circumstance
15:21 - Record Breakers and Safe Flyers
19:13 - Facing Withdrawal
22:07 - The Last Examples
25:03 - Conclusion
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References:
- Yesterday's Airlines (and their respective references)
- Boeing (and their respective references)
- 747SP.com (and their respective references)
- Wikipedia (and its respective references) - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
I loved sitting up in the dome. Once in 1st class (that was years of saved up airline miles, I'm not some tech bro millionaire) and later many airlines moved business class up there, so got to sit there for work. Quiet and private and before 9-11 you could easily visit the cockpit. Always had a great time with the crew - generally walked out with a bottle of wine that hadn't yet been opened and was surplus to requirements. 😁 EDIT: I guess you could say that the 747SP was the predecessor of the JWST!
James Webb Space Telescope ?
@@rael5469 Yes, as he's referring to SOFIA. It was a infrared telescope mounted on a 747SP, flying above most of the atmosphere for better imaging. JWST is one step up, entirely in space.
@@rael5469 indeed
I have an SP story: growing up, some of my contemporaries were the grandchildren of a former Boeing chairman. His wife fell seriously ill in the Canary Islands, if memory serves. The way the story was told to me, there was only one plane that could make Seattle to Canary Islands in one hop: the 747 SP prototype. So they filled 'er up and went and got her.
Between 1989 and 1991 I made several trips between The US west coast and Singapore aboard 747SPs operated by United. Lovely aircraft. On one flight out of San Francisco we were due for a short layover in Hong Kong before heading on to Singapore and shortly after reaching cruising altitude we encountered a headwind in the form of [what I understood to be] a 200+ MPH jet stream - consequently slowing us down by some 200 MPH and giving us very rough flight. After several hours the Captain announced we were low on fuel and that we'd likely soon be landing in Guam (I personally thought that was pretty cool as I'd never been to Guam). Short time later he announced an update, informing us they'd made some recalculations and that we'd instead be landing in Taipei. This news was less cool (literally) as it was summer and even at around 1 AM when we landed, the former Chiang Kai Shek airport was sweltering and we were forced to stay on the runway with the cabin secured and our APU shut down during refueling, which meant no A/C and no fresh air (as an aside, the Taiwanese military isn't fond of surprises and immediately surrounded our plane with armed troops which I thought was a nice touch). Good times =)
Surely I can’t be the only enthusiast who feels a real sadness upon hearing the ultimate fates of airframes after they have worked heroically for decades?
I wanna point out that SOFIA is currently preserved in the Pima air and space museum in Arizona. The Las Vegas sands 747sp VQ-BMS was written off and scrapped after being damaged from hurricane Laura in Louisiana in 2020. The other aircraft VP-BLK was retired earlier this month and due to be parted out. So far, only two aircraft: Maluti and SOFIA are preserved, two operable, the rest either scrapped or awaiting scrapping. What a shame for an ultra rare aircraft.
Similar to the Concorde, it was built for a market that only really existed in the days of super low oil prices and looked to be killed off by the time it entered production. Both aircraft, however, managed to serve their customers loyally and with little incident, outlasting many of their more successful competitors despite being commercial failures for their respective manufacturers.
I flew an SP once from Paris via Zurich to JNB with SAA in 2003 . It was MALUTI . The SAA SP fleet were finally used on the short trunk route between JNB-CPT-JNB before ultimate retirement .
With only 45 units sold, the SP appears a failure at first glance, but this is pinky a part of the picture. After the 1st oil crisis, orders for the 747 all but evaporated. Boeing even considered terminating production. The SP kept 747 production line open until the improved 747-200 received orders again in the early 1980s. If you look at the number of 747s sold after 1978, that’s the SP’s real contribution to Boeing.
ETOPS did not kill the SP. While he Eastern did benefit from the 75-minute rule flying A300s to the Caribbean, that was a tiny portion of US commercial airliner in 1982. In 1982, the 767-200 only carried 10 more passengers than the 727, and could barely cross North America on a 6-hour flight. 767 ETOPS did not start until the latter half of the 1980s, when EL AL and TWA deseperstely needed a smaller aircraft to fly the North Atlantic in winter.
The 747-200 with more powerful engines killed the SP. China Airlines, Air China, and Korean Air ordered the SP to launch nonstop flights between their home bases and San Francisco/Los Angeles at a time no other airliners could go the job. By the time Air Newzealand ordered their 747, the incremental improvements made it possible for the 747-200 to fly Transpacific nonstop. The 747-200 burned the same amount of the fuel as the SP, but carries 80 more passengers, thus making it a no-brained preference over the SP. Note that aside from Braniff and Iran Air, every airline that ordered the SP from Boeing also operated the 747-200.
I believe what happened was that Boeing was able to offer a 747-200B with more powerful GE CF6-50 or Rolls-Royce RB.211-524 engines in 48,000 to 50,000 lb thrust range, which allowed Boeing to increase the fuel capacity of the 747 to allow flights as long as the 747SP but with the same seating capacity as the 747-200 models. It was these improvements that explained why Japan Airlines, a customer targeted by Boeing for the 747SP, ended up buying the 747-200B powered by CF6-50 engines.
Twice I did the 19 hour SAA flight between New York and Johannesburg with refuel at Cape Verde. I think at the time SAA was one of the best airlines for service. Even though I was in coach I had an entire center row to myself to lay down and sleep, and Filet MIgnon served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Who else remembers when flying was actually an enjoyable part of a trip?
As I once commented before, this is an absolutely Spiffing documentary! Very informative and most enjoyable to watch! This is probably my favourite 747 variant, although the 747-8 is fighting it!
My favorite 747 ❤
I admit, I don’t recall watching the original episode, but your redux is certainly up to your high standards!
The 747 has always been my favorite airliner, and it was interesting to hear the story of the SP variant. Thank you, Ruairidh. 😊
I don't remember the original taking 7 minutes to say precisely what a 747SP was.
I flew on the Qantas 747SP in August 1983 from Wellington to Brisbane. It was my first overseas trip. The first of many to come. Even had a visit to the cockpit, exciting stuff.
The original was one of your first transportation documentaries that got me hooked, and this is a fantastic revision. Keep it up!
Yup, me too. It's part of every Saturday morning now, Ruairidh's calm voice discussing some niche transport topic.
I flew on a SP in 1988 from Mauritius to LHR via Zurich. It was operated by Air Mauritius and I think was previously flown by South African Airways. The flight to Mauritius was on the SP's replacement, the 767.
I always liked the SP. That the normal 747 would have equal to more range 16 minutes later, who knew. :o
Aerolineas Argentinas had these as well, looked quirky but i liked them
Flew on it on August 4th 1991 as UA900 JFK-LHR. Was the first time that I saw this aircraft type ever and was a bit shocked first as it looked really odd. Now I am happy that I flew on that rare aircraft.
747 has always been my favorite.
I remember watching this one from the original version. One of the first I saw from you, in fact. So glad to get an updated release of it! Great work as always. Consistently excellent quality, sir.
This is my favourite 747 😍
I remember this "short body" 747, and always wanted to find out more about how it ultimately fared. I presume increased competition rendered it somewhat redundant in the end.
I have a recollection of reading some interesting comments about the relative performance of the 747SP with the two available engines, the PW JT9D and the Rolls-Royce RB211 in that while PamAm's PW engined SPs often needed to make a fuel stop from the US to Australia, the QANTAS RB engined aircraft could do it without a stopover.
Really good - very thorough and an amazing collection of clips and photos . Good script - narration sounds top quality as well .
spectacularly done doc!
Didn't know about the SP before seeing your previous video. It's possible I flew on one without realising it (Sydney to LAX nonstop in December 1992), I don't recall it not being a regular 747 though.
Must be able to carry a lot of fuel if they were thirsty but set world records for range.
I'm surprised the unused SPs weren't sought after for private use, but then they were probably way too big for everyone except the Sultan. And probably not long enough for cargo use.
The AA 747SP was initially deployed on DFW-NRT then moved to JFK-LHR/BRU
I recall 1997. I was fortunate enough to be on a flight in China that utilize the 747 SP. I recall embarking on the tarmac via ladder definitely one of the highlights of my worldwide travels.👍🥴
Outstanding documentary. Thank you.
One of my favourite aircrafts, that and the 757 !!!
Even better the second time, thanks again.
The first flight I ever took was a journey from Manchester to Adelaide via Frankfurt. All by a Qantas 747. I even was allowed to visit the flight deck as a five year old kid.
Direct flight from Frankfurt to Adelaide?
what a great presentation. you did an incredible job researching so much history and finding all of the great photos!! subscribed!
United received L-1011s and -SPs in the Pan Am deal. They immediately got rid of the TriStars. They did not sell the SPs right away
I always found it odd that the -100, -200, -300, and -400 were all the same length. Only the -SP and -8i were shorter and longer respectively. But...the -300 and -400 utilized the extended upper deck which was originally engineered for the -SP, so that was its main legacy.🙂
Nice video. Thank you for your efforts.
Lovely aircraft, used see the Iran air and Syrian ones coming to Heathrow not that long ago as well as couple of private ones. Always a special occasion
You forgot Aerolineas Argentinas was also an user of the SP
Thank you for this very well researched and narrated video! The 747SP is IMHO one of the most fascinating aircraft ever built. Regarding YI-ALM (l/n 567): As far as I know it was not built for Iraqi Airways, but for the Iraq Government (i.e. Saddam Hussein) only using the livery of Iraqi Airways with the Titles "Irag" on the fuselage. The 747-270C sitting next to it on the tarmac in Touzeur btw is line number 565, so they could "see" each other already on the final assembly line in Everett...😉
my favorite stumpy boi
SAA purchased the SP for the Johannesburg to LHR and FRA routes in the days when they had to fly "around the bulge" They operated regular 742's on the JFK route.
you left out the hull loss of one of the Sands 747 SP’s during a hurricane in Lake Charles a couple years ago.
Unable to shed its Quasimodo image, the SP quietly shuffled off to the Gibbet of Montfaucon.
Good video, well done.
Happy comment (reworked) 😊
It's kind of goofy looking, but I do like it. Good video.
I used to fly (as a PAX) the AA SP JFK-LHR. It was also used by SAA.
My favourite airliner. Pity I didn't get to see any flying in real life myself. (I did see one before parked outside a hangar awaiting MRO work though, no livery)
SOFIA is preserved at Pima Air and Space Museum
Boeing was more than great when joe sutter was in the house.
A "baby" 747 !!🥰 If Boeing had shrunk" the 757, instead of trying to stretch the 50+ year old 737, the issues with the MAX would never have happened and their reputation wouldn't have taken a hit; and they would not have had to put out hits on their whistleblowers.😱
Ironically, the 737 and a321 and demand for both has grown to be the 757-200 and 767-200 in terms of capacity.
While the 757 never had an ER model, the 767-200 would fit nicely in that 10-12 hour flight range.
The 757-100, the never-built shrunken variant would've been too heavy in that category and would only be viable as an equivalent to a 737-800, bear in mind that the Classic and Next Generation families all have variants of different sizes to fit various roles. I doubt you'd be able to develop a 757 variant that would be the size of a 737-500.
Would have been great to have flown on one.
The plane got its type certification on the same date as my birthday :)
Any plans on an episode on the SR and D (for Domestic) variants?
I remember having a stubby 747 toy and thinking it was wrong until i learned that... I was wrong.
Old Boeing: "...suffered an uncontained failure in the number three engine shortly after departure from Maputo airport in Mozambique, with debris damaging engine four and the leading edge of the wing, the aircraft subsequently catching fire in-flight but was able to safely return to the field... "
Current Boeing: Can't bolt in a door plug properly
But interestingly, I wonder why Boeing never considered building a 747SP powered by RB.211-524H or GE CF6-50 engines. The higher thrust of these engines could have allowed Boeing to extend the range of the 747SP from 6,600 to circa 7,250 nautical miles, which could have made very long intercontinental year-round flights possible like between SFO and HKG, LAX and SYD and SYD to LHR (one stop) possible as early as 1982!
According to an orginal Boeing data sheet I have about the 747SP, it was actually offered with both the GE CF6-50E, -50E1, -50E2 with a take-off thrust of 52.500 lbf each and the GE CF6-80C2B1 (!! - this engine was otherwise used for 747-300s from 1987 onwards on customer request and the 747-400) with a take-off thrust of 56.900 lbf, but none were ordered. Of the RR engines, the RB211-524B2 (50.100 lbf) and -524C2 (51.600 lbf) were offered by Boeing and ordered by their customers, but the -524D4 (53.110 lbf) was only offered and not ordered. The RB211-524G and 524H were only developed and offered for the 747-400 and had their entry into service in 1989. Kind regards!
I'm lucky The Air Force paid for my ticket from NY-SF on a Pan-am 747-SP for a flight to Okinawa. They punished me on the way back with a Flying Tiger 747.
Everything was great with Boeing until 1997, hope you get around to my favourite the 757.
wow 747
First video of Rory I TOTALLY DISAGREE with.
Boeing built this plane for PanAm. They made a profit almost immediately because of the simple engineering timeline. It was absolutely a financial success, and kept an important customer.
21:22
Wasn't it withdrawn in 1994, not 2001?
The SP was a different breed of cat. The flap system was very different.
South African Airways also used the SP .
Wonder if it could fly on two engines? 🤔
Air Zimbabwe wanted to get the their hands on a few SPs before they bought their 767s
AA used them from DFW to NRT...... not london..... I know.. I was the gate agent for those flights...
Playing Monopoly on a plane might be challenging with all the turbulence on 2024 flights! Great video
Just saw one in pima
Interesting how your voice has changed, lower in pitch.
It’s AI
this is very scare, my cat is sad
The l1011 cost as much as a 747.
I remember that casino magnet billionaire and right-wing extremist political contributor Sheldon Adelson and his wife owned two SPs (his and hers), maybe they were the ones assigned to the Sands? Also, televangelist Ernest Angley had one that was usually kept at the Akron-Canton, Ohio (CAK) airport. He died at 99 several years ago, so I don't know what happened to it.
Iran air just retired them
Since OBVIOUSLY there is a 747 wing with 2 engines instead of 4. They should do a 747 twin. And sack the 777x.
Nah
1st awesome
Should have left off the 'awesome' bit lol...
wow well done gary
@@UncleJoeLITE lol
@@T.E.S.S. thank you