I was cabin crew on 747s BA back in the 1970s. Wonderful aircraft .. and so solid it was like working in a hotel. Perhaps some people are not aware that crew are rostered to work a particular position on the aircraft. Each position has a specific function .. the 'B' position looked after mothers and babies and had to complete an in-flight report for the cabin services officer and back at base; some crew were rostered to work the galleys, and they had the responsibility of ensuring that the meals weee heated on a staggered basis so they didn't get cold while crew in the cabin were serving the first tranche of passengers. Meal service was quite a military operation. The drinks trolleys had first to be moved to the very back and very front of the economy cabin, with a crew member behind them. Positioned after the drinks trolley was a crew member with a trolley for tea and coffee, then following that was a crew member in charge of the meal trolleys. We moved forward toward the centre of the economy cabin like a waggon train until we met with the wagon train moving backward from the top of economy. Everyone knew where they should be, and it was a nightmare if a passenger needed to leave their seat to go to the toilet. All the trolleys had to be rolled back to their original positions to allow him/her to pass. There was always a constant drive to serve drinks, then meals then coffee before the duty-free was ready to be rolled out. The chief steward in economy (under the rank of the cabin services officer) would be constantly pushing for the crew to speed up the service so all the dirty trays and empty glasses could be cleared up and stashed in the galley so the movie could be screened. I think many people assume it's an easy job, but it's extremely demanding because crew working international flights are constantly jet-lagged and not really recovered from their previous flight. It's pretty non-stop, answering call bells etc. During the night the worst part was trying to stay awake and alert while the hours passed slowly .. the constant drone of the engines was very soporific. We had to pass a medical every 6 months as well as pass a written test on safety equipment on the aircraft (location of the various types of fire extinguishers, oxygen masks for crew, etc etc). If you failed you were grounded. I could wrote a lot more but I'm exhausted just typing this much.
Thankyou for sharing this. I love it alot. Every easy is not really easy from inside but from outside. God Bless You forever because no one like you on this planet Earth who worked in this artificial bird!🌎🌍
@@naveenswarnkar4180 hey u just said that to that other guy heh heh reminds me of a father's day at my daughter's school when she was like 5 and they hand out mugs to every father saying #1 dad...I'm like Yo we can't all be #1
My grandfather was born in 1901 before the first airplane flight. The last airplane he flew on was a 747 and he was in awe. All the things he saw for the first time in his life. Radio, Television, Telephone, Cars, refrigerators, microwaves, records, 8-track, and the list goes on. Before the Titanic sank and world war I.
I fly internationally frequently. I am so grateful knowing how much attention and care is given to flight safety, technical servicing, the many many checks by experts. Incredible! Thank you for this peace of mind!
I remember when there was only one Boeing Plant. It was on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington! My next-door neighbor Mrs. Evans who we called Grandma Evans hand painted the lettering on the planes. Boeing sent a bus to Black Diamond to pick up all the people who worked at Boeing. The planes that flew over Black Diamond that I remember were the B-27 and the B-29. This was when I was a very young school kid! I am now 86 years old as of January 3rd, 2023. Ah, the good old days!
Yes, thank you very much. Priceless history from the person who lived it. My dad ran the ceramic tile crews for Western Tile in Bellevue, Wa when they installed the tile in the Everett Boeing plant's cafeteria. Dad passed on in Sep. 2010. We used to sit out on his small deck some mornings and the Boeing Dreamlifter 747 would fly almost directly overhead on the daily to Wichita? Same elevation and flight path every time. One day he commented to me regarding the 747, "the 747 is the perfect airplane." Blew my mind because he never handed out compliments like that ever about anything. That was all he said- he was like that. Make a statement and never elaborate so I will do so now in honor of his memory: problems the 747 suffered/suffer are the result of human error vs inherent flaws native to the aircraft as designed. I think most will be able to grasp what I'm trying to convey. Just recently they built the last 747. It's Oct. 2023 as I write this. When I first learned the 747 production was at its end I was deeply saddened to say the least. Ok, now it's time to watch this video......all the best to anyone reading this. GW
There's just something about boarding a 747 that you don't get with most other aircraft nowadays. I remember flying on the 747-400 as a child and even then, I could sense it was something special. Everything about it was unique: the way it towered over everything, the distinctive hump at the front of the plane, the winglets that set it apart from even other planes from the same family, it was an aircraft like no other. I rarely fly nowadays and I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to fly on the Queen of the Skies again.
My first (and only) experience on a 747 was Qantas from San Francisco to Sydney. I fell asleep at the gate, during an 8-hour layover. Suddenly, there was a “subsonic” rumble, I opened my eyes, a skyscraper was rolling in… it was much taller than the boarding gate. THEN I stepped inside……..!!!!!! I was amazed something so huge actually flew. It’s still magical.
Yea man it's been my favorite aircraft since I was 6..I'm 37 now..and though there's many others I like and love I don't think anything will ever top the 747
A380 is getting phased out but the 747 will always be the queen of the skies featured in many films basically the most iconic aircraft in the world as far as civilian airplanes go.
It's clear these people LOVE they job and that brings a lot of comfort. Great documentary, very good that British Airways allowed us to see how they work, very transparent of them. I got to see stuff that I never saw before in a 747, thanks!
I flew a 747 back in March of 1985 (Framkfurt-Zurich-New York) when I immigrated to the USA from Romania. It was PANAM and I still have the ticket and boarding pass. When I first board the airplane I was amazed by its size. It looks to me like a huge conference hall. I had an window seat. When it ran for take off, the wings were flipping up and down like a bird. Woow ! Once in the air the wings became stiff. I will never forget that experience that added to the excitement and worries of a new life in freedom.
Wonderful documentary. So many things that can go wrong and so much effort by the dedicated highly skilled engineers to keep this magnificent machine flying! Thanks for the amazing video!
Love this aeroplane. I have had the honour of flying 100,200.300,400.-8 and SP. Interesting that this popped up on my feed as today I do my last flight on this amazing a/c. Thank you Boeing for taking care of me. In a carrier spanning 28 years it’s never let me down.
I think you guys had it better than those starting out now. Modern flying looks boring by comparison. few will get to ever fly the 74 and when the dash 8 retires that's it.
My father was an aeronautical engineer at Boeing in Washington state in the era when the 747 was being designed. He would comment that the entire Boeing company was mobilized on the design, construction and rollout of the 747. The world no longer seems to have this type of corporate pride. In capacity, power and glamour (yes), the 747 revolutionized air travel ! Flying was exciting and the world was opened up for all of us ! Other planes are bigger, but the 747 was the first jumbo; regrettably a few years down the road, she will be gone. Thank you to the engineers who conceived, designed and built the 747 - an engineering masterpiece. Thank you to all of the fabulous pilots and crew who flew her and kept us in comfort while doing it. Power, style, function: the 747 will always be QUEEN OF THE SKIES ! #legend
As far back as i can remember the 747 has always fascinated me. Its design, look, profile is simply the most beautiful machine to me that man has ever created. To this day when i see a 747 i just stare with wonderment and soak in its elegance.
When I was deployed overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan. We went Commercially with Delta, AA and KLM B777. I loved those aircraft. I hope they are still flying or at a minimum as a cargo flying.
Ich zeige immer voller Bewusstsein mit Respektvollen Umgang mit Erwachsenen guten guten Sparniss.......... An Kompetenz Arbeitsplätzen haben...................................................! Vielen Dank allen Mitarbeitern...........
Hearing the engineer mention "not just any engine, an RB211" made me smile. I know more efficient and quieter engines are constantly being developed, but the roar and tones of Rolls-Royce's RB211 and Pratt & Whitney's JT9D will always be "what big ol' airliners sound like" to me.
The 747 lovely that. Everything a fellow would want to know. Thank you British Airways for sharing. The thing that surprised me a bit was the voice and data recorders are essentially based on 8 track type tape handling configurations. That or Radio Station type cart tapes. I like the idea of semiconductor storage since there are no moving parts. Just hope they can insulate the black \ orange box sold state electronics from fire, thermals and pressure excesses. Kudos to everyone that helps keep this massive machine flying safely. God Bless you all and all the work you do.
Those boxes are as indestructible as can be made. They have survived after the crash destroyed the plane into bits and after months at depth on the bottom of the ocean. The upgrade to digital storage was a real game changer. High speed flights into terrain and really bad fires.. really bad as the tails usually didn’t burn down unless sitting in pools of fuel. I seen a couple of documentaries on the recorders.. simply amazing bit of kit.
My neck hurts from shaking my head in amazement throughout this whole video...of all the things humanity has achieved ..flight is possibly the most amazing imo at least and the 747 remains my favorite as it's been for the last 31 years stretching back to when I was 6 and my grandfather(an army pilot) first caught my attention with his many stories and lessons in aviation.. nothing has topped the 747 for me and if I ever make it to captain one I figure I'll probably think to myself "youre never going to top this" I love the documentary..thanx for all u guys(and gals) hard work..seeing that crack reminded me of Japan 123 and if they had people like u guys working on their plane that atrocity would have never happened... thanx again for the upload and with Brits on deck u Most definitely got my like and sub
I really do think this has exceeded anything else man has ever made. I say this because it has had to be more functional than the Concorde or any space rocket and thus stand up to the rigours of frequent and heavy use and abuse and all the materials fatigue that goes with such use.
I flew from the USA to Germany to visit my daughter, stationed there in the Army. I flew on a 747 (Lufthansa) and it was an experience I’ll never forget. What a gorgeous plane!! ✈️
There is no other aircraft that will surpass the Queens reign of the sky, even after being retired from PAX service many will have lives as Freighters for decades to come. Long Live The Queen of the skies.
When we were told it's impossible, we knew it's the right way to be done. - that's the famous quote for the Boeing 747 Mr. Joe Sutter - the so-called father of the Boeing 747 had said about it during the creation and construction of the Boeing 747 - the one and only Queen of the Sky - the most iconic and most majestic aircraft ever! May he fly with his Boeing 747 forever in heaven! - I love and miss you so much Joe! Lovely greetings from Sarah!
This plane should be one of “the” greatest innovations in aeronautical history “full stop.” I was mesmerized when I boarded on on 4 occasions 3 in the military to deployment locations. The seating was incredible. Long live the King of the skies.
@@Acinc-lr2jp I first flew to WEST Germany in a flying tigers 747..US ARMY....2.5 years later I would return on one...wondering about my post ARMY future..little did I know...I was riding in my future...Everett T4260...33 years of building the Queen...heckuva a plane. Got to meet Mr. Sutter in 2005 or 06...GREAT MAN!
The first ride on the first model that I took was from SFO to LAX alone in first class. I had a panoramic view of 180 degrees. Nearly empty for a repositioning flight the plane was very light and climbed much faster than usually possible when fully loaded. The last time I flew from SEA to Heathrow on a 400 model. The Captain allowed me to spend a 1/2 hour in the jump seat in the cockpit. I hope to enjoy a ride on the latest 747-8 soon. This is an excellent educational documentary!!🎉 I would love to fly one of these around the airport traffic pattern! ERAU 80 CFIA&I ret.
Went on a emergency tour to Hong Kong in 1980 and flew nearly 20 hours on 747 with only about 50 blokes on there, a nice aircraft cracking crew it even had a bar upstairs what an experience brilliant.
When it flew over our house the very first time, out of paine field Washington, it meant more to me as an 11 year old boy than the Apollo moon landing. You had to be there.
did you see the 225 when it flew into paine? i was out on whidby that day. i just stared as this mammoth jet cruised in that day. and mig pilots doing tail drops practicing for the air show
I worked at BAMC for around 8 months in the mid 90s in that time I worked on 22 different aircraft doing structural modifications and lots of other things, hard work but very rewarding, great bunch of guys there then and that seems to have continued.
I'd love to buy a 747 and make a museum. Half of the plane would be converted to cargo config and the rest would include seats, equipment, and uniforms of every airline that operated a 747.
God bless Boeing and all the engineers and staff who are the “very best”! I miss flying the 747 from JFK to Singapore. Take off was always the most exciting part of the flight. I always sat in the very last row at the rear. Boarding, drinks and meal service are first. Exiting at destination last, but worth the wait, plus never problem with people behind you and as plane tapers at rear, two seats at left and right in rear. Life was always sweet, even in economy on Singapore Airlines. I feel blessed, although flying business on the A350 is even better! Life is even sweeter!
Not mentioned here, the basic 747's have 26 toilets and long haul flights carry catered foods weight of 4 tons food and two 1/2 tons ice and bottled waters sodas. AMAZING😊
Also with the multitudes of parts reworked replaced inspected etc. I have to wonder if the rebuild crew who id like to think and I believe all do their jobs to the best of their abilities might always have a small thought in the back of their minds as that plane takes off again for its first flight - "I hope we didnt miss anything-?" etc. -- I know I would feel that myself with all those lives on the line, after all I am still just human and the responsibility level is off the charts, not to mention the pressure of a deadline etc. I wish these rebuild crews the very best that they never have to have a negative outcome after such a large service event. My hats off to them, its a massive job with even more massive responsibility
Va, pensiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) by Giuseppe Verdi. From the opera Nabucco. Verdi composed this Opera not long after his wife and 2 infant children had died, his previous work had flopped, and he vowed to never compose again. When Verdi died, onlookers in Milan's streets spontaneously began singing "Va, pensiero" choruses as his funeral procession passed by. A month later, when he was reinterred alongside his wife at the Casa di Riposo, a young Arturo Toscanini conducted a choir of eight hundred in the famous hymn.
This documentary is from 2012. Seen it numerous times so always worth another look. The B747-400 and at the time its sleek cabin fit out, does look a bit dated now compared to an 747-800 or new Airbus range, as miraculous an aircraft as the 747 always was and is.
I was in the 5th grade. 1970. 10 yrs old. I would always look-up, when I hear something different, up there. At school, it was a 747. it was huge, loud, and amazing. still my favorite plane to fly on. Not many left. Lufthansa, KAL, Singapore, and a few others. King of the sky.. . . .
I was about 24 years old in I think 1969 when the first 747 flew low over Brisbane Queensland. It flew right over my new house at Mt Gravatt. I was awestruck by the size of it, obviously the largest plane we had ever seen was the 707. I am 79 now and there are still lots of 747’s still flying. Amazing aircraft. I flew in a 747 to Los Angeles and home to Australia. The DC3 taught the world how to fly and is still flying. The 747 has been the world’s workhorse for over 55 years.
Jesus, they are really taking apart each and every part. That's amazing. Always thought planes just enter a scanning hangar to check for faults and (microscopic) cracks. Wonder how they know which part goes where when putting it back together again, and more importantly, what measurements are taken to prevent making a mistake. Wouldn't be the first time a plane crashed due to a mistake made during maintenance. Edit: Nice to see the pilot hat is still alive and well.
I worked the 767 line for a few years. I would see them roll these babies out to paint and flight test. You don't really understand the immense size until you are underneath one. not just the queen, but the KING of the skies
The Boeing 747, is really an engineering marvel. Thanks, to the aeronautic engineers, it is really an aeronautic engineering marvel, to me! I am someone, who is in love ❤ for aeronautic engineering. I also very much in love ❤ for astronautic engineering, and deep space explorations!
In the mid-1990s, I was the lead planner for military exercise planning for the 25th Infantry Division, and chartered 747s were one of the airlift options. What struck me when the 747 was an option concidered was (1) the ridiculous amount of people and gear they could move, and (2) it's not cheap, so if you use them, maximize them. Fill them up.
Also, since this video may give the wrong impression there, all 747s (including the 747-8) have their flight controls mechanically linked, at least to the hydraulic motors that actually move the flight control surfaces; it’s not just the rudders like the video may make one believe. This is not a fly by wire plane, also not in it’s latest modernization iteration as the 747-8, and of course also not the 747-400 we see here.
7:19 "There's no garages at 36,000 feet." This is definitely the kind of attitude I want in the people making sure the next plane I fly on is structurally and mechanically sound.
747s are cool as is the 727s Flew on both and both are velvety smooth & precise. Sure do miss the 727-100s. Boeing did it right on both of these airliners. I remember the 1st 747 that came out. They called it Fat Albert from the Cosby Kids cartoons. TWA was going great & every body went to the airport to see it come in - in St. Louis, Mo., the hub of TWA. We are very far from those high standards in America right now.
Ironically G-CIVX suffered an undercarriage issue in 2016 after a servicing error. The report can be found online. It currently is in storage as of 2024.
Watching the way that excavator and grapple tore that airframe up made me realise how the airframe is only extremely strong for its intended, specific purpose but when subjected to different forces it's akin to squashing an egg shell on its short axis/from the sides... Very easy. It also made me realise nothing adds up with what happened on 9/11 when a much smaller aircraft slammed into the towers that day. I understand the magnitude of momentum with such speed, but I still can't help but feel there were definitely explosive substances on board those planes which aided the penetration and damage to such an incredibly massive sky scraper with concrete and steel beams, many of which were made from the best structural steel, sections of whose walls were several inches of steel in thickness. What a mad world we live in where man can build so beautifully and value life so highly and yet also be so traitorous and destroy with such raw evil and complete disregard for human life.
At 5:45 you state that the 747 weights "200 Million Pounds". Boeing Mfg. shows, depending on which variant or model, weights from 337,100 to 485,300 pounds. Your number is wrong.
I owned a machine shop in Wichita KS for about ten years, Thats where Boeings 747 mfg plant is located. I've made more parts of that plane then I can remember
Former Boeing Everett where 747's are created. It was the first 'Jumbo' and it is the last. Even A380's have reached the end. These planes will fly for years to come, and many of the older ones are being converted to haul freight instead of passengers.
“The autopilot cannot use the brakes”…. Well. Yes. But the pilot will of course arm the autobrake system, so it does brake automatically. It’s just another system doing it (which btw the autothrust is too). I expected some more involved questions than being astonished about how much fuel it holds (as that anybody can read up in a few seconds, no need to ask engineers at an overhaul facility).
But people don't look up that sort of stuff unless they are interested in aircraft in the first place, so certainly a logical question for a program going out to the general viewing public.
"Lived" onboard a 747-100 (Pan-Am #16) for a while performing flight test tasks for the "Meatball". They do more than light bulbs and washing machines. If you want the maintenance crew to do REALLY good job, tell them they'll be strapped in during the FCF and there will be zero G, HRR's, & stalls. R.I.P. GE747N.
There's something like 1500 747's flying. This doesn't count the thousands of other jumbos and regular planes. So a plane goes through this for 5-weeks every 6-years, that's 250 747's every year(!) And the cost must be insane. How are there sufficient facilities time and money to service these beasts?
some are classified as mechanics, others are technicians, others are FAA/CAA licenced engineers, full training for a licenced engineer can take a period of years interspersed with OJT and there are different levels which are passed allowing more responsibility
Correct for BA - but they may have been thinking of the absolute maximum seating configuration of a B747 which could be, but not that I know ever was, around 500 all cramped economy class.
I was cabin crew on 747s BA back in the 1970s. Wonderful aircraft .. and so solid it was like working in a hotel. Perhaps some people are not aware that crew are rostered to work a particular position on the aircraft. Each position has a specific function .. the 'B' position looked after mothers and babies and had to complete an in-flight report for the cabin services officer and back at base; some crew were rostered to work the galleys, and they had the responsibility of ensuring that the meals weee heated on a staggered basis so they didn't get cold while crew in the cabin were serving the first tranche of passengers. Meal service was quite a military operation. The drinks trolleys had first to be moved to the very back and very front of the economy cabin, with a crew member behind them. Positioned after the drinks trolley was a crew member with a trolley for tea and coffee, then following that was a crew member in charge of the meal trolleys. We moved forward toward the centre of the economy cabin like a waggon train until we met with the wagon train moving backward from the top of economy. Everyone knew where they should be, and it was a nightmare if a passenger needed to leave their seat to go to the toilet. All the trolleys had to be rolled back to their original positions to allow him/her to pass. There was always a constant drive to serve drinks, then meals then coffee before the duty-free was ready to be rolled out. The chief steward in economy (under the rank of the cabin services officer) would be constantly pushing for the crew to speed up the service so all the dirty trays and empty glasses could be cleared up and stashed in the galley so the movie could be screened. I think many people assume it's an easy job, but it's extremely demanding because crew working international flights are constantly jet-lagged and not really recovered from their previous flight. It's pretty non-stop, answering call bells etc. During the night the worst part was trying to stay awake and alert while the hours passed slowly .. the constant drone of the engines was very soporific. We had to pass a medical every 6 months as well as pass a written test on safety equipment on the aircraft (location of the various types of fire extinguishers, oxygen masks for crew, etc etc). If you failed you were grounded. I could wrote a lot more but I'm exhausted just typing this much.
Thankyou for sharing this. I love it alot. Every easy is not really easy from inside but from outside. God Bless You forever because no one like you on this planet Earth who worked in this artificial bird!🌎🌍
That's too cool man thanx for taking the time to regale us...I love all the details I can never get enough of em
@@antoniokastrocarlisledemel6617 Good and God Bless You forever because no one like you on this planet Earth! 🌎🌍
@@naveenswarnkar4180 hey u just said that to that other guy heh heh reminds me of a father's day at my daughter's school when she was like 5 and they hand out mugs to every father saying #1 dad...I'm like Yo we can't all be #1
@@antoniokastrocarlisledemel6617 That's nice! But intention behind it, is hurting you!
My grandfather was born in 1901 before the first airplane flight. The last airplane he flew on was a 747 and he was in awe. All the things he saw for the first time in his life. Radio, Television, Telephone, Cars, refrigerators, microwaves, records, 8-track, and the list goes on. Before the Titanic sank and world war I.
who care
@@bobenterprise8442everyone hates people like you, so your opinion doesn't matter in this situation. The world doesn't revolve around you
@@bobenterprise8442me and everyone else
That’s so cool. Imagine what someone, who is just born today, will see by the time they’re 80 or so.
Nothing as beautiful as the big girl in the sky! 747! Sorely missed!
I fly internationally frequently. I am so grateful knowing how much attention and care is given to flight safety, technical servicing, the many many checks by experts. Incredible! Thank you for this peace of mind!
I remember when there was only one Boeing Plant. It was on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington! My next-door neighbor Mrs. Evans who we called Grandma Evans hand painted the lettering on the planes. Boeing sent a bus to Black Diamond to pick up all the people who worked at Boeing. The planes that flew over Black Diamond that I remember were the B-27 and the B-29. This was when I was a very young school kid! I am now 86 years old as of January 3rd, 2023. Ah, the good old days!
Thanks a lot for the reminiscing
Yes, thank you very much. Priceless history from the person who lived it. My dad ran the ceramic tile crews for Western Tile in Bellevue, Wa when they installed the tile in the Everett Boeing plant's cafeteria. Dad passed on in Sep. 2010. We used to sit out on his small deck some mornings and the Boeing Dreamlifter 747 would fly almost directly overhead on the daily to Wichita? Same elevation and flight path every time. One day he commented to me regarding the 747, "the 747 is the perfect airplane." Blew my mind because he never handed out compliments like that ever about anything. That was all he said- he was like that. Make a statement and never elaborate so I will do so now in honor of his memory: problems the 747 suffered/suffer are the result of human error vs inherent flaws native to the aircraft as designed. I think most will be able to grasp what I'm trying to convey.
Just recently they built the last 747. It's Oct. 2023 as I write this. When I first learned the 747 production was at its end I was deeply saddened to say the least.
Ok, now it's time to watch this video......all the best to anyone reading this. GW
There's just something about boarding a 747 that you don't get with most other aircraft nowadays. I remember flying on the 747-400 as a child and even then, I could sense it was something special. Everything about it was unique: the way it towered over everything, the distinctive hump at the front of the plane, the winglets that set it apart from even other planes from the same family, it was an aircraft like no other. I rarely fly nowadays and I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to fly on the Queen of the Skies again.
The Dreamliner comes close what a machine.
My first (and only) experience on a 747 was Qantas from San Francisco to Sydney. I fell asleep at the gate, during an 8-hour layover. Suddenly, there was a “subsonic” rumble, I opened my eyes, a skyscraper was rolling in… it was much taller than the boarding gate. THEN I stepped inside……..!!!!!! I was amazed something so huge actually flew. It’s still magical.
It’s the king of jet planes! The A380 did grow on he after a decade but the 747 is the best.
Yea man it's been my favorite aircraft since I was 6..I'm 37 now..and though there's many others I like and love I don't think anything will ever top the 747
A380 is getting phased out but the 747 will always be the queen of the skies featured in many films basically the most iconic aircraft in the world as far as civilian airplanes go.
This is my favorite documentary. First time I saw it was 10 years ago.
And it’s the one that started my love for aviation.
Yes it is great, basic but great.
It's clear these people LOVE they job and that brings a lot of comfort. Great documentary, very good that British Airways allowed us to see how they work, very transparent of them. I got to see stuff that I never saw before in a 747, thanks!
That's Teamwork and Fantastic Crew on Servicing that 747 , So Proud of their work.
The queen of the sky, the best at all times, unbelievable machine build and designed in 6o's, thank you BOIENG THANK YOU USA
Thank you for a fantastic documentary. Interesting from start to finish! I flew a British Airways 747 back in the 80s. A beautiful machine!
I flew a 747 back in March of 1985 (Framkfurt-Zurich-New York) when I immigrated to the USA from Romania. It was PANAM and I still have the ticket and boarding pass.
When I first board the airplane I was amazed by its size. It looks to me like a huge conference hall. I had an window seat. When it ran for take off, the wings were flipping up and down like a bird. Woow !
Once in the air the wings became stiff.
I will never forget that experience that added to the excitement and worries of a new life in freedom.
Wonderful documentary. So many things that can go wrong and so much effort by the dedicated highly skilled engineers to keep this magnificent machine flying! Thanks for the amazing video!
Love this aeroplane. I have had the honour of flying 100,200.300,400.-8 and SP. Interesting that this popped up on my feed as today I do my last flight on this amazing a/c. Thank you Boeing for taking care of me. In a carrier spanning 28 years it’s never let me down.
How much did it cost for the rebuild ?
Must’ve been amazing!
Sounds like an awesome journey through this life. Congratulations.
I think you guys had it better than those starting out now. Modern flying looks boring by comparison. few will get to ever fly the 74 and when the dash 8 retires that's it.
Very fortunate, I never had my Dream realized.
As an aspiring female aerospace engineer I loved seeing the ladies I hope to one day be just like them ❤️❤️
Oh God ladies just want money these days from men sigh
My father was an aeronautical engineer at Boeing in Washington state in the era when the 747 was being designed. He would comment that the entire Boeing company was mobilized on the design, construction and rollout of the 747. The world no longer seems to have this type of corporate pride.
In capacity, power and glamour (yes), the 747 revolutionized air travel ! Flying was exciting and the world was opened up for all of us !
Other planes are bigger, but the 747 was the first jumbo; regrettably a few years down the road, she will be gone.
Thank you to the engineers who conceived, designed and built the 747 - an engineering masterpiece. Thank you to all of the fabulous pilots and crew who flew her and kept us in comfort while doing it.
Power, style, function: the 747 will always be QUEEN OF THE SKIES !
#legend
The 747 800 can fly the globe without stopping to refuel. Preferred to fly from LA to Sydney Australia😊😊
As far back as i can remember the 747 has always fascinated me. Its design, look, profile is simply the most beautiful machine to me that man has ever created. To this day when i see a 747 i just stare with wonderment and soak in its elegance.
Hopefully you'll have a long haul flight. Nothing else like it. The safest jetliner ever built. The 747-800 top speed is 850mph. 😊
Agreed
What a wonderful machine. I’ve been flying in them since the beginning. No other plane ✈️ has ever been as amazing. I couldn’t afford the Concorde.
When I was deployed overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan. We went Commercially with Delta, AA and KLM B777. I loved those aircraft. I hope they are still flying or at a minimum as a cargo flying.
Ich zeige immer voller Bewusstsein mit Respektvollen Umgang mit Erwachsenen guten guten Sparniss..........
An Kompetenz Arbeitsplätzen haben...................................................! Vielen Dank allen Mitarbeitern...........
Hearing the engineer mention "not just any engine, an RB211" made me smile. I know more efficient and quieter engines are constantly being developed, but the roar and tones of Rolls-Royce's RB211 and Pratt & Whitney's JT9D will always be "what big ol' airliners sound like" to me.
I accidentally clicked on this, not knowing it was a re-run... how very informative. Thank you.
Originally aired on TV in 2012. Still interesting.
The 747 lovely that. Everything a fellow would want to know. Thank you British Airways for sharing. The thing that surprised me a bit was the voice and data recorders are essentially based on 8 track type tape handling configurations. That or Radio Station type cart tapes. I like the idea of semiconductor storage since there are no moving parts. Just hope they can insulate the black \ orange box sold state electronics from fire, thermals and pressure excesses. Kudos to everyone that helps keep this massive machine flying safely. God Bless you all and all the work you do.
Those boxes are as indestructible as can be made. They have survived after the crash destroyed the plane into bits and after months at depth on the bottom of the ocean. The upgrade to digital storage was a real game changer. High speed flights into terrain and really bad fires.. really bad as the tails usually didn’t burn down unless sitting in pools of fuel. I seen a couple of documentaries on the recorders.. simply amazing bit of kit.
My neck hurts from shaking my head in amazement throughout this whole video...of all the things humanity has achieved ..flight is possibly the most amazing imo at least and the 747 remains my favorite as it's been for the last 31 years stretching back to when I was 6 and my grandfather(an army pilot) first caught my attention with his many stories and lessons in aviation.. nothing has topped the 747 for me and if I ever make it to captain one I figure I'll probably think to myself "youre never going to top this" I love the documentary..thanx for all u guys(and gals) hard work..seeing that crack reminded me of Japan 123 and if they had people like u guys working on their plane that atrocity would have never happened... thanx again for the upload and with Brits on deck u Most definitely got my like and sub
I really do think this has exceeded anything else man has ever made. I say this because it has had to be more functional than the Concorde or any space rocket and thus stand up to the rigours of frequent and heavy use and abuse and all the materials fatigue that goes with such use.
I flew from the USA to Germany to visit my daughter, stationed there in the Army. I flew on a 747 (Lufthansa) and it was an experience I’ll never forget. What a gorgeous plane!! ✈️
There is no other aircraft that will surpass the Queens reign of the sky, even after being retired from PAX service many will have lives as Freighters for decades to come. Long Live The Queen of the skies.
I love the 747.Many are still flying.
B52?
Wow amazing, I've been fascinated by aircraft since I was five years old I'm now seventie and after flying thousands of times,I'm still fascinated.❤❤.
When we were told it's impossible, we knew it's the right way to be done. - that's the famous quote for the Boeing 747 Mr. Joe Sutter - the so-called father of the Boeing 747 had said about it during the creation and construction of the Boeing 747 - the one and only Queen of the Sky - the most iconic and most majestic aircraft ever! May he fly with his Boeing 747 forever in heaven! - I love and miss you so much Joe! Lovely greetings from Sarah!
This plane should be one of “the” greatest innovations in aeronautical history “full stop.” I was mesmerized when I boarded on on 4 occasions 3 in the military to deployment locations. The seating was incredible. Long live the King of the skies.
@@Acinc-lr2jp I first flew to WEST Germany in a flying tigers 747..US ARMY....2.5 years later I would return on one...wondering about my post ARMY future..little did I know...I was riding in my future...Everett T4260...33 years of building the Queen...heckuva a plane. Got to meet Mr. Sutter in 2005 or 06...GREAT MAN!
The first ride on the first model that I took was from SFO to LAX alone in first class. I had a panoramic view of 180 degrees. Nearly empty for a repositioning flight the plane was very light and climbed much faster than usually possible when fully loaded. The last time I flew from SEA to Heathrow on a 400 model. The Captain allowed me to spend a 1/2 hour in the jump seat in the cockpit. I hope to enjoy a ride on the latest 747-8 soon.
This is an excellent educational documentary!!🎉 I would love to fly one of these around the airport traffic pattern!
ERAU 80 CFIA&I ret.
Was lucky enough to fly on a 747 a few times. Amazing airplane. Such a smooth ride
Went on a emergency tour to Hong Kong in 1980 and flew nearly 20 hours on 747 with only about 50 blokes on there, a nice aircraft cracking crew it even had a bar upstairs what an experience brilliant.
When it flew over our house the very first time, out of paine field Washington, it meant more to me as an 11 year old boy than the Apollo moon landing.
You had to be there.
did you see the 225 when it flew into paine? i was out on whidby that day. i just stared as this mammoth jet cruised in that day. and mig pilots doing tail drops practicing for the air show
@@vn8600 no, I don't remember about that.
The LADY OF THE SKIES second now is AIRBUS A380!! Just love them!!
Most beautiful plane ( shared first place with Concorde) 😊
It's completely amazing how humans are capable of engineering a machine of this complexity.
I worked at BAMC for around 8 months in the mid 90s in that time I worked on 22 different aircraft doing structural modifications and lots of other things, hard work but very rewarding, great bunch of guys there then and that seems to have continued.
A380 might be bigger but nothing is more majestic looking than the 747
Superb documentary. Now i know what it takes to fly us safely. Very detailed and well narrated.
Can imagine the joy of the engineers when the 747 takes off again.
I'd love to buy a 747 and make a museum. Half of the plane would be converted to cargo config and the rest would include seats, equipment, and uniforms of every airline that operated a 747.
What a majestic beast! 😊
Lovely!!! The next time, you might want to ask the people whether they feel emotionally attached to the equipment.
God bless Boeing and all the engineers and staff who are the “very best”! I miss flying the 747 from JFK to Singapore. Take off was always the most exciting part of the flight. I always sat in the very last row at the rear. Boarding, drinks and meal service are first. Exiting at destination last, but worth the wait, plus never problem with people behind you and as plane tapers at rear, two seats at left and right in rear. Life was always sweet, even in economy on Singapore Airlines. I feel blessed, although flying business on the A350 is even better! Life is even sweeter!
Don’t forget those 747’s are paid for. They own them.. No lease payments!! Loved the video
Not mentioned here, the basic 747's have 26 toilets and long haul flights carry catered foods weight of 4 tons food and two 1/2 tons ice and bottled waters sodas. AMAZING😊
Have no words!!!!!!!!
Amazing!!!!
Regarding the Electeical Engineer, I can't take him seriously with that hair cut😊
truly a fantastic air craft , sad to see its demise near end but its served many years all things come to end !
747, most beautiful Jet ever made.
Fantastic, Thank you
The iconic queen of the sky “Jumbo jet “ Boeing 747
Also with the multitudes of parts reworked replaced inspected etc. I have to wonder if the rebuild crew who id like to think and I believe all do their jobs to the best of their abilities might always have a small thought in the back of their minds as that plane takes off again for its first flight - "I hope we didnt miss anything-?" etc. -- I know I would feel that myself with all those lives on the line, after all I am still just human and the responsibility level is off the charts, not to mention the pressure of a deadline etc. I wish these rebuild crews the very best that they never have to have a negative outcome after such a large service event. My hats off to them, its a massive job with even more massive responsibility
Can someone name the choir music playing at around 43:15? My 85-year old father heard it and remembers hearing it as as altar boy… THANKS in advance!!
Va, pensiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) by Giuseppe Verdi. From the opera Nabucco.
Verdi composed this Opera not long after his wife and 2 infant children had died, his previous work had flopped, and he vowed to never compose again.
When Verdi died, onlookers in Milan's streets spontaneously began singing "Va, pensiero" choruses as his funeral procession passed by. A month later, when he was reinterred alongside his wife at the Casa di Riposo, a young Arturo Toscanini conducted a choir of eight hundred in the famous hymn.
This was cool! Thanks!
This documentary is from 2012. Seen it numerous times so always worth another look. The B747-400 and at the time its sleek cabin fit out, does look a bit dated now compared to an 747-800 or new Airbus range, as miraculous an aircraft as the 747 always was and is.
I was in the 5th grade. 1970. 10 yrs old. I would always look-up, when I hear something different, up there. At school, it was a 747. it was huge, loud, and amazing. still my favorite plane to fly on. Not many left. Lufthansa, KAL, Singapore, and a few others. King of the sky.. . . .
I was about 24 years old in I think 1969 when the first 747 flew low over Brisbane Queensland. It flew right over my new house at Mt Gravatt. I was awestruck by the size of it, obviously the largest plane we had ever seen was the 707. I am 79 now and there are still lots of 747’s still flying. Amazing aircraft. I flew in a 747 to Los Angeles and home to Australia. The DC3 taught the world how to fly and is still flying. The 747 has been the world’s workhorse for over 55 years.
Jesus, they are really taking apart each and every part. That's amazing. Always thought planes just enter a scanning hangar to check for faults and (microscopic) cracks.
Wonder how they know which part goes where when putting it back together again, and more importantly, what measurements are taken to prevent making a mistake.
Wouldn't be the first time a plane crashed due to a mistake made during maintenance.
Edit: Nice to see the pilot hat is still alive and well.
I worked the 767 line for a few years. I would see them roll these babies out to paint and flight test. You don't really understand the immense size until you are underneath one. not just the queen, but the KING of the skies
"Bill and his team are under MASSIVE pressure to finish this on time" 🤔🤔🤔🤔 great
Just drama-speak, whole video is full of drama-speak.
Brilliant !
Imagine thinking you've gotten a taste of the ground crew's laborious thankless job because *checks notes*.... you stood and watched a plane roll in.
I always have loved this stuff wish I could have gotten into aviation when I was young
The Boeing 747, is really an engineering marvel. Thanks, to the aeronautic engineers, it is really an aeronautic engineering marvel, to me! I am someone, who is in love ❤ for aeronautic engineering. I also very much in love ❤ for astronautic engineering, and deep space explorations!
Amazing American aircraft with great British engines
Perfection in pedantry
The 747 is just good old fashioned American ingenuity
Did he say it weighed 200 million pounds??? More like a million pounds loaded....
In the mid-1990s, I was the lead planner for military exercise planning for the 25th Infantry Division, and chartered 747s were one of the airlift options. What struck me when the 747 was an option concidered was (1) the ridiculous amount of people and gear they could move, and (2) it's not cheap, so if you use them, maximize them. Fill them up.
Start with 747 doesn't automatically dive into ground and doors don't fly off at altitude. That's enough to win 'Boeing's best'
Also, since this video may give the wrong impression there, all 747s (including the 747-8) have their flight controls mechanically linked, at least to the hydraulic motors that actually move the flight control surfaces; it’s not just the rudders like the video may make one believe. This is not a fly by wire plane, also not in it’s latest modernization iteration as the 747-8, and of course also not the 747-400 we see here.
B747 No.1 in the Word 👍😁
Nag hands hands p.o. Subramanian,💛💛💛♥️♥️♥️💜💜💜💟💛💙💗
You're the most handsome mechanical engineer in the world. 💕
7:19 "There's no garages at 36,000 feet." This is definitely the kind of attitude I want in the people making sure the next plane I fly on is structurally and mechanically sound.
747s are cool as is the 727s Flew on both and both are velvety smooth & precise. Sure do miss the 727-100s. Boeing did it right on both of these airliners. I remember the 1st 747 that came out. They called it Fat Albert from the Cosby Kids cartoons. TWA was going great & every body went to the airport to see it come in - in St. Louis, Mo., the hub of TWA. We are very far from those high standards in America right now.
Ironically G-CIVX suffered an undercarriage issue in 2016 after a servicing error. The report can be found online. It currently is in storage as of 2024.
747 cannot be replaced in future also
Its unique cargo ability especially the front hatch on cargo fitouts is what will keep the B747 in the air for decades yet.
Alternate title..."THAT IS MASSIVE" !
Love it it was great😊
Watching the way that excavator and grapple tore that airframe up made me realise how the airframe is only extremely strong for its intended, specific purpose but when subjected to different forces it's akin to squashing an egg shell on its short axis/from the sides... Very easy. It also made me realise nothing adds up with what happened on 9/11 when a much smaller aircraft slammed into the towers that day. I understand the magnitude of momentum with such speed, but I still can't help but feel there were definitely explosive substances on board those planes which aided the penetration and damage to such an incredibly massive sky scraper with concrete and steel beams, many of which were made from the best structural steel, sections of whose walls were several inches of steel in thickness.
What a mad world we live in where man can build so beautifully and value life so highly and yet also be so traitorous and destroy with such raw evil and complete disregard for human life.
Beautifull
15:25 3 sec to expand, 6 hours to deflate & fold back up 😅
Very very impressive!!
Mankind is doing good except competitions for devastation and poor egos 🤔
Nice
At 5:45 you state that the 747 weights "200 Million Pounds". Boeing Mfg. shows, depending on which variant or model, weights from 337,100 to 485,300 pounds. Your number is wrong.
200M GBP is the price, not the weight.
I owned a machine shop in Wichita KS for about ten years, Thats where Boeings 747 mfg plant is located. I've made more parts of that plane then I can remember
You must have been gone awhile. Boeing does not have anything left in Wichita. Years ago Boeing in Wichita sold out to Spirit Aero
Former Boeing Everett where 747's are created. It was the first 'Jumbo' and it is the last. Even A380's have reached the end. These planes will fly for years to come, and many of the older ones are being converted to haul freight instead of passengers.
Is this at Brian Dickinsons facility, the Iron Maiden singer?
“The autopilot cannot use the brakes”…. Well. Yes. But the pilot will of course arm the autobrake system, so it does brake automatically. It’s just another system doing it (which btw the autothrust is too). I expected some more involved questions than being astonished about how much fuel it holds (as that anybody can read up in a few seconds, no need to ask engineers at an overhaul facility).
But people don't look up that sort of stuff unless they are interested in aircraft in the first place, so certainly a logical question for a program going out to the general viewing public.
"Lived" onboard a 747-100 (Pan-Am #16) for a while performing flight test tasks for the "Meatball". They do more than light bulbs and washing machines. If you want the maintenance crew to do REALLY good job, tell them they'll be strapped in during the FCF and there will be zero G, HRR's, & stalls. R.I.P. GE747N.
The
Why do these documentaries keep on being repeated in different channels
We're still using two fridges that are close to 30yo. But had a GE Loaded barely 4yo go out last week! Just don't build'em like they use to.
My great grand father built the first airplanes in China in 1922 , Harry Wayne Abbout.
Sadly the USA now seems to be lagging in coming up with marvels like 747 .......
There's something like 1500 747's flying. This doesn't count the thousands of other jumbos and regular planes. So a plane goes through this for 5-weeks every 6-years, that's 250 747's every year(!) And the cost must be insane. How are there sufficient facilities time and money to service these beasts?
How can I work here 😊
14:45 Intresting qvestion , their job name is enginners or they are real engineers with degree ?
some are classified as mechanics, others are technicians, others are FAA/CAA licenced engineers, full training for a licenced engineer can take a period of years interspersed with OJT and there are different levels which are passed allowing more responsibility
The maximum capacity of BAs 747s was under 350. Nowhere near 500 passengers. Don't know where they got that figure from.
Correct for BA - but they may have been thinking of the absolute maximum seating configuration of a B747 which could be, but not that I know ever was, around 500 all cramped economy class.
The for ground music isn't dramatic, and annoying enough!