Tue Jan 31, 2023, 03:13 PM

Boeing bids farewell to an icon, delivers last 747 jumbo jet

Source: AP

The final Boeing 747 lands at Paine Field following a test flight, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Everett, Wash. Boeing bids farewell to an icon on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, when it delivers the jumbo jet to cargo carrier Atlas Air. Since it debuted in 1969, the 747 has served as a cargo plane, a commercial aircraft capable of carrying nearly 500 passengers, and the Air Force One presidential aircraft, but it has been rendered obsolete by more profitable and fuel-efficient models. (Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times via AP)

SEATTLE (AP) — Boeing bids farewell to an icon on Tuesday: It’s delivering its final 747 jumbo jet. Since its first flight in 1969, the giant yet graceful 747 has served as a cargo plane, a commercial aircraft capable of carrying nearly 500 passengers, a transport for NASA’s space shuttles, and the Air Force One presidential aircraft. It revolutionized travel, connecting international cities that had never before had direct routes and helping democratize passenger flight.

But over about the past 15 years, Boeing and its European rival Airbus have introduced more profitable and fuel efficient wide-body planes, with only two engines to maintain instead of the 747′s four. The final plane is the 1,574th built by Boeing in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

A big crowd of current and former Boeing workers is expected for the final send-off. The last one is being delivered to cargo carrier Atlas Air.

“If you love this business, you’ve been dreading this moment,” said longtime aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia. “Nobody wants a four-engine airliner anymore, but that doesn’t erase the tremendous contribution the aircraft made to the development of the industry or its remarkable legacy.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/boeing-delivering-the-last-747-018b4b60e8d8a40aa5bf039c47d81a9a

I remember my first and only times on a 747 was on an EgyptAir flight to/from Cairo flying out of and back into JFK. I had been on L-1011s and 767s and DC-10s (wide-bodies) but not the iconic 747 until then (1992). While there was also on my first Airbus (I think one of the 300s).

I was shocked at how long it was (couldn't "see" the end of it while inside and at the front of the plane) and tried the "2nd floor lounge" a couple times (the flight was 11 hours non-stop going over although coming back home, we had a stopover in Paris).

Bid adieu (but hope they have finally resolved their 737 max issues).

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39 replies	Author	Time	Post
Boeing bids farewell to an icon, delivers last 747 jumbo jet (Original post)	BumRushDaShow	Jan 31	OP
My first time was in 1971 flying from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany.	greatauntoftriplets	Jan 31	#1
The 707 was what I was on going to London back in 1970	BumRushDaShow	Jan 31	#5
Harumph.	greatauntoftriplets	Jan 31	#12
Thank goodness I have so far avoided props	BumRushDaShow	Jan 31	#15
Also years ago, I used to go to Springfield for work.	greatauntoftriplets	Jan 31	#17
See... there is just no way!	BumRushDaShow	Jan 31	#19
Years ago, I took a ferry from Copenhagen to Malmo.	greatauntoftriplets	Jan 31	#22
Yikes @ the ferry although for tour purposes, that would be cool	BumRushDaShow	Jan 31	#24
I've always liked ferry rides.	greatauntoftriplets	Feb 1	#25
LOL	BumRushDaShow	Feb 1	#27
That looks like fun.	greatauntoftriplets	Feb 1	#29
Always thought the canals going through Chicago along with the river were pretty cool	BumRushDaShow	Feb 1	#30
There are more river boat tour companies than just the Wendella.	greatauntoftriplets	Feb 1	#31
Yeah see Chicago has built that up over the years	BumRushDaShow	Feb 1	#32
So the brown stuff in the bottom photo is a flooded roadway?	greatauntoftriplets	Feb 1	#33
Yup. The expressway is right near where the river is	BumRushDaShow	Feb 1	#35
What a mess.	greatauntoftriplets	Feb 1	#36
I always wanted to fly in one.	Tommy Carcetti	Jan 31	#2
I always wished to travel on one..	Historic NY	Jan 31	#3
They're still in service	zipplewrath	Jan 31	#7
My family of 5 was upgraded to First Class on a British Airways 747.	pfitz59	Jan 31	#4
That's an old photo, there's no "wing tips"	KS Toronado	Jan 31	#6
That's the image that AP had on its page with that caption	BumRushDaShow	Jan 31	#8
Appears the engineers flatten them out a little.	KS Toronado	Jan 31	#9
Could either be an artifact of the photo angle	BumRushDaShow	Jan 31	#11
Flaps are always below the wing to increase lift and help in braking.	KS Toronado	Jan 31	#14
I have sat in seats next to the wings a many a time	BumRushDaShow	Jan 31	#18
In house we called them "air brakes"	KS Toronado	Feb 1	#26
PERFECT!!!	BumRushDaShow	Feb 1	#28
The 747-8s don't have wing tips like the 747-400. The wings swoop upwards like the	beaglelover	Jan 31	#13
When I worked Boeing Wichita	KS Toronado	Jan 31	#16
Not really. I have always loved the 747 though and have taken an interest in the	beaglelover	Jan 31	#20
On live right now.........	Bengus81	Jan 31	#10
BTW - thank you for that link	BumRushDaShow	Jan 31	#23
Me too. I got a bit teared up at times. End of an era.	beaglelover	Feb 1	#38
I expected Northwest Airlines had them but then they were absorbed by Delta	BumRushDaShow	Feb 1	#39
She's a beauty!	paleotn	Jan 31	#21
My first ride in a 747 was a MAC flight to Germany.	bluesbassman	Feb 1	#34
My first flight was on a 747	tonekat	Feb 1	#37

Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Jan 31, 2023, 03:27 PM

greatauntoftriplets (174,514 posts)

1. My first time was in 1971 flying from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany.

Then onto Luxembourg (much smaller plane!) to visit relatives there. On the flight over, I had three seats to myself because the plane was half empty. I tried to sleep but was way too excited.

On the trip back to Chicago, the plane was a 707. That will always be my favorite.

Boeing bids farewell to an icon, delivers last 747 jumbo jet

1. My first time was in 1971 flying from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany.

5. The 707 was what I was on going to London back in 1970

12. Harumph.

15. Thank goodness I have so far avoided props

17. Also years ago, I used to go to Springfield for work.

19. See... there is just no way!

22. Years ago, I took a ferry from Copenhagen to Malmo.

24. Yikes @ the ferry although for tour purposes, that would be cool

25. I've always liked ferry rides.

27. LOL

29. That looks like fun.

30. Always thought the canals going through Chicago along with the river were pretty cool

31. There are more river boat tour companies than just the Wendella.

32. Yeah see Chicago has built that up over the years

33. So the brown stuff in the bottom photo is a flooded roadway?

35. Yup. The expressway is right near where the river is

36. What a mess.

2. I always wanted to fly in one.

3. I always wished to travel on one..

7. They're still in service

4. My family of 5 was upgraded to First Class on a British Airways 747.

6. That's an old photo, there's no "wing tips"

8. That's the image that AP had on its page with that caption

9. Appears the engineers flatten them out a little.

11. Could either be an artifact of the photo angle

14. Flaps are always below the wing to increase lift and help in braking.

18. I have sat in seats next to the wings a many a time

26. In house we called them "air brakes"

28. PERFECT!!!

13. The 747-8s don't have wing tips like the 747-400. The wings swoop upwards like the

16. When I worked Boeing Wichita

20. Not really. I have always loved the 747 though and have taken an interest in the

10. On live right now.........

23. BTW - thank you for that link

38. Me too. I got a bit teared up at times. End of an era.

39. I expected Northwest Airlines had them but then they were absorbed by Delta

21. She's a beauty!

34. My first ride in a 747 was a MAC flight to Germany.

37. My first flight was on a 747