Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > TravelBuzz
Reload this Page >

50 years of the 747

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

50 years of the 747

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 9, 2019, 1:11 pm
  #1  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,360
Smile 50 years of the 747

I posted this in the “Old Timers’ Airline and Airliner Quiz and Discussion”, but I think it’s actually worthy of its own thread

first flight of the first 747 (RA001, N7470; on static display at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle) occurred 50 years ago today

Seattle Times article




strickerj and Ukeurotraveller like this.

Last edited by jrl767; Feb 9, 2019 at 2:00 pm
jrl767 is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2019, 7:45 pm
  #2  
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,846
I've always felt that the 747 was conclusive proof that, indeed, God wanted mankind to fly.
RichardInSF is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2019, 9:07 pm
  #3  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: PDX
Programs: AS DL
Posts: 9,038
What are the main variants? Has anyone flown aboard all of the passenger variants? I have not. But I have been aboard the 747SP!

747-100
747-200
747SP
747-300
747-400
747-8i

but there's more
747-200 with 3 upper deck windows per side
747-200 Combi
747-200SUD
747-400 Combi
747-400ER
Toshbaf is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2019, 9:48 pm
  #4  
Aman 10+ BadgeMandarin Oriental Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Enroute to ? & likely flying in ' A ':)
Programs: TPPS, UA, EK ...; Marriott BONVOY , HH, GP, GC..
Posts: 4,217
Not sure which ones I have flown .
Last flight was on the last flight SQ747 - seemed heat wrenching for many though they tried to make it a rousing farewell party even on board ..

Pleasantly surprised to be on one again on LH SEA - FRA !
Looking forward to September

FlyerEC is offline  
Old Feb 10, 2019, 1:56 am
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,360
I never managed a flight on a -300 (or -200SUD), and have yet to experience the -8, and I was also unaware of both the -400ER and the -400 Combi
jrl767 is offline  
Old Feb 10, 2019, 2:05 am
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: BA Exec club
Posts: 9
I used to flight a lot back on the day on DC 9 and 737 classic, but it wasn’t until the day that I flown in a 747 200 that I considered myself a proper flier.
Two things that always come back to mind of that first time: how quiet was the upper desk with the engines on full during take off and the sensation that we were running out of runway.
Of course years later I flown similar planes like the airbus 340 600 but is not the same, the 747 is the queen of long haul.
FlyerEC likes this.
Ukeurotraveller is offline  
Old Feb 12, 2019, 9:30 am
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,972
I saw a 747SP only a few years at PHX no less! I believe it was some Sultan or Prince from a Middle Eastern country that flew in for some surgery.
enviroian is offline  
Old Feb 12, 2019, 7:03 pm
  #8  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
Queen of the Skies. I was on the NH farewell 744 flight. Have had the pleasure of flying the LH 748i a few times, got equipment swapped by KE from 748i to A388 last time unfort. Most recent was a late Jan. LHR-JFK 744 with BA.
GetSetJetSet is offline  
Old Feb 12, 2019, 7:10 pm
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,360
I actually logged 25 flights on RA001 as an analysis engineer at Boeing Flight Test (Feb 1979 - Oct 1982)
jrl767 is offline  
Old Feb 12, 2019, 7:37 pm
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,794
Is there a way to visually distinguish the difference between a 747-100 and -200 (with 3 windows a side on the upper deck?)

I think I've logged flights on all the major variants except the -8i and -200SUD.

SR (JL)
-200 (SQ, CX, BA, QF, NW, CP, PR, PA, PK, AR) - some may have been -100s (it'd be BA or PA)
SP (PA)
-300 (CX and QF)
-400 (UA, KL, NW, CX, QF, BA, CP)
-400ER (possibly, QF)
-400D (NH)
YVR Cockroach is online now  
Old Feb 12, 2019, 8:51 pm
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,794
And we shouldn't forget that the 747 was initially designed as a freighter. The vision at the time was passengers would travel by SSTs (e.g., B-2707 and the Lockheed, Douglas and whatever competitors) and freight by 747s (hence the hump handy for loading overlength items through the nose).
YVR Cockroach is online now  
Old Feb 12, 2019, 9:12 pm
  #12  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: PDX
Programs: AS DL
Posts: 9,038
Originally Posted by YVR Cockroach
Is there a way to visually distinguish the difference between a 747-100 and -200 (with 3 windows a side on the upper deck?)

)
No. However, there are very few 747-200's with 3 windows on the side of the upper deck.
Toshbaf is offline  
Old Feb 12, 2019, 10:47 pm
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,360
Originally Posted by YVR Cockroach
And we shouldn't forget that the 747 was initially designed as a freighter. ... (hence the hump handy for loading overlength items through the nose).
more accurately, for having the entire length of the main deck available for nose-loading payload
jrl767 is offline  
Old Feb 13, 2019, 10:49 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ICN / 평택
Programs: AA, DL Gold, UA Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 8,714
Luckily, flying on 747s tomorrow and again on Monday (Asiana still has two of them used on their high traffic Asian routes).
etch5895 is offline  
Old Feb 17, 2019, 11:14 pm
  #15  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage, SkyMiles
Posts: 2,931
Have yet to fly on one, it's unfortunate airlines do not care for them nor want them anymore. I personally love the 4 engines and the "double decker" design.

Maybe Lufthansa/Korean Air/Air China will operate them for a while since they have the 747-8I?
DCP2016 is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.