Last edit by: expert7700
News Release Issued: September 18, 2017 (3:17pm EDT)
"Friend Ship" Will Recreate the Journey of the First United 747 Flight from 1970
United's final international 747 flight from Seoul to San Francisco departs October 29
CHICAGO, Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of United Airlines retiring the Boeing 747 from its fleet, United flight 747, on Tuesday, Nov. 7 from San Francisco to Honolulu will be the airline's farewell flight to the 747 fleet.
This journey will serve as the ultimate throwback for customers, employees and invited guests as it recreates the first 747 flight operated by United in 1970. From a 1970s-inspired menu to retro uniforms for flight attendants to inflight entertainment befitting of that first flight, passengers will help send the Queen of the Skies off in true style. The original United 747 aircraft that first made this journey from San Francisco to Honolulu was named the "Friend Ship," the same name bestowed on this farewell flight.
Seats on this special, one-way trip, United flight 747, are available for purchase now at united.com or through the United app. The seats in the upper deck will not be sold, giving all guests the opportunity to spend time in this iconic space.
Customers seated in United Polaris first class and United Polaris business class will be entered into a drawing that will take place at the gate prior to boarding for an opportunity to occupy one of a select number of seats in the upper deck during the flight.
The journey will begin with a gate celebration at 9 a.m. local time at San Francisco International Airport, featuring a Boeing 747 gallery, remarks from United employees and executives, as well as refreshments. The flight will depart San Francisco International Airport at 11 a.m. local time, landing at Honolulu International Airport at 2:45 p.m. local time. Upon landing in Honolulu, local employees will welcome the aircraft with final festivities to close out the historic day. Customers and fans of the Queen of the Skies are encouraged to use the #UA747Farewell hashtag in social media posts.
United and the Boeing 747 through the Years
April 13, 1966: Boeing announces it will build a 490-passenger 747 transport. Construction is set to begin in June on a new plant in Everett, Washington.
January 3, 1967: The first production workers for the 747 program arrive in Everett. The 50,000 who would produce the world's largest civilian airplane were known as The Incredibles, and they earned the label by bringing the Jumbo Jet dream to reality in only 16 months.
September 30, 1968: The first Boeing 747-100, City of Everett, is rolled out at their Washington plant, painted with the insignias of the 27 airlines that had already ordered the aircraft including United.
February 9, 1969: The Boeing 747-100 makes its first flight.
January 21, 1970: The Boeing 747 makes its first commercial flight from New York to London for Pan American World Airways.
June 26, 1970: Continental Airlines becomes one of the first carriers to put the Boeing 747 into U.S. domestic service, flying from Chicago to Los Angeles and onward to Honolulu.
June 26, 1970: United Airlines receives its first Boeing 747-100 complete with a christening ceremony fit for a luxury liner.
July 23, 1970: United makes its first Boeing 747 commercial flight, with a trip from San Francisco to Honolulu.
January 1977: A modified Boeing 747-100 is delivered to NASA to serve as a carrier vehicle for the Space Shuttle.
April 22, 1985: United announces its plan to acquire Pan Am's Pacific routes, as well as 11 Boeing 747SP planes. The 747SPs feature a 48-foot-shorter body and fly higher, faster, and farther than standard 747 models.
January 29-30, 1988: Friendship One, a Boeing 747SP owned by United Airlines, sets the around-the-world air speed record of 36 hours, 54 minutes, and 15 seconds. This special flight raises $500,000 for children's charities through the Friendship Foundation. Tickets cost a minimum of $5,000, and special guest passengers included astronaut Neil Armstrong, famed test pilots Bob Hoover and Lieutenant General Laurence C. Craigie, and Moya Lear, the widow of Lear Jet founder Bill Lear.
June, 1989: United Airlines receives their first Boeing 747-400 which provides increased range.
August 23, 1990: The first of two modified Boeing 747-200Bs is delivered to the Air Force for presidential transport. Better known as Air Force One, these planes still serve the president today, having replaced the Boeing 707-320Bs that had served as the presidential aircraft for almost 30 years.
September 1996: A 747SP previously flown by United is transformed into NASA's SOFIA, or Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, which carries a 17-ton, 8-foot-wide infrared telescope mounted behind an enormous sliding door.
June 28, 2014: Boeing delivers the 1,500th 747 to come off the production line. The 747 aircraft is the world's first wide-body airplane in history to reach the 1,500 production units milestone.
January 11, 2017: United announces that it will retire the Boeing 747-400 fleet in the last quarter of 2017.
July 28, 2017: United schedules a special domestic flight from Chicago O'Hare to San Francisco to allow more people to say farewell to the Queen of the Skies.
October 29, 2017: United flies its last international 747 flight from Seoul to San Francisco.
November 7, 2017: United celebrates the retirement of the Boeing 747 with a fitting full-circle moment. A special retro event sees the aircraft flying from San Francisco to Honolulu—a nod to its first-ever flight back in 1970.
Flight Status Link
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FT Handle -- seat (optional)
ORD4R - 2A
tcdtcd and son - 450pm return to ORD - 2K/3K
kevanyalowitz - 3H (will trade for 1A/K!)
jdivenere - 4A
UA1flyer - 4C
CO FF - 6K (return to LAX on HA2 @ 3:45pm or UA 534 @ 9:45pm)
ctownflyer - 7A
JSpira - 9K
EWR764 - 19G - return @ 420pm to EWR UA62
ChiTownMuggle - 20D
Ruhr - 20H
pushmyredbutton - 20K
greg99 - 21D
BThumme - 22A - return @ 945pm to LAX
goldelite8 - 22G
Trijet1011 - 24A
MRY Flyer +1 - 24 H&J
Cybertronic - 25H
Sykes - 33C
ZRS70 - 33H
eklapper - 34A
plc44 - 34K
Pat89339 - 35C
CaptKornDog - 36C
eap+1 - 40HK
ual763 - 51k
expert7700 - 36K
Seatmap below shows FTers in red. Valid as of 11/6.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rrwq0gdcdb...FTers.jpg?dl=0
SCROLL DOWN FOR LIST OF FLYERTALK MEMBERS ON THIS FLIGHT
"Friend Ship" Will Recreate the Journey of the First United 747 Flight from 1970
United's final international 747 flight from Seoul to San Francisco departs October 29
CHICAGO, Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of United Airlines retiring the Boeing 747 from its fleet, United flight 747, on Tuesday, Nov. 7 from San Francisco to Honolulu will be the airline's farewell flight to the 747 fleet.
This journey will serve as the ultimate throwback for customers, employees and invited guests as it recreates the first 747 flight operated by United in 1970. From a 1970s-inspired menu to retro uniforms for flight attendants to inflight entertainment befitting of that first flight, passengers will help send the Queen of the Skies off in true style. The original United 747 aircraft that first made this journey from San Francisco to Honolulu was named the "Friend Ship," the same name bestowed on this farewell flight.
Seats on this special, one-way trip, United flight 747, are available for purchase now at united.com or through the United app. The seats in the upper deck will not be sold, giving all guests the opportunity to spend time in this iconic space.
Customers seated in United Polaris first class and United Polaris business class will be entered into a drawing that will take place at the gate prior to boarding for an opportunity to occupy one of a select number of seats in the upper deck during the flight.
The journey will begin with a gate celebration at 9 a.m. local time at San Francisco International Airport, featuring a Boeing 747 gallery, remarks from United employees and executives, as well as refreshments. The flight will depart San Francisco International Airport at 11 a.m. local time, landing at Honolulu International Airport at 2:45 p.m. local time. Upon landing in Honolulu, local employees will welcome the aircraft with final festivities to close out the historic day. Customers and fans of the Queen of the Skies are encouraged to use the #UA747Farewell hashtag in social media posts.
United and the Boeing 747 through the Years
April 13, 1966: Boeing announces it will build a 490-passenger 747 transport. Construction is set to begin in June on a new plant in Everett, Washington.
January 3, 1967: The first production workers for the 747 program arrive in Everett. The 50,000 who would produce the world's largest civilian airplane were known as The Incredibles, and they earned the label by bringing the Jumbo Jet dream to reality in only 16 months.
September 30, 1968: The first Boeing 747-100, City of Everett, is rolled out at their Washington plant, painted with the insignias of the 27 airlines that had already ordered the aircraft including United.
February 9, 1969: The Boeing 747-100 makes its first flight.
January 21, 1970: The Boeing 747 makes its first commercial flight from New York to London for Pan American World Airways.
June 26, 1970: Continental Airlines becomes one of the first carriers to put the Boeing 747 into U.S. domestic service, flying from Chicago to Los Angeles and onward to Honolulu.
June 26, 1970: United Airlines receives its first Boeing 747-100 complete with a christening ceremony fit for a luxury liner.
July 23, 1970: United makes its first Boeing 747 commercial flight, with a trip from San Francisco to Honolulu.
January 1977: A modified Boeing 747-100 is delivered to NASA to serve as a carrier vehicle for the Space Shuttle.
April 22, 1985: United announces its plan to acquire Pan Am's Pacific routes, as well as 11 Boeing 747SP planes. The 747SPs feature a 48-foot-shorter body and fly higher, faster, and farther than standard 747 models.
January 29-30, 1988: Friendship One, a Boeing 747SP owned by United Airlines, sets the around-the-world air speed record of 36 hours, 54 minutes, and 15 seconds. This special flight raises $500,000 for children's charities through the Friendship Foundation. Tickets cost a minimum of $5,000, and special guest passengers included astronaut Neil Armstrong, famed test pilots Bob Hoover and Lieutenant General Laurence C. Craigie, and Moya Lear, the widow of Lear Jet founder Bill Lear.
June, 1989: United Airlines receives their first Boeing 747-400 which provides increased range.
August 23, 1990: The first of two modified Boeing 747-200Bs is delivered to the Air Force for presidential transport. Better known as Air Force One, these planes still serve the president today, having replaced the Boeing 707-320Bs that had served as the presidential aircraft for almost 30 years.
September 1996: A 747SP previously flown by United is transformed into NASA's SOFIA, or Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, which carries a 17-ton, 8-foot-wide infrared telescope mounted behind an enormous sliding door.
June 28, 2014: Boeing delivers the 1,500th 747 to come off the production line. The 747 aircraft is the world's first wide-body airplane in history to reach the 1,500 production units milestone.
January 11, 2017: United announces that it will retire the Boeing 747-400 fleet in the last quarter of 2017.
July 28, 2017: United schedules a special domestic flight from Chicago O'Hare to San Francisco to allow more people to say farewell to the Queen of the Skies.
October 29, 2017: United flies its last international 747 flight from Seoul to San Francisco.
November 7, 2017: United celebrates the retirement of the Boeing 747 with a fitting full-circle moment. A special retro event sees the aircraft flying from San Francisco to Honolulu—a nod to its first-ever flight back in 1970.
(May require multiple attempts to load; close and re-click if website errors.)
ARE YOU ON THIS FINAL 747 FLIGHT?
FT Handle -- seat (optional)
ORD4R - 2A
tcdtcd and son - 450pm return to ORD - 2K/3K
kevanyalowitz - 3H (will trade for 1A/K!)
jdivenere - 4A
UA1flyer - 4C
CO FF - 6K (return to LAX on HA2 @ 3:45pm or UA 534 @ 9:45pm)
ctownflyer - 7A
JSpira - 9K
EWR764 - 19G - return @ 420pm to EWR UA62
ChiTownMuggle - 20D
Ruhr - 20H
pushmyredbutton - 20K
greg99 - 21D
BThumme - 22A - return @ 945pm to LAX
goldelite8 - 22G
Trijet1011 - 24A
MRY Flyer +1 - 24 H&J
Cybertronic - 25H
Sykes - 33C
ZRS70 - 33H
eklapper - 34A
plc44 - 34K
Pat89339 - 35C
CaptKornDog - 36C
eap+1 - 40HK
ual763 - 51k
expert7700 - 36K
Seatmap below shows FTers in red. Valid as of 11/6.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rrwq0gdcdb...FTers.jpg?dl=0
Official: Final United Boeing 747 Flight Was SFO-HNL on 7 Nov 2017 {SOLD OUT}
#766
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 65
And the winner of the Halfway to Hawaii Contest was....
Our very own @BThumme! His guess on the Halfway to Hawaii contest was only one second off the actual time!
The second place winner was only 2 seconds off. Third place, 8 seconds.
With all those avgeeks on board, I wondered how many guessed within about 10 seconds. I asked an FA and she said that those three were the only ones who were that close. After that, the guesses were all off by at least a minute.
Congrats @BThumme!
The second place winner was only 2 seconds off. Third place, 8 seconds.
With all those avgeeks on board, I wondered how many guessed within about 10 seconds. I asked an FA and she said that those three were the only ones who were that close. After that, the guesses were all off by at least a minute.
Congrats @BThumme!
#767
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,926
Our very own @BThumme! His guess on the Halfway to Hawaii contest was only one second off the actual time!
The second place winner was only 2 seconds off. Third place, 8 seconds.
With all those avgeeks on board, I wondered how many guessed within about 10 seconds. I asked an FA and she said that those three were the only ones who were that close. After that, the guesses were all off by at least a minute.
Congrats @BThumme!
The second place winner was only 2 seconds off. Third place, 8 seconds.
With all those avgeeks on board, I wondered how many guessed within about 10 seconds. I asked an FA and she said that those three were the only ones who were that close. After that, the guesses were all off by at least a minute.
Congrats @BThumme!
#768
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
#769
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Our very own @BThumme! His guess on the Halfway to Hawaii contest was only one second off the actual time!
The second place winner was only 2 seconds off. Third place, 8 seconds.
With all those avgeeks on board, I wondered how many guessed within about 10 seconds. I asked an FA and she said that those three were the only ones who were that close. After that, the guesses were all off by at least a minute.
Congrats @BThumme!
The second place winner was only 2 seconds off. Third place, 8 seconds.
With all those avgeeks on board, I wondered how many guessed within about 10 seconds. I asked an FA and she said that those three were the only ones who were that close. After that, the guesses were all off by at least a minute.
Congrats @BThumme!
I guess one won't know until actually landing since ATC could route the plane and add minutes
When do you have to submit your guess? before pushback? you'd have to predict the maintenance delay, the extra routing around the golden gate, etc
#770
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,536
So I understand properly, it is based on total flight time?
I guess one won't know until actually landing since ATC could route the plane and add minutes
When do you have to submit your guess? before pushback? you'd have to predict the maintenance delay, the extra routing around the golden gate, etc
I guess one won't know until actually landing since ATC could route the plane and add minutes
When do you have to submit your guess? before pushback? you'd have to predict the maintenance delay, the extra routing around the golden gate, etc
Jamie
#771
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
First half:
Take off 10:00 am HST
True Air Speed 558 mph
35 mph headwind
Second half:
True Air Speed 564 mph
29 mph headwind
Distance 2508 statute miles
Landing 4:55 HST
12:24:57 winner
Take off 10:00 am HST
True Air Speed 558 mph
35 mph headwind
Second half:
True Air Speed 564 mph
29 mph headwind
Distance 2508 statute miles
Landing 4:55 HST
12:24:57 winner
#772
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 65
Pilot provided us with wheels up time, so no issue with maintenance delay. IIRC, mid-flight, pilot provided us with speed, altitude and speed. I didn't actually participate, does anybody else recall the specifics? (basically, the only thing I'm positive about is that wheels up was provided and estimates were collected while still in flight).
groundspeed 558 mph
First half headwind 39 mph
Second half headwind 29 mph
wheels up 10:00 HST
2918 statute miles
#773
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I assume the game is the guess the time half way between wheels up and touch down?
Did the winner get announced during the flight? or after touchdown? Wheels up time is good, but you can't confirm the half way time until the wheels touch the ground. Did the winner get announced during the flight? or after touchdown? There is an estimated/scheduled time, but what if ATC re-routes, or whatever. What if the captain agreed to fly the missed approach that was requested? Then suddenly the halfway time would be shifted by minutes
Did the winner get announced during the flight? or after touchdown? Wheels up time is good, but you can't confirm the half way time until the wheels touch the ground. Did the winner get announced during the flight? or after touchdown? There is an estimated/scheduled time, but what if ATC re-routes, or whatever. What if the captain agreed to fly the missed approach that was requested? Then suddenly the halfway time would be shifted by minutes
#774
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
I assume the game is the guess the time half way between wheels up and touch down?
Did the winner get announced during the flight? or after touchdown? Wheels up time is good, but you can't confirm the half way time until the wheels touch the ground. Did the winner get announced during the flight? or after touchdown? There is an estimated/scheduled time, but what if ATC re-routes, or whatever. What if the captain agreed to fly the missed approach that was requested? Then suddenly the halfway time would be shifted by minutes
Did the winner get announced during the flight? or after touchdown? Wheels up time is good, but you can't confirm the half way time until the wheels touch the ground. Did the winner get announced during the flight? or after touchdown? There is an estimated/scheduled time, but what if ATC re-routes, or whatever. What if the captain agreed to fly the missed approach that was requested? Then suddenly the halfway time would be shifted by minutes
For what it’s worth, I was off by 35 seconds. I made the mistake of adding an extra minute to my flight time for the City and GG Bridge tour. Even if I hadn’t done that, I still wouldn’t have won, but I would have been only 5 seconds off.
#775
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Couldn't you pull up flight aware and get some good data? I would think my GPS app would help me with the estimation as well.
#776
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Unfortunately, WiFi wasn’t working well, but it won’t actually help you, plus you don’t need it. Simple math gets you within a few seconds. The rest is fudge factor for winds aloft and potential vectors on the departure.
#777
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 65
Wow, that was close. Hard to know how much to add ...
#778
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: COS/DEN
Programs: UA 1P (w/ no expectations whatsoever); Marriott Gold; Hilton Silver; Hertz Pres
Posts: 693
I wound up being 70 seconds over on my estimate. Consciously added 60 seconds for the turn over the bridge. Hey, good enough for the AIM and 7110.65 though (within 2 minutes for position estimates), I'll take it! Great job to @BThumme, that was awesome to see!
I had ForeFlight on my iPad but didn't bother in the spirit of the game. Though, I doubt it would have gotten any more accurate than that anyway.
Sadly, I'm back from HNL. Landed yesterday morning in DEN on the redeye. Boy, what an adventure and easily the most fun I've had on a flight. Sure made the 5+ hours go by in the blink of an eye. Some great articles and trip reports coming out already it seems. I'll finish downloading and sorting my pics from my "good" camera (not just iPhone) in the coming days to link on here. It was so wonderful meeting so many of you and making new friends while hearing everyone's passion for the 747, aviation, and travel.
I had ForeFlight on my iPad but didn't bother in the spirit of the game. Though, I doubt it would have gotten any more accurate than that anyway.
Sadly, I'm back from HNL. Landed yesterday morning in DEN on the redeye. Boy, what an adventure and easily the most fun I've had on a flight. Sure made the 5+ hours go by in the blink of an eye. Some great articles and trip reports coming out already it seems. I'll finish downloading and sorting my pics from my "good" camera (not just iPhone) in the coming days to link on here. It was so wonderful meeting so many of you and making new friends while hearing everyone's passion for the 747, aviation, and travel.
Last edited by CaptKornDog; Nov 13, 2017 at 6:27 pm
#779
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 27
I'll mirror what Kevin said. I had such a great time on that flight! Easily the most fun I have ever had on a plane and in an airport! I'd even go so far as to say that I was more giddy on this flight than on my first solo flight! I cannot believe I missed out on the Captain handing out Pacific Plotting Charts and the route forecast charts at the gate though . Oh well, I had a wonderful time, and enjoyed meeting all of you. I'll never forget it. With that being said.... Anyone know when the inaugural 787-10 flight is?
Cheers,
Rob
Cheers,
Rob
#780
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Wish I could have been there. I don't think there will be another flight this special for a very long time. Maybe when the retire all the 777's. Even then, there isnt another plane more iconic than the 747.