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Post by dave on Oct 6, 2022 13:52:58 GMT
hi,
On Wednesday, Atlas Air took delivery of a Boeing 747-8 Freighter. This unit is the second of four new 747-8 Freighters ordered by the company in 2021, which are also the last 747s ever to be produced by Boeing, putting an end to the ‘Queen of the Skies’ assembly line.
The US carrier Atlas Air took delivery of a new Boeing 747-8F, registration N861GT, earlier this week, following a flight between Paine Field Airport (PAE) in Everett and Miami International Airport (MIA). This new jetliner is the third to last ever to be produced by Boeing.
Earlier this week, we also learned that the second to last 747 rolled out of Boeing’s factory. Atlas Air will take delivery of the remaining two ‘Queens of the Skies’ this year, and Boeing will put an end to a 54-year history.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the penultimate rollout took place at Paine Airport, Washington. This plane has the registration N862GT. Meanwhile, the final 747 ever to be constructed, registration N863GT, entered final body join on September 29.
I remember when i came out of the lift on the roof at Heathrow, turned to go to the "ships bridge", and saw my first jumbo landing, it looked so big, from then all the others looked like models...
regards,
dave...
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Post by chrisj on Oct 6, 2022 19:08:30 GMT
Just looked at my slide of the first 747 to Europe at 1969 Paris show . Pic taken from the viewing area of the terminal at Le B. . It towered over the show static line up . Chrisj
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Post by graham on Oct 7, 2022 7:42:24 GMT
Indeed, an end to a amazing and pioneering chapter in the history of passenger air travel. I too remember seeing my first 747 at Heathrow, Pan Am if I recall although I wasn't there for the first ever visit. Looking at the stats on Planebase, I've managed to see 1,405 of the 1,574 built with many of the missing ones being Japanese, Korean and Indonesian, long since scrapped.
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Post by chrisj on Oct 7, 2022 12:35:47 GMT
Always strange how just one aircraft gets such a following when others of historic note just pass away . I can understand the Trident being ignored but the Viscount was a great 100% British icon yet just faded away . at one time you could not visit Heathrow without the constant sound of a RR Dart running . As Atlas come over us often there is a very good chance of seeing these final few 747s . Chris
p.s. I mention the Trident because it was a noisy machine . When I was stationed by Chester the came over on the Shuttle service but when they stopped we noticed the quietness .
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Post by dave on Oct 7, 2022 15:43:52 GMT
hi,
to be honest after i'd seen them all, Sats afternoon for a couple of hours, at heathrow was very boring, you could see 3-4 in the landing pattern...and they just kept coming. but when i go Manchester its good to see Whisky Kiko...
regards,
dave...
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Post by billsamuels on Oct 8, 2022 15:58:26 GMT
As the saying goes, It’s not over till the fat lady sings… simpleflying.com/klm-boeing-747-cargo-flights/They may not survive for too long but any respite from the axeman will, I am sure, delight many enthusiasts around the globe… Good old KLM… Bill |
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Post by Jeff on Oct 9, 2022 13:16:40 GMT
As the saying goes, It’s not over till the fat lady sings… simpleflying.com/klm-boeing-747-cargo-flights/They may not survive for too long but any respite from the axeman will, I am sure, delight many enthusiasts around the globe… Good old KLM… Bill Any idea why the Combis went out of favour with the airlines? |
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Post by billsamuels on Oct 10, 2022 19:29:04 GMT
As the saying goes, It’s not over till the fat lady sings… simpleflying.com/klm-boeing-747-cargo-flights/They may not survive for too long but any respite from the axeman will, I am sure, delight many enthusiasts around the globe… Good old KLM… Bill Any idea why the Combis went out of favour with the airlines? Hi Jeff, Think it’s simply down to the economies of running twin jet(s) versus four lump. Think the KLM decision is due to their lack of belly space on certain high cargo demand routes, like China… Probably doubtful we’ll see these one’s heading West from AMS but the fact they will be briefly reprieved is good. And personally, I love the very last KLM paint scheme especially on the 747. Very sexy…. Bill |
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Post by Jeff on Oct 10, 2022 23:02:10 GMT
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Post by billsamuels on Oct 15, 2022 10:31:52 GMT
Hi Jeff,
Heaven knows mate but my money would be the fine building quality by Boeing and the superb B747 frame. Can’t really recall any other ‘Combi’ derivative to be honest.
I often think, could the A380 have become the next Combi with a lower deck cargo compartment and the upper deck with passengers… There’s probably a million reasons why it couldn’t happen but when you think about it, instead of scrapping 10-12 year old planes, there are probably dozens of markets that could support this type of configuration.
Anyway, I, for one, congratulate KLM for not surrendering the Queen, just yet….
Bill
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Post by Jeff on Oct 15, 2022 10:47:11 GMT
I think the floors aren't strong enough it the 380 due to it being built as a pax aircraft, the 747 had the advantage that it was initially designed as a military transport to compete in the heavy lift USAF contract, which Was eventually won by the C5.
Of course that could be just hearsay lol
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Post by Jeff on Oct 16, 2022 11:55:17 GMT
As if by magic, this appeared today on a Facebook group  |
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Post by davebasing on Oct 16, 2022 15:54:40 GMT
Actually flew on a Sabena DC10 combi OO-SLE in 1986 on my way from an IATA meeting in Singapore via Kuala Lumpur & Bombay to Abu Dhabi where I changed on to a Sudan AW 737 to Khartoum to start a UN secondment to the Sudanese CAA there. My last combi flight was a bit more eventful. On an ATR42 combi and half way over the Channel it developed a strong desire to go swimming and pitched sharply nose down towards the sea at a rather alarming angle. Eventually pulled up and an emergency landing followed at Rouen with their finest fire trucks in attendance. Not the easiest place then to get anywhere else from.
Apart from the longer turn around time taken by loading and unloading combis and limitations on hazardous goods that could be carried on a combi, a major factor in their decline was the disappearance of the South African AW B747 combi over the Indian Ocean in 1987 after the crew reported smoke from the cargo area. This led to far greater and expensive safety requirements to isolate the cargo areas from the passenger cabin.
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Post by billsamuels on Oct 16, 2022 17:00:25 GMT
Well done Jeff & Dave. I stand corrected.
I’d completely forgotten about the Sabena 10’s… And the ATR-42, and the B707, and the B727, and the B737, and the B757, and all the others!!! 🤣😉
One day, a subject will come up and Dave won’t have a story!!! It will probably involve Rachel Welch. 🤪
Well done chaps.
Bill
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Post by davebasing on Oct 16, 2022 22:33:51 GMT
Well done Jeff & Dave. I stand corrected. I’d completely forgotten about the Sabena 10’s… And the ATR-42, and the B707, and the B727, and the B737, and the B757, and all the others!!! 🤣😉 One day, a subject will come up and Dave won’t have a story!!! It will probably involve Rachel Welch. 🤪 Well done chaps. Bill Bill - Is Rachel my friend Raquel's sister? Did I ever tell you about the day that Raquel & I went into this dive in Hollywood and..... |
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Post by billsamuels on Oct 17, 2022 9:09:41 GMT
Well done Jeff & Dave. I stand corrected. I’d completely forgotten about the Sabena 10’s… And the ATR-42, and the B707, and the B727, and the B737, and the B757, and all the others!!! 🤣😉 One day, a subject will come up and Dave won’t have a story!!! It will probably involve Rachel Welch. 🤪 Well done chaps. Bill Bill - Is Rachel my friend Raquel's sister? Did I ever tell you about the day that Raquel & I went into this dive in Hollywood and..... 😂😂😂😂 Yes you did…. 🤣🤣 Bill |
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