Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21488 posts, RR: 24 Posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 10830 times:
Thought it was worth mentioning that Monday, February 9 will be the 40th anniversary of the first flight of one of the most significant aircraft in commercial aviation history, the Boeing 747.
Danfearn77 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2008, 1780 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 10807 times:
Wow. Its hard to look at this aircraft and imagine that its 40 years old. To be designed and built in the 60's, that is an awesome achievement. My dad hadnt even heard of a fridge and yet Boeing created this amazing aircraft! Sadly, its hard to imagine it around for another 40 years
Eagles may soar high, but weasels dont get sucked into jet engines!
Aviateur From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 1346 posts, RR: 12 Reply 2, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 10807 times:
Thanks for reminding us. The 747 is/was one of commercial aviation's three or four greatest milestones.
NorthstarBoy From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1713 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 10761 times:
Thank you Boeing, for having the Vision (or courage) to bet the entire company on this airplane.
Thank you Juan Trippe, for having the Vision (or courage) to order 25 of them.
Without the 747, one wonders if we'd have had the DC-10, L1011 or A300? all of which came out of airline desires for a smaller, less capable plane than the 747.
Amazing.
I could have elite status if I wanted it, but flying the same airline all the time is boring.
Rwy04LGA From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 2147 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 10747 times:
And less than a month later, the first flight of Concorde 001, F-WTSS, occured on March 2nd 1969.
We're all getting old. Oy!
The early bird gets the worm, BUT...the second mouse gets the cheese!
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21488 posts, RR: 24 Reply 6, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 10587 times:
Just remembered that February 9 is also the 46th anniversary of another notable Boeing first flight, the 727. They seem to like that date. Photo below of the 727's first takeoff from Renton, February 9, 1963. The 737 also made it's first flight on the 9th, but April, not February (1967).
GDB From United Kingdom, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 12713 posts, RR: 80 Reply 7, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 10485 times:
I was there admittedly over 3 years ago, (Nov 2005), so I'm hoping that the first 747 at the Museum Of Flight in Seattle, had an external clean up at least, as this anniversary approached?
I was very surprised when I saw it's external condition, as well as the non standard power-plants (from it's latter day testing role) on the pylons.
Not doubting it's general structural and material condition is OK, but it did not look great for such a significant airframe.
Climb1 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 128 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 10318 times:
Ah yes the 747. Definitely my favourite aircraft by a mile!
I remember seeing photos from 1988 with N7470 flying in formation over Seattle with N401PW, the first 747-400. It was a flypast to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first 747 roll-out.
Obviously its not gonna happen but wouldnt it have been great if a similar flight was done now but with the addition of the first 748? That would have looked amazing!
In my eyes the Boeing 747 will ALWAYS be the queen of the skies!
Aviasian From Singapore, joined Jan 2001, 1453 posts, RR: 16 Reply 10, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 10237 times:
Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 3): Thank you Boeing, for having the Vision (or courage) to bet the entire company on this airplane.
Thank you Juan Trippe, for having the Vision (or courage) to order 25 of them.
And THANK YOU VERY MUCH Joe Sutter and his team of steadfast Boeing colleagues for believing that you had it right . . . the B747 is and will always be The Queen of the Sky. I remember the first time I saw a B747 - it was in the colours of Pan American at Singapore's former Paya Lebar Airport. I was in awe. When I stand under the flightpath of a B747 landing, I continue to be in awe. The fortunes of many tourism-dependent nations rode on the B747 for a long time, especially those in the Asia Pacific region. The B747 is truly the only Jumbo Jet!
CCA From Hong Kong, joined Oct 2002, 708 posts, RR: 14 Reply 11, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 10190 times:
I met Joe Sutter at a GAPAN function about 5 years ago, where he received an award, got his signature and a photo with him, I was flying the A330 then but thankfully have flown the Classic and now on the -400, thanks Joe!
American 767 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3321 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 10137 times:
Great pictures, I love the one of the CX744F.
I wrote two separate sections for these two magnificent aircraft in my blog:
Jacobin777 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 14968 posts, RR: 61 Reply 13, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 10131 times:
WestWing From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2112 posts, RR: 8 Reply 14, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 10097 times:
Congratulations to Boeing on this anniversary.
If Boeing marketing folks read this thread - a request to you. If you are going to do a press release about the anniversary, please include in the press release some statistics about how many passengers have flown on the 747s, how many tonnes of freight have been carried, and how many miles have been flown.
The best time to plant a tree is 40 years ago. The second best time is today.
747LUVR From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 391 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 9862 times:
40 Years....wow. I sure hope the Queen is flying for at least 40 more... simply amazing, and 20 years for the 744....wow, time flys.
ArabAirX From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 9844 times:
Quoting 747LUVR (Reply 16): I sure hope the Queen is flying for at least 40 more
Well, it seems Randy Tinseth would agree with you (unlikely he or Joe Sutter would say otherwise )
“There’s no reason why it won’t continue to fly for another forty years,”
However, the A380 has a grace all unto itself. Given time, the A380 will also reach and surpass the 40 year milestone. Jean Pierson will also have a Joe Sutter icon status in time.
Both giants are truly unique and wonderful marvels of engineering.
Rwy04LGA From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 2147 posts, RR: 7 Reply 18, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 9736 times:
Quoting ArabAirX (Reply 17): Given time, the A380 will also reach and surpass the 40 year milestone.
Given time....say....40 years? A little redundant. Do you think after 40 years, Airbus will have sold as many A380s as Boeing did the 747?
Quoting ArabAirX (Reply 17): However, the A380 has a grace all unto itself.
Yeah, the grace of a manatee.
That being said, In March, I'm non-revving to DXB on DL and ZEDing back to JFK on EK's 380 just to ride the beast.
The early bird gets the worm, BUT...the second mouse gets the cheese!
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9613 posts, RR: 10 Reply 19, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 9707 times:
Congratulations to the Queen! To me the 747 looks as fresh as ever. If you would ask passengers all over the world, I bet the 747 would come in as their favorite. I read today that about 3 1/2 billion people have travelled on a 747, hmmm, lets make that 3 1/2 billion tickets sold, I bet some have recorded hundreds of flights.
Quoting Elite (Reply 4): Truly the Queen of the Skies, and my favorite aircraft by far
ArabAirX From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 9668 times:
Quoting Rwy04LGA (Reply 18): Do you think after 40 years, Airbus will have sold as many A380s as Boeing did the 747?
Of course not - however, I do think we'll see A380's in operation in 2049 though. Particularly as some A380's are not scheduled for delivery until late next decade and will easily see upto 25+ years in service.
747LUVR From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 391 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 9662 times:
N174UA From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 993 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 9509 times:
Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 3): Thank you Boeing, for having the Vision (or courage) to bet the entire company on this airplane.
Thank you Juan Trippe, for having the Vision (or courage) to order 25 of them.
If you haven't already, go to your local library and check out a book called "Flying High" by Eugene Rogers. It's from 1996. Complete Boeing history through '96. An amazing read! Ironically, I was reading last night about the start of the 747 program and read the part about the first flight on 2/9/69, and realized the 40th anniversary was today! How cool.
I've flown on numerous 747's...99% on UA (all models), but also with QF and CO. It's amazing to sit in the Captain's seat.
Long live the 747!!!!! I live about 5 miles southeast of where it's built, and saw the Dreamliner in flight on my way home one day last week.
Studedave From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 392 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 9446 times:
Quoting N174UA (Reply 23): I live about 5 miles southeast of where it's built, and saw the Dreamliner in flight on my way home one day last week.
Live near Silver Lake (and/or) Mill Creek do ya? Wave next time you pass by my Family's place off 25th Ave SE, will ya...
Long live the 747!!!! I've not only had the pleasure of living close to where they were built for so many years, my Father (and friend's Fathers) worked for Boeing a time or two. I've even gotten to ride on two or three of them as well~ once was Seattle to Chicago (on UA in 1988 for boot camp) and again on my way (but not all the way) to and from my tour of duty on Diego Garcia. Fun times, yes indeed!!!
Classic planes, Classic trains, and Studebakers~~ what else is there???
25 NorthstarBoy: thanks for the suggestion My 747 list: N620US 747-135 with upstairs lounge NW MSP-LGW-1985 N602US 747-151 LGW-MSP NW 1985 N4718U 747-122 UA LHR-IAD 1
26 SM92: BBC's The Flying Giant http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7880808.stm Interesting to note that the article says the largest fleet is with BA.
27 LY4XELD: I don't think you saw the Dreamliner in flight...otherwise everyone missed a major event! I think you meant the Dreamlifter...
28 ArabAirX: BA has already parked a few 744's in Cardiff. Isnt their RFP for the 747 replacement due this year (or maybe next due to the downturn?)
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