Aussie_ From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 1765 posts, RR: 5 Posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1865 times:
I heard "via the grapevine" that the QF 747SPs are up for sale and will be gone by the end of the year.
Any confirmations of this rumour? What is the source?
I sure am glad to be booked on one for August 30 (SYD-BNE) to have a trip on one before they're retired. For $55 it sure is worth the memories the trip will no doubt provide in later life...
QantasAirways From Australia, joined Mar 2001, 1261 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1628 times:
Yes they will be retired (sold)
however, I have not yet put my finger on the source.
Somebody sent me an article in my email and I unfortunately deleted it!
Sorry!
Two Boeing 747SPs for sale by Qantas available November 2001... this confirms that the wonderful plane will no longer serve with Qantas. But I wonder, are there any other 747SPs in regular airline service?
-turbolet
QantasA3XX From Singapore, joined Dec 2000, 218 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1566 times:
I am very sad that Qantas are selling the B747 classics esp SP !! I love the SP especially the grand lady visits my airport ( Changi ) daily . I will miss that plane
Apart from Qantas , i know Saudi Arabia, Iran Air are still operating the B747SP .
Silverstreak From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 281 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1549 times:
I believe that Syrian might be operating their SPs.
Turbolet From Cape Verde, joined Nov 2007, 0 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1538 times:
Pity that the SP is slowly vanishing! It's such a good looking plane for one thing. If they don't sell them, they'll scrap them :-(, so selling is probably better, so long as they remain operational.
-turbolet
Parisien From France, joined Dec 2000, 819 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 1522 times:
I love the 747SP though have only flown it recently for the first time.
Corsair still operates 747SP (F-GTOM). It was a substitute for an AF flight that I took to CAY. The same airplane was not too long ago seen in Auckland replacing temporarily Air Tahiti Nui AKL flight.
Petertenthije From Netherlands, joined Jul 2001, 3230 posts, RR: 13 Reply 10, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 1506 times:
As far as I know Syrian and Iran both still use the SP's. Last time I saw a Syrian SP was rougly half a year ago. I have last seen an Iranian SP last Sunday (08-07-01). This was the EP-IAA. Both planes were seen at Amsterdam Schiphol.
AndyEastMids From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 996 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1452 times:
All the Qantas 747 classics, including the SPs, are advertised as for sale through the Boeing Aircraft Trading site. The SPs are the first to go:
Tullamarine From Australia, joined Aug 1999, 1146 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1423 times:
For a long time QF tried to persuade the Federal Gov't to buy the SPs to replace the old RAAF 707s. Unfortunately for QF, even the Gov't weren't convinced of the economics of buying 2 planes both nearly 20 years old. The Gov't has instead ordered 2 BBJs but QF can take some solace that they have won the maintenance contract on the BBJs.
Monocleman From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 137 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1412 times:
How can the 747SP be good looking? I think it is one of the silliest looking aircraft out there... Little midget jet...
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9600 posts, RR: 10 Reply 15, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1386 times:
"How can the 747SP be good looking? I think it is one of the silliest looking aircraft out there... Little midget jet..."
Its called personal taste. I like the SP very much. Ok, its not so elegant as the "normal" 747, but it looks cute, somehow like a giant baby. To my eyes the SP looks better than its modern sister, the 777, and a lot better than the 777-300. Thats what I call a silly-looking aircraft.
Anyway, sad to hear the QF-SPs are leaving, even if we here in Europe will never have a chance to see them.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 3191 posts, RR: 4 Reply 16, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1385 times:
That is sad. How many SP's are left worldwide? Is it about 25? Apart from Qantas, Syrian, Corsair and Iran Air who else has them? Does Iraqi still have their SPs?
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9600 posts, RR: 10 Reply 17, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1386 times:
"All the Qantas 747 classics, including the SPs, are advertised as for sale through the Boeing Aircraft Trading site. The SPs are the first to go"
Thats true, but interesting is, the 747-200s still in the QF fleet are mentioned to be available from 2004, 2006 and 2007! I´ve never heard about someone trying to sell a used transport 6 years before delivery!
456 From Netherlands, joined Feb 2001, 262 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1377 times:
Why were the sp's built in the first place? For which segment/part of the market. Not that many planes were bought by the airliners.
Was it ever an economical plane after all? I mean, is in not too heavy for the amount of passengers it flew? With his mostly useless upperdeck weight.
Don't get me wrong, a VERY nice plane after all
(is his tale larger than a normal 747? Why?)
Qantas737 From Australia, joined Jul 2000, 738 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1382 times:
Not all QF 747 Classics are up for sale yet. The -300 series wasnt shown to be up for sale amongst the others there.
The tail of the 747SP is taller than that of the 744 because of the shortened airframe. The 747SP had a much longer range than the 747-100 (the only other 747 in production when it was released). The seat/mile costs were very good in its time and the range opened up new routes such as SYD-LAX. Unfortunately it wasnt a very successful aircraft, sales wise, since the 747-200 (i think) was released and had similar range with better seat/mile costs and more capacity.
Correct me If I am wrong.
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9600 posts, RR: 10 Reply 20, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1364 times:
You are right with one exception, Qantas737: The 747-200 was already 5 years on the market when the SP came out (742: 1971, SP: 1976). The 747-200s range was gradually growing from update to update but never came near the one of the 747SP. The first aircraft to surpass the SP´s range was the 747-400.
I want to add something: when the SP was developed in the early 70s, oil was cheap. When it came out after the first oil crisis that had changed. And there was already the DC-10-30, a cheaper similar-sized and more fuel-efficient aircraft that was well established in some big airlines already. And there were very few airlines that needed the extra-range of the SP, the only USP the SP had when finally delivered to its customers from 1976 on.
Victor Hotel From Australia, joined Aug 2000, 305 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1336 times:
It will be quite sad to see this aircraft phased out, it was both interesting and a unique aircraft. Here are some other airlines that operate them or operated them at some stage. Air China, China Airlines, Iran Airlines, Korean Airlines, Saudi Arabian, South African, Evergreen,
United, Qatar, Air Namibia, Oman, Corsair, Global Air, Iraqi Airways, Mandarin Airlines, TWA, and United.
VH
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9600 posts, RR: 10 Reply 24, posted (11 years 10 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1316 times:
btw, what about the third SP on the VH-register, the Global Air-Jumbo. Still sleeping at Jakarta?
25 Jan Mogren: It was in march when I shot it. /JM
26 EGGD: The 747SP was designed way before any larger aircraft could fly ultra long distances. It wasn't until the 747-400(?) that the 747SP's long range was s
27 Trintocan: My only 747 flight to date was on a UA 747SP from MIA to IAD in 1993. The plane flew well and was very smooth but the interior looked dated and so was
28 Na: Hi dan, the 767-238 will not replace the SP in QFs fleet because they´re also up for sale via Boeings website!
29 The Coachman: The logical replacement for the B747SP is the A330-300.
30 F27: What you have all forgotten that EAA, EAB is the 2 oddballs out of the 65 built they are the only ones in the world to have the Rolls Royce Engines f
31 Airsicknessbag: a little off topic, but RE: UA SP: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1163276622 why are they sooo expensive??? Daniel
32 Qantas737: Never was there 65 747SPs. Less than 50 were ever made, I think around 45, not quite sure. Na, you are quite right about the 742 being out before the
33 FBWless: There were 45 of them built and 6 out of those were fitted with RR engines.
34 Na: F27, you forgot that Saudia and Abu Dhabi also got RR-powered SPs.
35 Tsv: OK anyone know how you go about finding out when the SPs will be operating which domestic sectors?
36 Go Canada!: oh thats a shame i love 747sps, they are soo cute! shame on you qantas!
37 Johnnybgoode: to victor hotel´s list of airlines which still operate or have operated the 747SP, may i add Tadjikistan airlines (perhaps air tadjikistan, not sure)
38 747Specialist: The airline was in fact TajikAir, on lease from UAL.
39 Tsv: OK after getting nowhere on the telephone with Qantas I had some time in CNS today and asked the lovely lady on the ticket sales desk about the possib
40 Aware: Qantas appears to have updated their schedule, and the 747SPs have disappeared from sight after Nov 2001 (indeed, it caused one of my flights to be ca
41 Ceilidh: Victor Hotel - you also forgot Air Mauritius and Royal Air Maroc! All of SAA's SPs have now been retired - I understand they are due to be broken up f
42 BruneiAir: Just Incase you guys are trying to book fares darwin is DRW not DAR. Have Fun i have already had my ride
43 Tommy Mogren: Ceilidh wrote: >All of SAA's SPs have now been retired - I understand >they are due to be broken up for parts. Are you sure ??????????????????????????
44 V Jet: Dont think so Ceilidh. SA280 arrving in PER 02Aug is 74L ZS SPC
45 Rendezvous: There were only 45 747SP's built, of which 29 remain in service. Oman Royal Flight - 2 Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight - 1 Dubai Air Wing - 2 Bahrain Amiri Fli
46 FlyboyOz: Oh my God!...I'm so disappointed about the disappearance of Qantas 747SPs. I have never flew this plane before. Bad Luck for me and I gonna missed the
47 Aviasian: Victor Hotel : You have also missed out Aerolineas Argentinas (what a beauty!), Qantas (the subject of this discussion), Australia Asia, Alliance (wha
48 Jet_guy: It was a great aircraft, and will be sadely missed! I flew on them several times AKL-SYD, the final leg of the LAX-PPT-AKL-SYD route many years ago! L
49 QantasAirways: Then what is Qantas going to do on the SYD-TPE route? Hopefully an A330! Regards QantasAirways
50 Tommy Mogren: Aviasian, The URL to my 747SP Website is simple... http://www.747sp.com Tommy Mogren Editor www.747sp.com
51 ZK-NBT: Very sad indeed to see these great aircraft go never, I have seen afew myself over the last few years last time last year. SYD-TPE will go back to a 7
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