UA video - A fond farewell to the Boeing 747

RTWin10 · Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:06 pm

United's tribute to the "Queen of the Skies". Lots of great footage from the 70s of both the United and Continental 747s.

https://hub.united.com/a-fond-farewell- ... 66419.html

Revelation · Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:47 pm

RTWin10 wrote:
United's tribute to the "Queen of the Skies". Lots of great footage from the 70s of both the United and Continental 747s.

https://hub.united.com/a-fond-farewell- ... 66419.html

CX747 · Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:55 pm

Shows how certain inanimate machines really win their way into the hearts and minds of folks.

JannEejit · Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:02 pm

I'm sure I saw an ad the other day for a 1:200 scale diecast model of a United 744 with the main 'United' logo replaced with the original United Friendship graphic and it was billed as the farewell livery. Is this actually gonna happen ?

VirginFlyer · Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:10 pm

JannEejit wrote:
I'm sure I saw an ad the other day for a 1:200 scale diecast model of a United 744 with the main 'United' logo replaced with the original United Friendship graphic and it was billed as the farewell livery. Is this actually gonna happen ?

Yes

V/F

MBSDALHOU · Fri Oct 13, 2017 4:26 pm

That’s a really nice video they created and the nod to Continental is quite nice! However that Friendship sticker on the 747 with the blue globe just looks wrong. It’s like 2 planes got squashed together and they called it good. I have to give them credit for effort but the execution is off. But great video!

MrBretz · Fri Oct 13, 2017 5:26 pm

Thanks for the video. It is wonderful.

PI4EVER · Fri Oct 13, 2017 6:51 pm

Related articles mention the Nov 7 2017 farewell flight from SFO can be booked on united.com but it does not show on the schedule.
I assume the flight has already sold out and this flight possibly removed from the website display?
A related article even noted the upstairs would not be sold so everyone could visit this popular area during the flight.
Whine and kick furniture tantrum! I wanna' go........
I had the pleasure of my first UA 747 flight from SFO to HNL in the early 70's. Flew IAD-SFO-HNL on a DC-8 connecting to the '47.
I remember Trader Vic's themed food service and Primo beer served by F/A's in muumuus with Don Ho music playing in the background.
Thanks United for fond memories of memorable trips to that beautiful place.

barney captain · Fri Oct 13, 2017 7:04 pm

Video of her performance at SF Fleet Week -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlo9aFWLUzs

ILNFlyer · Fri Oct 13, 2017 7:22 pm

PI4EVER wrote:
Related articles mention the Nov 7 2017 farewell flight from SFO can be booked on united.com but it does not show on the schedule.
I assume the flight has already sold out and this flight possibly removed from the website display?
A related article even noted the upstairs would not be sold so everyone could visit this popular area during the flight.
Whine and kick furniture tantrum! I wanna' go........
I had the pleasure of my first UA 747 flight from SFO to HNL in the early 70's. Flew IAD-SFO-HNL on a DC-8 connecting to the '47.
I remember Trader Vic's themed food service and Primo beer served by F/A's in muumuus with Don Ho music playing in the background.
Thanks United for fond memories of memorable trips to that beautiful place.

I believe I read somewhere that the flight sold out in under 2 hours.

NDiesel · Fri Oct 13, 2017 7:31 pm

Thanks for posting this! That last fly-by scene with the poignant music made me a little emotional... What a ship.

Aptivaboy · Fri Oct 13, 2017 7:54 pm

If only the 747-8 had come along just a few years earlier. Maybe, just maybe, the Queen would be flying in regular passenger service here in the USA for many more years.

VirginFlyer · Fri Oct 13, 2017 8:22 pm

VirginFlyer wrote:
JannEejit wrote:
I'm sure I saw an ad the other day for a 1:200 scale diecast model of a United 744 with the main 'United' logo replaced with the original United Friendship graphic and it was billed as the farewell livery. Is this actually gonna happen ?

Yes

V/F

I've just seen that as well as N121UA, N118UA has received the same treatmeant:

V/F

United787 · Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:28 pm

Love it! Farewell to the Queen, she will be missed. Glad to hear a familiar Chicago voice, Bill Kurtis.

Super80Fan · Sat Oct 14, 2017 12:49 am

I know a great tribute United (and Delta) can do for the 747... keep them in service. Everything else is hogwash.

VirginFlyer · Sat Oct 14, 2017 12:57 am

Super80Fan wrote:
I know a great tribute United (and Delta) can do for the 747... keep them in service. Everything else is hogwash.

When would you propose they should retire them, presuming they can't remain in service forever?

V/F

ER757 · Sat Oct 14, 2017 1:03 am

Thanks for posting - that was wonderful - I even got a little misty-eyed watching it.
I had the pleasure of flying ORD/LAX on CO (as mentioned in the video) as my first flight on the Queen back in 1973. I remember going up the the observation deck in LAX to watch it depart on its way to HNL - very special memory.

STT757 · Sat Oct 14, 2017 1:04 am

Great video, love the nod to Continental.

Super80Fan · Sat Oct 14, 2017 1:04 am

VirginFlyer wrote:
Super80Fan wrote:
I know a great tribute United (and Delta) can do for the 747... keep them in service. Everything else is hogwash.

When would you propose they should retire them, presuming they can't remain in service forever?

V/F

Give them another 5-10 years of service, and order some 747-8's as their replacements. Not going to happen, but I can wish.

VC10er · Sat Oct 14, 2017 1:20 am

UNITED=747 in my mind. It will be very sad not to see them or fly them anymore. I used to LOVE sitting in 1A in First and look out both windows on take off from SFO. AMAZING! Once I sat next to Michael Phelps on my way to Singapore...nice guy. And while I know they are far from great inside, United kept them so clean and sparkling from the outside. Especially the chrome around the engines.
When the woman at the end started crying, so did I.

TheFlyingDisk · Sat Oct 14, 2017 1:22 am

"There's nothing as beautiful as a 747" - I absolutely totally agree.

ACCS300 · Sat Oct 14, 2017 2:03 am

No United 747, past or present, looked better than those wearing the Saul Bass 'tulip' livery, so glad they had some footage in this video.

VC10er · Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:09 am

ACCS300 wrote:
No United 747, past or present, looked better than those wearing the Saul Bass 'tulip' livery, so glad they had some footage in this video.

While a bit embarrassing I bought the beach towel with the Saul Bass and Battleship liveries... then bought a PERFECT model (metal) of a United 747-100 with Saul Bass livery for my office. It was a total act of regression, so I could recede back to when I was young and starting to make my way into important meetings around the world- I had a friend who worked at UA in their NYC sales office and he’d always get me into First Class...I was overcome by the luxury. Of course this was all I knew, it would be years before I flew on more luxurious airlines, but United 747s hold a very dear spot in my heart. (As do the 767s)

BlueSky1976 · Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:59 am

It's about time the 747 went away. Good riddance. Out with the old, in with the new.

barney captain · Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:03 am

VC10er wrote:
ACCS300 wrote:
No United 747, past or present, looked better than those wearing the Saul Bass 'tulip' livery, so glad they had some footage in this video.

While a bit embarrassing I bought the beach towel with the Saul Bass and Battleship liveries... then bought a PERFECT model (metal) of a United 747-100 with Saul Bass livery for my office. It was a total act of regression, so I could recede back to when I was young and starting to make my way into important meetings around the world- I had a friend who worked at UA in their NYC sales office and he’d always get me into First Class...I was overcome by the luxury. Of course this was all I knew, it would be years before I flew on more luxurious airlines, but United 747s hold a very dear spot in my heart. (As do the 767s)

Not embarrassing at all, and a beautiful tribute with a wonderful backstory.

Thank you for sharing.

I get emotional every time I watch the farewell video. I have been lucky enough to ride in seat 1A, in the cockpit jumpseat, and to watch her final performance at the SF Fleet Week. I also remember as a ramp agent in PHX, seeing a Junebug green 744 parked in the blazing sun right next to where I worked. They were doing heat soak tests on the very first 744 built. It seems like yesterday, and The Queen - at least in my eyes - will never be surpassed.

barney captain · Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:06 am

BlueSky1976 wrote:
It's about time the 747 went away. Good riddance. Out with the old, in with the new.

A completely classless comment.

Disgusting actually - especially given the venue.

LoganTheBogan · Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:19 am

BlueSky1976 wrote:
It's about time the 747 went away. Good riddance. Out with the old, in with the new.

I agree. I never really liked the 747 and I'm glad it's being replaced with the 787, 777 and A350. I do understand the emotion behind it's retirement though. Congrats to United and Boeing for this wonderful achievement.

jayunited · Sat Oct 14, 2017 2:40 pm

ACCS300 wrote:
No United 747, past or present, looked better than those wearing the Saul Bass 'tulip' livery, so glad they had some footage in this video.

I liked the Saul Bass tulip livery as well for me my absolute favorite livery on the 747 was the battleship grey. When that aircraft was freshly painted not faded the battleship grey on the 747 was a great livery. I loved it.

Ziyulu · Sat Oct 14, 2017 3:11 pm

I don't understand why so many don't like the 747. You have 3-4-3 seating in a wider cabin than a 777, which also has 3-4-3 seating.

friendlyskies22 · Sat Oct 14, 2017 3:30 pm

No UA 744 to an aviation museum?
.
Sad...........

JannEejit · Sat Oct 14, 2017 3:50 pm

Watched and listened as one flew over my head in the cruise this morning just slightly south west of GLA in Scotland enroute from San Francisco to Frankfurt. Moments later I listened as a Virgin Atlantic's G-VROM, took off from GLA, a mile away, bound for Florida. It'll be sad when these days are over.

nitepilot79 · Sat Oct 14, 2017 4:11 pm

At least we will have memories of the days when airplanes didn't look like something out of an '80s spoof flick.

Flighty · Sat Oct 14, 2017 4:34 pm

United would be smart to circulate this to the general public as much as possible.

The romance of travel and the cultural impact of the 747 are key to United branding. It is like, you know, Bentley's racing history in the 1920s. This "DNA" affects brand attractiveness and loyalty today.

United operated 747 globally for many years, affecting many lives. To me that is the essence of the United brand. It's not only about us av geeks.

workhorse · Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:30 pm

I would happily jump on this bandwagon of collective emotion and celebration if it wasn't for what these iconic jumbos are replaced with. The movie is nice but the thought about the boring sardine cans that are now going to fly UA's most prestigious routes kind of spoils the pleasure.

Falcon Flyer · Sat Oct 14, 2017 10:23 pm

Any details on the rumored employee flights at LAX 10/16-17?

nitepilot79 · Sun Oct 15, 2017 11:27 am

Flighty wrote:
United would be smart to circulate this to the general public as much as possible.

The romance of travel and the cultural impact of the 747 are key to United branding. It is like, you know, Bentley's racing history in the 1920s. This "DNA" affects brand attractiveness and loyalty today.

United operated 747 globally for many years, affecting many lives. To me that is the essence of the United brand. It's not only about us av geeks.

Getting tougher and tougher to be a purist, but not so much at all when it comes to brand, just the airplane. Personally speaking.

tpaewr · Sun Oct 15, 2017 1:00 pm

BlueSky1976 wrote:
It's about time the 747 went away. Good riddance. Out with the old, in with the new.

Do you also go to funerals and talk sh*t about the person that has pasted away in front of their family?

cathay747 · Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:32 pm

VirginFlyer wrote:
VirginFlyer wrote:
JannEejit wrote:
I'm sure I saw an ad the other day for a 1:200 scale diecast model of a United 744 with the main 'United' logo replaced with the original United Friendship graphic and it was billed as the farewell livery. Is this actually gonna happen ?

Yes

V/F

I've just seen that as well as N121UA, N118UA has received the same treatmeant:

V/F

One thing about this however...historically it's inaccurate because when UA introduced the 747, that was not the livery...it was (as shown in one frame of the EXCELLENT video) the livery with the thin red strip and just "United" titling...the "747 Friend Ship" with the 4 stars came later along with the broader red stripe, known to many as the "Stars & Bars" livery.

And yes, the nod to CO was excellent...flew MANY of those as my dad worked for CO back then when we lived in CHI; just wish I remembered it all better (I was quite young).

cathay747 · Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:35 pm

PI4EVER wrote:
I remember Trader Vic's themed food service and Primo beer served by F/A's in muumuus with Don Ho music playing in the background.
Thanks United for fond memories of memorable trips to that beautiful place.

CO's 747 flights ORD-LAX-HNL were catered by Don the Beachcomber...if only I remembered it all better. And I remember too the UA 747 Royal Hawaiian flights, as you said with the female FA's in the muumuu's and the guys in white pants and aloha shirts. Man, those were the days.

PPVLC · Sun Oct 15, 2017 4:14 pm

BlueSky1976 wrote:
It's about time the 747 went away. Good riddance. Out with the old, in with the new.

You're not cool, sir, no you're not.

VirginFlyer · Sun Oct 15, 2017 7:03 pm

cathay747 wrote:
VirginFlyer wrote:
VirginFlyer wrote:
Yes

V/F

I've just seen that as well as N121UA, N118UA has received the same treatmeant:

V/F

One thing about this however...historically it's inaccurate because when UA introduced the 747, that was not the livery...it was (as shown in one frame of the EXCELLENT video) the livery with the thin red strip and just "United" titling...the "747 Friend Ship" with the 4 stars came later along with the broader red stripe, known to many as the "Stars & Bars" livery.

I imagine the intention wasn't so much about showing the original titles as showing the 747 Friend Ship titles.

V/F

787fan8 · Sun Oct 15, 2017 8:52 pm

It's always sad to see the Queen retired, regardless of what airline it is.

Seeing United retire their 747's makes me dread the upcoming retirement of Delta's 747's even more.

ER757 · Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:11 pm

cathay747 wrote:
PI4EVER wrote:
I remember Trader Vic's themed food service and Primo beer served by F/A's in muumuus with Don Ho music playing in the background.
Thanks United for fond memories of memorable trips to that beautiful place.

CO's 747 flights ORD-LAX-HNL were catered by Don the Beachcomber...if only I remembered it all better. And I remember too the UA 747 Royal Hawaiian flights, as you said with the female FA's in the muumuu's and the guys in white pants and aloha shirts. Man, those were the days.

And CO had the "coach pub" too. Those were the days, indeed.

My best memory of a flight on a UA 747 was ORD/HNL when I had enough miles for a first class upgrade and we sat upper deck. It was almost like having a private plane.
After my trip in coach on the same route a year before, I couldn't believe how much more quickly the nine plus hours seemed to go by upstairs.

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