musman9853 wrote:

I don't think i've met a single person who didn't know what a 747 was. And that's really impressive.

The 747 changed human life forever. It made it possible for regular people to travel the globe. This was an unforgettable thought, and a wonderfully expressive design that really stuck with people.

It was also just deeply shocking to people that such a big piece of metal can fly. And the 747 flew gracefully.

Yes, the A380 may be quieter, the 787 may have better cabin air, but the 747 will always be the plane that made modern, cheap air travel possible, all while being a one-of-a-kind design, unmistakeable, the Queen forever.

I've been lucky to have logged over 30 flights since childhood on 747s of all passenger types, except the -300 and the SP:

-100: PanAm, TWA, SABENA, Metro International (a short-lived Flying Tigers subsidiary in the early 80s)
-200: KLM (non-SUD), Lufthansa
-400: Lufthansa, Singapore (19 flights, including on 9V-SMU)
-800: Lufthansa (including retro-bird D-ABYT)

I've only been on the queen 3 times. The first was a round trip 747-100 flights from JFK-LHR and back in 1975 when I was 13. It was an amazing experience for a kid. I also flew from FCO-JFK in 1980 on a Pan Am 747-100.

Long live the queen.

steeler83 wrote:

I would love to sell my soul to fly on a 747! I would have liked to have had an opportunity to fly on an MD11, but I think that ship sailed.

Well you don't actually need to sell ''your soul'' to fly on a B747 as there are still quite a lot of them flying so just get your credit card out and book a flight on one before it's too late because you have definitely missed the opportunity to fly on an MD11

Well considering that a lot of posters are reminiscing their flights on the B747 I'll give in and post mine.

Aer Lingus

B741 DUB-JFK

British Airways

B741 LHR-JFK-LHR(2 times)

B742 LHR-BOM(one way)
LHR-JFK-LHR(4 times

B744 LHR-DXB-LHR
LHR-HKG
LHR-JFK-LHR(8 times
LHR-LAX-LHR
LHR-MIA-LHR
LHR-NRT-LHR
LHR-SFO-LHR
LHR-SIN-LHR
LHR-YVR-LHR
LHR-YYZ-LHR

Cathay Pacific

B744 HKG-LGW

Garuda Indonesia

B742 SYD-MEL-DPS-CGK
CGK-SIN-AUH-FRA-LGW

Pan Am

B741 JFK-LHR

South African Airways

B743 LHR-JNB-DUR

TWA Trans World Airlines

B741 LHR-JFK-LHR

Virgin Atlantic Airways

B744 LGW-BGI-LGW
B744 LHR-EWR
B744 SFO-LHR

That's a total of 65 flights on the ''Queen of the skies''. I personally didn't realise it's so many, I feel rather proud of myself, it's far too late for the B747SP so I should really get myself on a Lufthansa B748 sometime

I have been a 747 fan since it first flew, and longed to fly on one. During my career as an engineer I flew occasionally for work, but only domestically and hence no 747s. But a high point for me was being in DTW very shortly after the introduction of the 744 and seeing one (NW) at the terminal I was in. I did fly to Europe in 1989, but my budget dictated the cheapest flight I could find, and that was not a 747 (it actually was a DC-8). I did not go to Europe again until 2005, and that was on a trip to London for me and my wife (not the one in my profile picture). Since the trip was a gift from my brother, who was working in London at the time, I did not get to choose the flight and flew on an AA 777. Well, then after my wife died and I got engaged to a young Filipina I was needing to go to the Philippines, and this time it happened that I got on a Delta flight and flew on a 744 DTW-NGO-MNL. The next time I went I flew EVA, but they were using a 74M from TPE to MNL, and I even got an upper deck seat. The next time I went I stayed 6 months, and flew EVA again. I rode the 74M again TPE-MNL, but by the time I returned (this time with my fiancée) they had retired all of their passenger 747s. But I am grateful that I was able to catch as many as I did in their twilight years.

hinckley wrote:

LH707330 wrote:

Some SUDs (the 200s for KLM and AF) were retrofits.

So were other SUDs direct from factory?

LH707330 wrote:

Also, to add to your list:
747-200B

Weren't all -200s 'B' models?

The factory-direct SUDs were called "747-300" There was basically no difference between the KLM SUDs and the 300s.

Not all 200s were B models, IIRC some of the earlier ones had lower MTOWs. In 1971, Boeing launched the 200F, and backported the reinforcements into the pax version to get the 200B.

PC12Fan wrote:

Iconic and impressive she is - even in the winter of her life. The folks that developed her never dreamed of the things the Queen would accomplish outside of her designed role. Carrying U.S Presidents, other distinguished world leaders, transporting Space Shuttles, housing a telescope, carrying over 1,000 people on a special mission, and even breaking the sound barrier (unintentionally of course but she survived).

Yea, her passengers carrying days are numbered, but the Queen will be around for a good long time. Enjoy the original Jumbo folks, there won't be another like her.

Long live the Queen.

And she’s been an (experimental) airborne laser (YAL-1).

[quote="hinckley”]
747-400ER (Extended Range. QF only?)
[/quote]

Korean Air had -400ERs didn’t they?

Flyingdevil737 wrote:

[quote="hinckley”]
747-400ER (Extended Range. QF only?)
[/quote]

Korean Air had -400ERs didn’t they?[/quote]

Qantas was the only airline to take passenger 747-400ERs, receiving 6.

40 747-400ERFs were delivered. Korean Air took 8, with others going to Air France (2), Altavair (6), Cathay Pacific (6), China Cargo (2), GECAS (2), ILFC (3), Jade Cargo (6), KLM (3), and LoadAir Cargo (2).

V/F

I flew 40 hours FAA Certifying the engines on the first 747 in 1969 as a Boeing Senior Propulsion Engineer. Also I worked as a Lead Engineer on the 747-400. I was in Final assembly on Section 41 and 42 as an MRB Engineer. I have loved the airplane for 50 years,.

^^^WOW impressive! You probably have the closest relationship with that aircraft here than anyone.

As for me, sadly just a single flight on the Boeing 747, but it was an unexpected one. My wife and I were in Honolulu and our original Delta flight was cancelled, and we were ultimately rebooked on a Delta colors 744 (I think N607US) to ATL then on to ORD in an MD88 or 90 cant remember. Unfortunately I didn't get a window seat, but do remember being just aft of the wings and remember a LOT of vibration just after we got off the ground which scared the crap out of my wife. Even though I have never flown on a 747,I knew the center main bogies were just below us and quickly told her its normal and would go away very quickly as the wheels stopped rotating. I can only imagine I was correct and that it was the very rapid rotation of 8 large tires that had yet to stop before retraction. Caught me off guard as well, but wasn't worried. It was enough for the cabin interior parts to shake and make noise. LOL, Is this common just behind the wings over the mains? Maybe all the tires were out of balance haha.

Beautiful aircraft and luckily I live in a city that still sees plenty of them (ORD).

Great article.

The 747 was the first widebody airplane I flew in as a kid. The routing was OKC-STL-LGA > transfer to JFK > JFK-LHR-BOM. The plane on the JFK-LHR-BOM legs was an Air India 747-200B, with the PW JT9D engines. It really instilled the "fantasy of flight" in me and basically transformed me from being a nervous-nelly to an aviation freak, and remains my favourite airliner to date.

Over the course of flying between India and the States in the 26 some-odd years later, I would be lucky to fly in the 747-100, -200 and -400 on various ocacasions. I am also lucky to have flown in 747s equipped with engines from all three manufacturers (PW JT9D, GE CF6-80 and RR RB 211-524). My latest 747 flights were in the BA 744, and I even got to sit in front of the wing on one of the legs (and see the engines in action - what a treat!).

So here's a recap of my flights in the 74':

747-100 (Air France) | Flew in this only once - in November 1997, BOM-CDG. My first time being at CDG (back when it had three runways). That was also when I flew in the Air France 767-300ER to IAH (my connection), but then I digress. I clearly remember the takeoff roll in this one at BOM. The PF set takeoff power, then released the brakes. I was pinned to the seat back! The characteristic whine of the JT9Ds was also audible as I was sitting near the leading edge of the wing. Only thing was the "window" seat I was in was actually at the spot where there is no window. I had to lean forward a ways to get any view from the window in front! Still enjoyed the flight though.

747-200 (Air India, Lufthansa) | With Air India multiple times in the late '80s/early '90s (AI 101/102, AI 111/112). The 101/102 flights would ply the then-famous BOM-LHR-JFK-LHR-BOM sector, and if memory serves me well, AI 111/112 was the same only with an additional stop at DEL. With LH, back in late 2000/early 2001 (FRA-BOM, BOM-FRA).

747-400 (Lufthansa, British Airways) | With LH, multiple times between FRA and BOM. With BA, the first time, from LHR to BOM and back, early last year.

Hope to continue my 747 travels, now with the 748Is! My favourite airliner, but then again, my username pretty much gives that away.

global2 wrote:

My only regret is never having been able to sit in the very first row in 1st Class (or any row in the front section) to see how close to a forward view you can get from the first window.

The nose of the 747 is my favorite cabin of any aircraft, followed by the upper deck. I have been fortunate to sit in 1A several times. It is a unique experience. Two-three windows and the curvature of the aircraft provide an expansive and slightly forward view. For such a wide aircraft, the passenger across the aisle is pretty close. The cabin is very exclusive and private feeling. And, most importantly and fun,... you are flying ahead of the pilot!

From ages 8 to 18, I flew two SEA-GVA roundtrips per year. (Divorced parents living on two continents.) I flew a wide variety of airlines and routings but the most frequent was BA SEA-LHR-GVA. Every single time, the segments between SEA and LHR were on a 741 or 742B (the former more often than the latter, since SEA-LHR is not that long). I got very familiar with all parts of that cabin, and on one particularly lucky occasion got upgraded to First by a FA who I think was a bit bored. Somehow I found the 747 more reassuring than other aircraft, even as the ones I were flying were quite old and reeked of cigarette smoke 100% of the time, and I was always happy to see one.

I got the chance to fly on a couple of L-1011s, several 767s, and several DC-10s during that period, but always wished for a 747.

Now, oddly enough, it's the 777 that makes me feel the same way. Maybe because I know that the 777 had an uncommonly fortunate development process and has been utterly brilliant over a long career, but somehow I find any flight on a 777 very comforting.

Don't see a thread for the 50th anniversary of the first test flight coming up next month-What was your first 747 flight or interesting anecdote?

Mine was in 1972 Pan Am 747 100 JFK to Rome on a student fare where you bought the round trip ticket for $250./ or so but could not confirm a reservation until 7 days before the flight.

Just for the pleasure: https://youtu.be/V7fh9rIOa-s?t=551

My first 747 flight was in July or November of 2014 as I had to go to my grandfather's funeral in Davao. NRT-MNL on DL.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

My only 747 flights were when Delta ran them between Atlanta and Minneapolis after Thanksgiving a few years ago. Those were all I needed to fall in love. I'm so glad I blew 30,000 SkyMiles to fly one it. Doing so now would be prohibitively expensive.

My first was in March 1999 on a Singapore Airlines -400 from South Africa to New Zealand.

My first flight was December 2018 on LH YVR-FRA. Went out of my way to fly on the 747, beautiful aircraft.

Singapore Airlines- South Africa to New Zealand? Seems a strange routing , was this a charter?

My first 747 flight was July 1973 ORD/LAX on CO

My first was my first trip to the Philippines, August 2013 on DL. Flew Detroit-Narita-Manila on the 747. I have always wanted to fly on one and it had never worked out before. Was so glad to be able to before they disappeared. Return flight was Manila-Tokyo-Seattle. I got to Detroit from New York by regional jet (forgot which one) and then Seattle to New York was on a 757. All subsequent trips have been on 77Ws, although I did get three flights between Manila and Taipei on EVAs 74Ms before they withdrew them in 2015.

My first two 747 flights were in KL series -300 aircraft JFK-AMS-JFK in January 1993. My 3rd and final 747 flight was ORD-SFO in a UA series -400 plane in 1998. I missed out on a flight in a BA series -200 when travel itinerary between Europe and US was changed. Instead I flew in a 767-300. Back then the 747 seemed like it would be flying forever and new opportunities would always be there.

741- Flying Tigers (OAK-ANC-Yakota) July 1988
742- NW (NRT-HNL) July 1992
744- NZ (LAX-LHR) April 2011, BA (DFW-LHR) Mar 2015, Atlas Air (Al Udeid- Ramstein- BWI) June 2017, KL (AMS-YYZ) Feb 2018 (AMS-JFK) Nov 2018
748- LH (IAD-FRA) Mar 2018

Long live the Queen!

While I've seen every 747 variant but the -300 at airports over the years, my only experiences inside of a 747 were in museums. Both the nose of that NWA 741 at the Smithsonian and I walked through N7470 at the Seattle Museum of Flight. I should really book a trip on one while I still can.

March 23, 1980, ORD-JFK on NW. I was shy of 8 years' old and remember the flight as it'd have been today.

AWACSooner wrote:

741- Flying Tigers (OAK-ANC-Yakota) July 1988

On one of their pax configured?

First and only (so far!) 747 flight.
YYC-YVR-HNL and return on a Wardair 747-200 in July 1983.
Chateaubriand was the onboard meal with unlimited drinks. We had the run of the aircraft as it was half empty, and we seated ourselves upstairs. The FA did not care and welcomed us warmly. That was truly the way to fly!

1984 STL - DFW on Transamerica. Remember that they checked in for the flight on the 2nd floor above the main check in hall of STL. Very crowded area to check in a 747. When we got to DFW, sat on the tarmac for well over an hour waiting for another 747 for a foreign carrier (either JAL or Korean) to leave the gate.

April 1979, ZRH-JFK on SR 100 aboard HB-IGA "Genève". At that time, one could visit the cockpit and I was able to spend almost two (2!!!) hours there thanks to captain Gmachel who was also the Chief Pilot at SR/ It was my first time in the USA. A week later, SR 111 JFK-GVA, HB-IGB "Zurich" Capt Meyer. The only flight that mattered more since was flying on F-BVFB in May 1989 (Concorde, AF 002)

Mine was in 2005 from DTW to NRT

1983, I was 14 and on my first international trip with my dad and sisters. It was a Qantas 747-SP from TSV to SIN via DRW, then SFO via HNL (from memory) but that may not have been a 747. I thought I was king of the world! I'll be having my own 50th anniversary this year as well, so the 747 (and moon landings) hold a special place in my heart.

My first 747 flight in 1975: CDG-IAH-MEX and back on AF067/AF066.

I have only been on the 747 twice, both -400s. My first flight was on D-ABTK from DTW to FRA. Second flight was on D-ABVO on the way back. I was allowed to sit in the cockpit on the ground and talk with pilots, as I sat in business class on the upper deck for the flight.

My only 747 flight was between ICN and HKG on one of Korean's oldest 747-400's. To this day, the 747 is still my favorite plane.

First 747-200 flight was LH JFK to FRA, 1974.
First 747-300 flight was SR IAD to ZRH, 1993.
First 747-400 flight was UA SFO to SYD, 2000

All very memorable though as a child I remember not liking the food on LH at the time.

My first flight was a Delta ATL-DAL, most unusual was a coach seat in the upper deck of JAL flight NRT-BKK and the best was seat 1A on CX SFO-HKG.

April 1979. BA 747. Toronto to Heathrow. I think it was a -100, but not sure.

I have the exact date. Is there a way to look up the reg?

SAS B747-100 in 1984. Was originally scheduled to fly Scanair A300B4 GEN (now OSL) -TFS but the A300 had problem with the A/C packs, so we flew at low altitude to CPH where we boarded the beautiful long-haul-configured SAS B747-100 to take us to TFS. Great experience for a 12-year-old plane lover

The Scanair A300B4 had 291 seats and the SAS B747-100 had 381 seats, so plenty of room for everyone. SAS started and owned Scanair, so it was easy for them to do this efficiently.

Have flown the B747-100, -200 and -400 many times - love the Queen of the Skies

August 1, 1970: JAL 747-100 LAX-HNL-TYO That was back when they had issues with the original P&Ws, and our short layover in Honolulu turned into a 5-hour delay. But it was incredible, particularly to a 10 year old making his first oceanic flight.

Since then, every model except the 747-8i, including the SP (QANTAS LAX-SYD), the Combi (KLM LAX-AMS), -200s (NW, UA, TW, and LY) and the odd -300s and -400s. I even got to fly on the rare Delta 747-100 MIA-ATL, and one of American's first 747-100s (the original LuxuryLiners).

My first 747 flight was on a Pan Am aircraft named Maid of the Seas in 1988. It was LHR to JFK.

My first 747 flight was on American Airlines #194 from ORD to DTW in the spring of 1972

Never was able to fly on a 747. By the time I could afford to fly internationally the 747 had left the fleet of major Asian airlines.

But I did manage to pay homage to the first 747, RA001, at the Museum of Flight back in 2016 so at least that's something.

Only been on United B747-400s. Wish I hadn't been on them at all. They were dumps at the time. Walking through the business class cabin after the end of the flight, it was like walking through a rubbish dump. Can't believe how those passengers left it.

I guess the 747s of other airlines might have been a bit better.

SpaceshipDC10 wrote:

AWACSooner wrote:

741- Flying Tigers (OAK-ANC-Yakota) July 1988

On one of their pax configured?

yes it would have been...and it was Yokota, not Yakota.

cpd wrote:

Only been on United B747-400s. Wish I hadn't been on them at all. They were dumps at the time. Walking through the business class cabin after the end of the flight, it was like walking through a rubbish dump. Can't believe how those passengers left it.

I guess the 747s of other airlines might have been a bit better.

Not sure where you flew it but any flight of any length on any aircraft and you walk from back to front and it looks like a dump...that's just many passengers way of thinking: "leave it for someone else" I find it disgusting myself, too.

My first flights on a 747 (specifically the -400) will be in May, on LH from SEA to FRA and back.

My 1st 747 flight was a Thai Airways 747-400 LHR-BKK in May 2005