50 Years of the 747
380 may be called the " super jumbo " (arguably) , but on the Queen of the Skies flight deck , sitting 29 feet up there , you looked down on pretty much everybody , 380 included . What was amazing was how quickly one adjusted to this somewhat bizarre situation when manoeuvring on the ground and when landing . As Shakespeare said - " What a piece of work is man ".
The ' hump' for the upper deck helped to achieve a slightly higher mach number due to the famous " area rule " which simply states making the station to staion projected area " curve" as smooth as possible, so the hump slowly provided an increase in the transverse cross section area from the nose to the hump to the wing area.
Paxing All Over The World
Last year, on a trip to South Africa, I ensured I returned JNB-FRA on LH's 748. Upstairs in C - well worth it. Friends gave me a key fob from V-FAB, Lady Penelope. And I have been on: -100, -200, -300, SP, -400, -800. But no freighters!
I’ve flown in the -100s to -400s, including the SP. My last flight was on an EVA 400 last November. I don’t imagine I will be flying on one again.
The first time I saw one was at Heathrow in either 1969 or 1970. We had gone to meet my Dad who was flying back from Rome. We went to the viewing gallery (as you did in those days). While we were watching Dad’s Alitalia DC-9 taxiing by, a BOAC 747 was being towed westwards on an outer taxiway. It dwarfed the DC-9. I don’t know why it was being towed, as BOAC were not yet operating them - BALPA were in dispute with management about how much extra the pilots should be paid!
A QANTAS pilot friend of mine told me that once, on an SP ferry flight, they “accidentally” did a full-power takeoff. He said the deck angle and rate-of-climb were phenomenal.
In 1985, my kids, who were seasoned world-travelers due to my peripatetic career in the oil industry, had their first flight in a 737. We walked down the jetway at Singapore and through the door. My six-year old son looked around and said “Dad, where’s the spiral-staircase?”
The first time I saw one was at Heathrow in either 1969 or 1970. We had gone to meet my Dad who was flying back from Rome. We went to the viewing gallery (as you did in those days). While we were watching Dad’s Alitalia DC-9 taxiing by, a BOAC 747 was being towed westwards on an outer taxiway. It dwarfed the DC-9. I don’t know why it was being towed, as BOAC were not yet operating them - BALPA were in dispute with management about how much extra the pilots should be paid!
A QANTAS pilot friend of mine told me that once, on an SP ferry flight, they “accidentally” did a full-power takeoff. He said the deck angle and rate-of-climb were phenomenal.
In 1985, my kids, who were seasoned world-travelers due to my peripatetic career in the oil industry, had their first flight in a 737. We walked down the jetway at Singapore and through the door. My six-year old son looked around and said “Dad, where’s the spiral-staircase?”
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Way back in the mid-70s I discovered that SAA put one of their SPs on the JNB -Durban run every wednesday while the horrible A300 was getting its weekly service. Guess which day I always tried to schedule my Durban meetings.....
When they incorporated the stretched upper deck for the 747-300 (and later the -400), the longer upper deck improved the area ruling enough that it compensated for the increased weight of the upper deck. In fact KLM had the longer upper deck retrofit to their 747-200s - and was pleasantly surprised to find it didn't affect the fuel burn at all. They basically got some extra seat miles for no increase in operating costs.
The upper deck was of course more popular for F and J/C seats therefore the resale and re-use values of these two somewhat ''orphan fleets'' was not very good.
The -400 did not suffer from this UD floor issue.
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As a boy, in 1972, I flew on a PanAm 747 from LHR to IAD. I will never forget it. I wish I had the opportunity to actually fly it as a pilot. All the 747 models were beautiful looking airplanes. Contrast that to the flying forehead known as the 380...
copperplace,
An empty VC10 wasn't bad either!!
An empty VC10 wasn't bad either!!
We all have our opinions - & mine doesn’t agree with your’s ! A380 ? Beautiful aeroplane; & so much better to fly in as a passenger.
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I find the 747 most amazing in the story of Robert Buck who started at TWA on the DC-2 and retired as their acceptance Captain on the 747. It is amazing how far and fast aviation moved in those @40yrs.
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Very true and quiet with it. At least inside. Flew from RNO to SFO as one of only two pax on a CRJ, Friday evening with the drivers anxious to get home for the weekend. Memorable!
Sorry for thread drift. Back to scheduled programme.
Sorry for thread drift. Back to scheduled programme.
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An old work buddy told me the Boeing isn't offering the 747-8 passenger version any more (although if someone came in and wanted to buy a bunch I'm sure Boeing would reconsider...), but I'm guessing the -8 Freighter will be in production for another decade.
The real question is how much longer will Airbus be willing to throw good money after bad on the A380 - at the current production rate they aren't even selling them for what it costs to build one...
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upper deck disco dance floor
Hello from Mississauga On Canada I have just retired from Air Canada after 38 years as an AME.You could say I was bred for the job as my Mom was one of the first flight attendents for TCA {Loadstar,DC-3 North star } and my Dad was a pilot with TCA {DC-3 Northstar Super Conni Bristol Freighter Vicount Vanguard DC-8 }. When I was about 14 years old my Dad told us we were going to Paris for vacation and would be flying on the brand new B-747. Our family got seats in the front end and the head pursuer was an old family friend .We were served Roast beef from a huge roast on a trolly carved with a huge carving knife and fork.Next the pursuer invited myself and my sister to the upper deck and showed us the stand up bar and the lighted disco dance floor.He had me pick some music for the 8 track and we rocked on!!! But the best was yet to come. My Dad said it was time to visit the flight deck and he warned me to make sure the Captain was looking at me when we talked as he would need to lip read me due to the fact he was almost deaf !!!! Dad went on to explain that the Captain could still pass the medical if he wore a headset. I remember the flight deck was quite tight and my dad and the captain launched into a long conversation. Suddenly the co-pilot interrupted with a worried look on his face and my dad said it was time to go back to our seats. We had an engine failure and we had to turn back to Newfoundland. But that's another story !!!!!
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The real question is how much longer will Airbus be willing to throw good money after bad on the A380 - at the current production rate they aren't even selling them for what it costs to build one...
