45 Years of the Boeing 747

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  Feb 09, 2014 11:23 PM GMT

  On February 9th, 1969, the Boeing 747 took to the skies for the very first time from Paine Field, i.e. Boeing Field, in Seattle and with it, aviation and travel changed forever.
  
  In my opinion, the Boeing 747 is one of the most beautiful airplanes ever built along with the Boeing 777 and Airbus A340.
  
  
  
  Notable operators of the Boeing 747 include (current and past):
  United Airlines
  British Airways
  Japan Airlines
  Iberia
  Air France
  Lufthansa
  TAAG Angola
  Delta Air Lines
  American Airlines
  Sabena Belgian
  Alitalia
  Thai Airways International
  Korean Air
  Air Canada
  Cathay Pacific
  Iraqi Airways
  Iran Air

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• thadjock
  
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  Feb 09, 2014 11:53 PM GMT

  amazing plane, especially upper deck on trans continental flights.

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  Feb 10, 2014 2:21 AM GMT

  southbeach1500 said

  thadjock saidamazing plane, especially upper deck on trans continental flights.

  
  
  It's been quite a while since the 747 has been used on transcons, unfortunately.

  
  
  United will sometimes use a B747 but that is almost always as a last-minute substitution. I've only been on one domestic B747 fight, from ORD to SFO on United. The only for sure country that I know of that has, soon to be had, domestic B747 flights is Japan on ANA; but ANA is phasing out the B747 from the end of next month I believe. China may have domestic B747 flights on Air China but they do have them on the A380.
  
  However, here in the USA, wide body service can most definitely be had on the B777, B767, and A330 from most, if not all, of the major airline hubs, particularly ATL-LAX, MIA-LAX, LAX-IAD, JFK-LAX/SFO, PHL-CLT, DTW-LAX, ORD-SFO.
  
  I'm hoping to catch a ride on one, in either biz or first class in the nose, while in Asia later this year before the opportunity is gone forever.

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  Feb 10, 2014 2:34 AM GMT

  More interesting, fun information.
  
  
  The B747 entered commercial service with Pan-Am on January 21st 1970 on the popular and highly profitable JFK-LHR route. The plane was named "Juan Trippe" after former Pan-Am chief executive Juan Trippe, which was christened with champagne by former First Lady Pat Nixon on January 19th, 1970 at IAD.
  
  http://carl-leonard.com/2014/01/22/the-boeing-747-clipper-young-america-flew-its-maiden-voyage-from-new-yorks-john-f-kennedy-international-airport-to-london-heathrow-airport-today-in-1970-now-we-know-em/
  
  http://www.eturbonews.com/13990/boeing-747-ushered-new-era-luxury-travel
  
  
  The "Juan Trippe" is now languishing in South Korea waiting to be restored to its rightful honor.
  
  http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/06/world/la-fg-korea-plane-20101207

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  Feb 10, 2014 2:35 AM GMT

  
  and movies!
  
  
  

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• thadjock
  
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  Feb 10, 2014 3:54 AM GMT

  southbeach1500 said
  
  
  It's been quite a while since the 747 has been used on transcons, unfortunately.

  
  
  this isn't true, i flew british airways SFO to LHR on a 747 last summer.
  
  

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• kew1
  
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  Feb 10, 2014 8:17 AM GMT

  thadjock saidamazing plane, especially upper deck on trans continental flights.

  
  
  Not all flights,JAL used it as economy and I spent 12 hours wedged into a front seat up against the cockpit bulkhead unable to move my legs.
  Clive Irving's book wide body was interesting, the story of the design of the 747.

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  Feb 11, 2014 2:13 AM GMT

  I got to fly a 747 upstairs!! UA in the 80s

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  Feb 18, 2014 9:09 AM GMT

  Qantas still use the 747 sydney to los angeles, sometimes sydney Hong kong.

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  Feb 18, 2014 2:17 PM GMT

  I loved the 747 when I was a kid. But recently I had the chance to fly in the Airbus A380, and it was really amazing. I just couldn't believe how big it was.

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• thadjock
  
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  Feb 18, 2014 7:00 PM GMT

  i want to time travel to the 60s when swanky shit like this was happening on regular commercial flights:
  
  
  
  
  any old timers here actually experience this kind of travel or are these just public relations pics for adverts?
  
  

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• thadjock
  
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  Feb 19, 2014 2:19 AM GMT

  according to pics, they used to do a coach lounge on the forward part under the cockpit too:
  
  

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• ChicagoSteve
  
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  Feb 19, 2014 3:21 AM GMT

  I don't remember the 747 lounges as I was too young back then, but I liked the 747 especially in the 90s when I flew in Business Class in the upper deck on Swissair from Chicago-Zurich and then several times between Chicago-San Francisco on United. It was like your own little world up there on the upper deck, really nice.

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• thadjock
  
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  Feb 19, 2014 4:28 PM GMT

  according to the article this was on a 747 but it's not upper deck so it must have been main cabin forward? seems like the tiger lounge was famous in it's day.
  
  

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  Feb 20, 2014 5:53 AM GMT

  First of all, as native son of Renton Washington (class of 85) where during class we would halt activites when they would fire up the pratt and whitney, rolls royce, and GE engines- may I tell you that Paine Field is in Everett. Boeing Field is the just south of the city along the Duwamish waterway and its also called by us, Plant 2. Renton is Plant 3, and Kent is known as "black box" cuz its where they make the Cruise Missles and now a lot of drones. Paine Field, (Everett, WA, Snohomish County) is the home of the 747, 777, and the end of the run of the 767 which originated in Renton along with the 757. But, as you would not know, the runway is so short that when a 737 (and before that a 727 and 707) left, it could never return. There was enough room to take off, but not enough to land without sliding into Lake Washington. As a kid, we would go Coulon Park at the mouth of the Cedar river to "say goodbye to the jets" as they flew off.
  
  So, with all that said, its is horrific that you could utter the words Boeing (the makers of the greatest airplanes on earth) and AirBus in the same sentence. Shame, shame, a great Seahawks shame upon you.
  
  If you are to speak of commercial aircraft, know this. Either you are WITH Boeing, or you are against us. And if you are, we will bury you. And here is another thing you should know. We Seattleites actually do (some of us) check the seating charts when we book. If it ain't a 737 (I love the 900 ER) or at least Boeing - we will look for another flight that is. Personally, I ain't flyin that shit.

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  Feb 21, 2014 12:32 AM GMT

  I think by the 80s when I was on one they had terminated these public places and replaced them with revenue seats.

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• ChicagoSteve
  
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  Feb 21, 2014 3:07 AM GMT

  southbeach1500 said

  outwest saidIf it ain't a 737 (I love the 900 ER) or at least Boeing - we will look for another flight that is. Personally, I ain't flyin that shit.

  
  
  How do ya feel about the 757?

  
  
  In the 4 years I was a Flight Attendant I worked both the 757-200 and 757-300. I hated the 757-200, the airline that I worked for had all coach configuration and that plane was really cramped and the rows were jammed in. The 757-300's were factory brand new and were beautiful, all leather seats, a great airplane, it was like working in a luxury Cadillac!
  My favorite airplane was, and always will be the 727. The airline I flew for had them the first 2 years I was flying before they were retired and we could bid our schedules by aircraft type so for 2 years I only flew the 727. They are almost all gone now, a few with freight companies but it will always be my favorite airplane. it's a classic!

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  Feb 22, 2014 12:26 PM GMT

  southbeach1500 said

  outwest saidIf it ain't a 737 (I love the 900 ER) or at least Boeing - we will look for another flight that is. Personally, I ain't flyin that shit.

  
  
  How do ya feel about the 757?

  
  
  Loved loved loved. Damn that beast had some juice!! My first 757 was EWR>MCI..Hardly anyone on this late Sat afternoon flight in Jan. 1986.

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• turtleneckjoc...
  
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  Feb 23, 2014 4:39 PM GMT

  
  
  Only 2, maybe 3 arrivals for Virgin Atlantic's 747s here in Orlando. Those days are numbered as I have seen an Airbus 330 (340, perhaps) from them come in from the London area airports. That's it. And yes, the above pic is of an Orlando arrival.
  
  Interesting to read the props on the B757s. To me, and it's just my opinion....that is the most uncomfortable aircraft out there. Nothing wrong with Boeing airliners, however, I find an Airbus product to provide a better flying experience.

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  Feb 23, 2014 8:25 PM GMT

  southbeach1500 said

  NJDewd said

  southbeach1500 said

  outwest saidIf it ain't a 737 (I love the 900 ER) or at least Boeing - we will look for another flight that is. Personally, I ain't flyin that shit.

  
  
  How do ya feel about the 757?

  
  
  Loved loved loved. Damn that beast had some juice!! My first 757 was EWR>MCI..Hardly anyone on this late Sat afternoon flight in Jan. 1986.

  
  
  Ah, that would have been on Eastern Airlines. That was my first 757 ride too. EWR-MCI-LAX 1 stop service. Took that instead of the nonstop just to ride on the "new" 757!
  
  

  
  
  Yes it was!! I loved Eastern!! Isn't that the most beautiful livery!!

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  Feb 26, 2014 1:42 PM GMT

  southbeach1500 said

  thadjock saidamazing plane, especially upper deck on trans continental flights.

  
  
  It's been quite a while since the 747 has been used on transcons, unfortunately.

  
  
  Qantas uses the 747-400 in the route Sydney - Santiago (SYD-SCL). I'm pretty sure the two cities are in two different continents. Haha

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• thadjock
  
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  Feb 26, 2014 3:32 PM GMT

  NJDewd said
  
  Yes it was!! I loved Eastern!! Isn't that the most beautiful livery!!

  
  
  from the sublime to the ridiculous:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I feel bad for the planes, i mean maybe the quantas one is kinda cool but pokemon ? really? I think i'd change my flight if that showed up at the gate. haha

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  Mar 04, 2014 5:45 PM GMT

  I was an airline steward with Qantas in the 70's and 80's , and at that time , our entire fleet consisted of 747's , we were the only airline company in the world flying exclusively 747's
  In 1986 , Qantas added B747 300 and also B767 to their fleet .
  
  When Cyclone Tracy devastated the town of Darwin at Christmas 1974, Qantas established a world record for the most people ever embarked on a single aircraft when it evacuated 673 people on a single Boeing 747 flight.
  
  

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