Farewell 747 a personal tribute

[atuk]

Yes it’s a sad farewell to passenger operations of the Boeing 747; the only exceptions being the new Series800 machines of Air China, Korean Air and Lufthansa.

My own first trip on The Queen of the Skies was a single sector from PIK to STN on the late, not lamented, Highland Express ( Excuse) in 1987. The following year I took my first ever long haul flight to KUL from LHR with Malaysian Airlines System (MAS) via CDG and DXB. It was a Rolls Royce powered series 200 with the return journey being on a series 300.

The next was in Cathay Pacific in 1990 from LGW to HKG via BAH and DXB due to tensions pre 1990 Gulf War. The return journey was a series 200 of Thai International from the old BKK to LHR via HEL.

Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of an elderly UA series 100 from IAD to SFO in 1993, a UA series 400 from IAD to LHR in 2005, BA and QF 400s to HKG and then SYD with a SIN-FRA return in 1997, BA again from LHR to MIA in 2008, - the worst ever airport visited in the USA, another BA 400 from LAS to LHR 2017, another MH series 400 from LHR to KUL and return in 1999.

As the years progressed long haul flights were on Mr Boeing’s 777 - in fact Mrs C even watched Apollo 13 on board an early UA flight from IAD to LHR in 1995. 777-200s gave way to 777-300s; a real gentleman’s aircraft the favourite for Mrs C however my own personal favourite is the opposition’s Airbus A350XWB.

The Queen of the Skies May be casting off her crown but it is with distinction, a veteran which revolutionised long haul flying and leaves long lasting fond memories.

[dav3]

nice post,never flew in one.only long haul types for me were in BA 777-200 and A.380.at least we will get to see them in freighter form for years to come.

[Allen McL]

Boarded one at LHR, but never left terra firma on one. And I was in the midst of hatching a plan with a BA pal to make a history film on the subject in the lead up to the planned retirement in 2024 but alas between the current Covid debacle bringing the type out of service early and the state of employee relations at BA just now, that's very unlikely to happen.

[GKirk]

Flew on G-BDHX MAN-TFS European 742
G-CIVF LHR-DME BA 744
G-BYGA DME-LHR BA 744

Glad I got to fly on them

[Aerecosse]

Many an enjoyable flight spent aboard the 'Queen of the sky'....from what I recall... started when I was just 13 and my first ever flight.... Northwest Orient 747 from PIK to JFK via Shannon (that stupid bloody stop)... same back. When I was old enough to go myself.... enjoyed BA from LHR to LA & back from SFO. Qantas from CDG to Perth via SIN... back from SYD. Malaysian from LHR to SYD via KUL and back. Qantas from LHR to SYD via BKK and same back. BA LHR to JNB and back again......followed by Qantas to SYD then Qantas from BNE to LA via AKL followed by BA from SEA to LHR. BA again from LHR to SEA and back then ANZ from LHR to LA and back again. LH from FRA to SIN and back again.... sure there's been a few others but enjoyed each and everyone!

[malcolm380]

end of an era, for sure, I've managed a few flights on 747s..... PanAm LHR-MIA-LHR(-121), BA LHR-JFK-LHR (136), BA LHR-YYZ-LHR (-136), BA YMX-LHR-YMX (-436), BA 2x LHR-PHL-LHR (-436), BA 2x LHR-IAD-LHR (-436), and most memorably Alitalia MXP-MIA-MXP (-243). Not my favourite long haul aircraft to be honest; that award goes to the 767.

[big ears]

My best flight was from Hong Kong to London. Old Hong Kong airport - took off in the dark with ships visible from the windows on both sides of the plane as the runway is built out into the sea. Was a scarey take off. They reserved two seats in the middle of the aircraft for Government couriers near to en emergency exit, with nothing in front or behind. There was only one Courier, and I managed to get the second seat which levelled to almost a bed after a slight stushie with an English family, but nothing to do with me, I hasten to add. The Stewardess was "Big Hilda from Bellshill" Having enquired as to my tipple, she brought me a little box with 4 x Bacardis, 4 coke mixers and 2 packets of nuts. Hide them she said, and just take what you get from the trolley and smile. It was a 14 hour flight and I think I slept for about 8 of them.... The courier, took out a Lone Ranger maske from his hand luggage and a pair of slippers, and with his briefcase securely handcuffed to his wrist, also went to sleep. This would be around 1996 when I visited a cousin in Oz and was on the way home.....

[Bearsden]

A quick extract from my log shows 193:35 hours on 28 B747 flights
B747 193:35 (28)
C-FDJC 26:45 (5) Amsterdam-Cairo-Abu Dhabi-Singapore // Bangkok-Abu Dhabi-Paris CDG operating for Garuda in 1990
G-AWNL 5:30 (1) First B747 flight in 1981 Toronto-Prestwick
G-BNLL 7:55 (1)
G-BNLS 14:50 (2) Last B747 flight in 2012 London Heathrow-Chicago O'Hare
G-BNLW 9:25 (1)
G-BYGC 10:25 (1)
G-CIVC 7:35 (1)
G-CIVE 6:30 (1)
G-CIVN 6:25 (1)
G-CIVX 10:40 (1)
G-CIVY 11:05 (1)
G-CIVZ 7:30 (1)
N621US 7:00 (2)
PH-BUK 7:10 (1)
PH-BUL 7:50 (1)
VH-EBR 20:05 (3) London Heathrow-Bahrain-Singapore-Sydney (luckily in business)
ZK-NZX 24:05 (3) Sydney-Auckland-Los Angeles-London Gatwick (back to back in economy!)
ZK-NZY 2:50 (1)

[Skytrance]

Only flew on SQ's 747 - 400 from LHR - SIN and return in 1997 always thought i would get one more flight before they retired sadly it's not to be.

[PiperOne]

First 747 flight was 40 years ago this Saturday, on N93106 of TWA from LHR to Boston, my first trip to the US. The return featured one of their 747SP-31s, N57203 from LAX to BOS, a really sporty departure and straight climb to FL430. Next trip was 5 years later, with a roundtrip from GLA to TFS on Iberia's EC-BRQ, outbound in first class in the front cabin.

A total of 20 Jumbo flights in total over these 40 years, including DUB-SNN in 30 minutes, and the last trip was November 2019 from LAX back to LHR with BA.

The 747 has been a superb people mover over the years, and is a hard act to replace. Fortunately freight versions will be around for a bit longer, but I do have to agree with the comment above that the 767 is a much nicer machine.