I was one the lucky pilots who flew the 1st "SP's" in airline service in the mid 70's for Iran Air which along with Pan Am and SAA became the launch customer for this amazing aircraft. The Shah had ordered the P&W -7F engines because of the hot and high altitude of Tehran. We flew this ultra range aircraft on non stop services between JFK and THR. There were many complements from the air traffic controllers around the world not so much for her pudgy looks but for her great performance! Cont.
Nice! I love it when United Airlines flew one of their 747s in the San Francisco Fleet Week air show. Even with the Blue Angels and any other display, the 747 is just so cool when it flies by so low and slow enough to really appreciate it. Thanks for posting the video!
Just an amazing video. Considering this aircraft flew for Braniff, Pan Am, United Airlines and Oman Royal, it is great to see it still flying. What a beautiful bird. Thank you for sharing.
Being blind, I find air shows even more enjoyable when you get to listen to all the audio. Now I'll know the next time I attend an air show, I won't need to ask for so much description!
Very awesome video. I was over there that year but I dont remember seeing the 747 doing its fly-by, I wish i wouldnt have missed it now. The low pass was very cool!!!!!!!
Back when I was working on this aircraft, there was another 747SP getting a paint job in the next hangar over. Pretty rare to see two at once. I think most of them are sitting in boneyards waiting to be reactivated or parted out.
As much as I hate seeing passenger aircraft at an airshow I am amazed at where aircraft engineering has brought us. There is so much power in those aircraft that they can climb almost vertically if they want to.
Definitely one of the coolest things I have ever seen! That was probably my favorite moment of the day. The weather sucked like it always does for this stupid airshow but that definitely made up for it. I got some great pics of this. Thanks for sharing the vid!
747SP ...Special Performance. yes a smaller version of the 747-100. Originally made to try compete with the DC-10 and L-1011 midsize jets of the mid-70s. My son and I attended this airshow. THAT was a treat in itself. God bless the videographer real good cuz the best view is without a video camera! I was depending on the likes of you to post it...LOL!
I remember seeing images of the SP version in magazines when I was a kid...but never saw one fly. Now If Boeing would bring back the 747SP into a special VIP transport or biz jet?
I went yesterday, I have been going now to Miramar for over 8 years and other air shows for the last 20, I love them! However last year it took me over 2 hours to get out of the parking lot when we left. Yesterday it took me exactly 4 hours. 4 FREAKING HOURS!!!!! I was pissed!!!! But then it hit me... I just sat for 4 hours trying to leave this show but these guys have done a hell of a lot longer stint in IRAQ and Afgan.
My dad used to fly this babe when she was owned by the Omani Govt. She was was one of two 747-sps in the fleet. This one was known as Oman 2. Nice to see her fly again.
Re mental age of airshow commentators - I have to agree with you on this one. But I'll do a little plug for NZ. By far the best commentator I heard was at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow in '06. He had the right mix of humour with information, and as the day went on and he had a few local wines under his skin, he just got better! More of his ilk would be an asset to all airshows wherever in the world they be.
@MogaViorel Yea the SP stand for special performance. Its shorter so the less weight the farther it can go. They also have a 747SR for short range thats a 747-100 but with less fuel tanks and more seats. :)
@romeox600 The reason this plane is short is because it is the 747SP. The SP stands for special performance. The shortened fuselage allows it to have longer range and a higher speed. The regular 747 is much longer and better looking in my opinion. The 747SP has smaller engines than the 747-400, which is why it sounds different.
When the Navy was still there, the show was in August, and the reflected heat off the tarmac was in the 120 degree range at times. This message brought to you by Best Buy....
I helped to do the C-check and #1 and #2 engine change on this bird in mid-to-late 2007, back when it was registered as N747FU. Unfortunately, I left the job before it was finished. Good to see it back in the air again.
How much of these are flying still? Last week, I saw one at honolulu int with no markings, just blue and white paint job. It was very strange, yet awesome being that it was the first time I ever saw one.
Most of the 747SP's were purchased brand-new by Pan-Am a few of them were purchased brand-new by TWA. United Airlines acquired all of PanAm's SP's. when UAL bought out PanAm's routes in 1984 and 1985. I flew one of these SP's while flying for United.
It was the first very long range non stop airliner at that time. It was the only jet that could compete with and beat the concord around the world as it did not require refueling. The extended tail height was intended to have the handling characteristics be the same as the standard 747. It was eventually superseded by subsequent 747 full size versions starting at the 747-400 I think.
I looked it up and you are correct. Also, the Pratt & Whitney engined ones originally used the JT9D-7A, -7F, -7FW, or -7J engines... Some, like this one, were retrofitted with later model engines.
@SpeedyNeutrino43 Wake turbulence is at it's highest forces when the aircraft is slow and "dirty" (landing or takeoff). This 747SP had no flaps deployed and appeared to be above 220kts. This situation is typical, think of a KC-10 refueling an F-16. I see it a few times a week as a Center controller.
@bunnyfuss, hi bunny, sorry no- it isnt the one at Bournemouth. the one at Bournemouth belonged to the Qatari's. This particular A/C went to Roswell New Mexico after the Omanis no longer required her service.
You are correct, the only time it looked exactly like just a normal 747 was when it was taxiing in straight in.The way you could tell it was an SP was with the GREEN colored nose light.Guys used to make mistakes all the time and park it on the wrong line.I miss seeing the SP's here in KORD..
The funny thing is that "it's just shorter" over-simplifies it a bit. In order to shorten the thing they had to relocate structural beams, lengthen the horizontal and vertical stabs, reshape the fuselage, change the cargo bays, use plain flaps instead of fowlers, et cetera. The changes were so drastic that the SP has very little in common structurally with a regular 747. Even the engines are a different model than those on other 747s. This all adds up to make the SP a bit of an orphan.
@lst1195 Haha I have no idea. I could be mistaken but I believe the 747SP was developed for it's long-range capabilities. I fly business jets so I know them better but if memory serves I think that's their story.
Without a doubt the flight engineer was reading out the radar altitude during the low pass. From a 747 cockpit it's difficult to judge when to flare during landing - so the radar altimeter tells him exactly how high he is.
Yeah - like the new a380 it looks kinda out of proportion doesn't it? Apparently the a380 wing is designed for the first and second stretches down the track. I think this 747 version was shortened after production had commenced. Awesome vid thanks :-)
@vroomba03 An electronics superstore. Not sure how many there are but there's one here in the Seattle area. Great prices. Whatever you might need, they have it.
NASA has an SP called "SOFIA" (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy). It has been modified to carry a large (100 inch) telescope looking through a hatch on its aft port side, and has recently gone into operation, after years of preparation. Look it up with Google news. It's a joint American-German project, and hopefully will continue flying for many years.
Now this was an era in time when Miramar could put together fantastic air shows. They still put together good air shows, but the shows aren't like the air shows from the 90s and early 00s.
Hmmm I thought it was very dangerous to be lower and behind a heavy aircraft due to wing vortices.... I guess I misunderstood how they work. Great video!
This "Special Performance" version of the 747 was specifically designed for the ultra long range routes and did not have the economical advantage of her younger siblings the 747-400 or the 777-300/200LR. I believe my former employer still operates a couple of the original SP's by cannibalizing the rest of the fleet! For additional technical and historical data contact: Captain Ross Aimer (UAL Ret.) CEO Aviation Experts, LLC
@umakemeugly no its a real 747 doing a some real flybys.it was taken at the mirmar airshow in Mirmar,ca i was there.The same airbase that the movie top gun was filmed.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for the memories Fry's. This was gangsta.
I was one the lucky pilots who flew the 1st "SP's" in airline service in the mid 70's for Iran Air which along with Pan Am and SAA became the launch customer for this amazing aircraft. The Shah had ordered the P&W -7F engines because of the hot and high altitude of Tehran. We flew this ultra range aircraft on non stop services between JFK and THR. There were many complements from the air traffic controllers around the world not so much for her pudgy looks but for her great performance!
Cont.
Nice! I love it when United Airlines flew one of their 747s in the San Francisco Fleet Week air show. Even with the Blue Angels and any other display, the 747 is just so cool when it flies by so low and slow enough to really appreciate it. Thanks for posting the video!
Just an amazing video. Considering this aircraft flew for Braniff, Pan Am, United Airlines and Oman Royal, it is great to see it still flying. What a beautiful bird. Thank you for sharing.
Being blind, I find air shows even more enjoyable when you get to listen to all the audio. Now I'll know the next time I attend an air show, I won't need to ask for so much description!
747SP!
Rare and beautiful!!!!
Kudos to FRYs for a great show!
I love the SP.
I think if someone did a "towed space plane" concept that the SP would be a great tow plane.
Very awesome video. I was over there that year but I dont remember seeing the 747 doing its fly-by, I wish i wouldnt have missed it now. The low pass was very cool!!!!!!!
that Boeing 747SP is one beautiful plane. I flew on one way back in 1988 on CAAC (Air China) from Canton to Sydney. What an experience that was.
Those airplanes look like they are tied together! Amazing!
Thanks for the reply guys. Wish we had Air shows like that here in MN
Back when I was working on this aircraft, there was another 747SP getting a paint job in the next hangar over. Pretty rare to see two at once. I think most of them are sitting in boneyards waiting to be reactivated or parted out.
i went to the air show this year in Miramar and it was a blast! i loved every bit of it! haha even though we were melting in the sun :)
I thought the last 747SP was scrapped years ago. This is awesome!
As much as I hate seeing passenger aircraft at an airshow I am amazed at where aircraft engineering has brought us. There is so much power in those aircraft that they can climb almost vertically if they want to.
Definitely one of the coolest things I have ever seen! That was probably my favorite moment of the day. The weather sucked like it always does for this stupid airshow but that definitely made up for it. I got some great pics of this. Thanks for sharing the vid!
747SP ...Special Performance. yes a smaller version of the 747-100. Originally made to try compete with the DC-10 and L-1011 midsize jets of the mid-70s. My son and I attended this airshow. THAT was a treat in itself. God bless the videographer real good cuz the best view is without a video camera! I was depending on the likes of you to post it...LOL!
What's so cool about this version of the 747 is it's so much shorter and lighter,WITH THE SAME THRUST ENGINES!!!!!
I remember seeing images of the SP version in magazines when I was a kid...but never saw one fly.
Now If Boeing would bring back the 747SP into a special VIP transport or biz jet?
I went yesterday, I have been going now to Miramar for over 8 years and other air shows for the last 20, I love them! However last year it took me over 2 hours to get out of the parking lot when we left. Yesterday it took me exactly 4 hours. 4 FREAKING HOURS!!!!! I was pissed!!!! But then it hit me... I just sat for 4 hours trying to leave this show but these guys have done a hell of a lot longer stint in IRAQ and Afgan.
Thanks for posting I remember being there Very cool stuff thanks for the memories :-)
That was sick. Mad props to that 747 driver.
My dad used to fly this babe when she was owned by the Omani Govt. She was was one of two 747-sps in the fleet. This one was known as Oman 2. Nice to see her fly again.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Re mental age of airshow commentators - I have to agree with you on this one. But I'll do a little plug for NZ. By far the best commentator I heard was at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow in '06. He had the right mix of humour with information, and as the day went on and he had a few local wines under his skin, he just got better! More of his ilk would be an asset to all airshows wherever in the world they be.
@seanzal is this the one that stays at bournemouth int airport?
@MogaViorel Yea the SP stand for special performance. Its shorter so the less weight the farther it can go. They also have a 747SR for short range thats a 747-100 but with less fuel tanks and more seats. :)
Thank you for that insightful, technical commentary. Want to elaborate on your opinion as to why it "sucks?' Just curious.
Orsum!!! Havnt had one one these planes in New Zealand for a long time!!! Wicked seeing it fly so low!! Orsum skills!!!
@zeesham13 i know but that how they make it, they just cut 48 feet out and add some wing modifications
@romeox600
The reason this plane is short is because it is the 747SP. The SP stands for special performance. The shortened fuselage allows it to have longer range and a higher speed. The regular 747 is much longer and better looking in my opinion. The 747SP has smaller engines than the 747-400, which is why it sounds different.
I was disappointed yesterday that the F22 didn't show, and I also was there last year and yes he did tear it up. Air superiority at its best.
When the Navy was still there, the show was in August, and the reflected heat off the tarmac was in the 120 degree range at times.
This message brought to you by Best Buy....
I helped to do the C-check and #1 and #2 engine change on this bird in mid-to-late 2007, back when it was registered as N747FU. Unfortunately, I left the job before it was finished. Good to see it back in the air again.
excellent - that low pass at the end was brilliant - he couldn't be more the 50 or 75 ft off the ground !!
Wow a 747SP would loved to been there and seen it thanks for sharing
About how high do you think it is?
whats the difference between the sp and the number series???
How much of these are flying still? Last week, I saw one at honolulu int with no markings, just blue and white paint job. It was very strange, yet awesome being that it was the first time I ever saw one.
that was do cool to watch i was in the grandstands you could see it coming for such a long time
@Randomnick123 uhhh why would he do a lowpass with the gears down?
Qantas had SP's as well. Or do you mean this exact airframe?
Most of the 747SP's were purchased brand-new by Pan-Am a few of them were purchased brand-new by TWA. United Airlines acquired all of PanAm's SP's. when UAL bought out PanAm's routes in 1984 and 1985. I flew one of these SP's while flying for United.
Wow great vid, so rare to see an SP these days!
Great video. Thks. For sharing!
It was the first very long range non stop airliner at that time. It was the only jet that could compete with and beat the concord around the world as it did not require refueling. The extended tail height was intended to have the handling characteristics be the same as the standard 747. It was eventually superseded by subsequent 747 full size versions starting at the 747-400 I think.
747's are big and beautifull
I looked it up and you are correct. Also, the Pratt & Whitney engined ones originally used the JT9D-7A, -7F, -7FW, or -7J engines... Some, like this one, were retrofitted with later model engines.
747SP, best looking Boeing ever made.
how did you animate the plane?
Miramar, FL ?
how do those little planes don't get in turbulence from boeing's engines?
what is frys electronics?
747SP, I love it
Great formation flypast and display and low fast pass
@NG737Driver Cool! I hope they keep em flying for years to come.
@SpeedyNeutrino43
Wake turbulence is at it's highest forces when the aircraft is slow and "dirty" (landing or takeoff). This 747SP had no flaps deployed and appeared to be above 220kts. This situation is typical, think of a KC-10 refueling an F-16. I see it a few times a week as a Center controller.
@zeesham13 dude its a 747-100 with 48 feet cut out of the fuselage
@bunnyfuss, hi bunny, sorry no- it isnt the one at Bournemouth. the one at Bournemouth belonged to the Qatari's. This particular A/C went to Roswell New Mexico after the Omanis no longer required her service.
The Special Performance-Version of the 747 is 48 feet 4 inches (14.7 m) shorter than the 747-100. Its lighter and the range is longer...
You are correct, the only time it looked exactly like just a normal 747 was when it was taxiing in straight in.The way you could tell it was an SP was with the GREEN colored nose light.Guys used to make mistakes all the time and park it on the wrong line.I miss seeing the SP's here in KORD..
The funny thing is that "it's just shorter" over-simplifies it a bit. In order to shorten the thing they had to relocate structural beams, lengthen the horizontal and vertical stabs, reshape the fuselage, change the cargo bays, use plain flaps instead of fowlers, et cetera. The changes were so drastic that the SP has very little in common structurally with a regular 747. Even the engines are a different model than those on other 747s. This all adds up to make the SP a bit of an orphan.
Is that a fry's electronics plane??
@lst1195 Yes you're correct....it is stubby! The 747SP is a short bodied 747.
yess
@lst1195 Haha I have no idea. I could be mistaken but I believe the 747SP was developed for it's long-range capabilities. I fly business jets so I know them better but if memory serves I think that's their story.
Without a doubt the flight engineer was reading out the radar altitude during the low pass. From a 747 cockpit it's difficult to judge when to flare during landing - so the radar altimeter tells him exactly how high he is.
Oh man, i wish i was there....great!!!
who owns the plane?
My fifth grade teacher's husband is the Air Traffic Controller at MCAS Miramar.
Pure beauty
Yeah - like the new a380 it looks kinda out of proportion doesn't it? Apparently the a380 wing is designed for the first and second stretches down the track. I think this 747 version was shortened after production had commenced. Awesome vid thanks :-)
thats such a cool fly by
@DenisKomment They were flying below the jetwash and the waketubulence.
@vroomba03 An electronics superstore. Not sure how many there are but there's one here in the Seattle area. Great prices. Whatever you might need, they have it.
that boeing 747 was VERY happy!
All 747SPs used the Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R/7Q engines. The Trent 1000 is from a much newer generation of engines.
Not all SPs used the P&W engines
Qantas, Saudia and a few other airlines used the RB211 engine on theirs
What a cute short 747 ^^
NASA has an SP called "SOFIA" (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy). It has been modified to carry a large (100 inch) telescope looking through a hatch on its aft port side, and has recently gone into operation, after years of preparation. Look it up with Google news. It's a joint American-German project, and hopefully will continue flying for many years.
@105Raptor Well 747SPs are pretty rare believe it or not...I have never seen one perform at an air show before.
Now this was an era in time when Miramar could put together fantastic air shows. They still put together good air shows, but the shows aren't like the air shows from the 90s and early 00s.
nice job men! nice job !
I miss Fry's! Sure wish they'd go nationwide!
That is a funny looking 747. I think I got used to see the longer version of 747 so this short version just look funny to me.
Hmmm I thought it was very dangerous to be lower and behind a heavy aircraft due to wing vortices.... I guess I misunderstood how they work. Great video!
Probably in an era when health & safety didn't exist as they do now.
It's a B747SP (Google it). Yes it was shorter than the normal B747. Not many built and even fewer remaining. A rare sight indeed, these days.
This 747SP is one of a solid machine.
Remember China Airlines Flight 006 :)
A Las Vegas Casino has one. I've seen it fly in at LAX on several occasions
How many alarms must be going of in that cockpit!
Europe and Russia will never be able to resist this!
Only made 45 of them SP's, so seeing one would be a treat.
This 747-SP show is so SP!!!
Impressive.
50 feet?
The wake turbulence from the 747 would be violent. I wonder how the smaller planes are able to fly right behind it.
That is one beautiful plane.
@talktothebody its not fake if you look up frys.com 747sp youll find that they purchased a 747sp and use it in airshows
great video!!!
thank you!!!
This "Special Performance" version of the 747 was specifically designed for the ultra long range routes and did not have the economical advantage of her younger siblings the 747-400 or the 777-300/200LR. I believe my former employer still operates a couple of the original SP's by cannibalizing the rest of the fleet! For additional technical and historical data contact:
Captain Ross Aimer (UAL Ret.)
CEO
Aviation Experts, LLC
@umakemeugly no its a real 747 doing a some real flybys.it was taken at the mirmar airshow in Mirmar,ca i was there.The same airbase that the movie top gun was filmed.