and the pandemic makes matters worse for the venerable 747... and to some extent, maybe even the 777X as many airlines deemed it too big... and with the downturn and the long long loooong recovery of the travel and tourism industry makes the situation bad to worse...
@@alexeimscruz2893 the pandemic pushed the timeline up. The fact that Boeing stopped making the passenger variant it meant it was done. Carriers were going to move away. 777X was always going to have a slow start. Boeing still has a few orders of the Gen 2 to complete and there plus some young gen 2 birds still flying. That's why it's not really a shocker that none of the US carriers have ordered any 777X.
I mean if they kept making 747s and didn’t make new planes like the 777 and 787 Boeing would be bankrupt and Airbus would rule the commercial aircraft industry
@6 - A4 Jai Kartik Mynepalli etops allowed the twins to cross oceans...That spelled the end.. 747 became redundant. twins can fly as far for less money.. more flexible in sizes available to customise routes. if you notice this also affects the A380 and A340..not just the 747. 4 engine airliners are dead... large twins are not fairing much better...
@@bobdevreeze4741 agreed ETOPS essentially killed the hub & spoke model because it allowed smaller twin engines to fly international point to point.This allowed more frequent flights to be scheduled to suit customer needs. It was easier to fill a 757 to 60% capacity vs a 747 to 60%. A 757 at 60% didn't hurt the operators wallet as a 747 at 60% did.
@Professor Mike AmericanuckRadio I also think Boeing didn't market the jet enough. But I do believe it could work here in Africa. If only the continent could develop faster to have new people start airlines
Row 1 on the lower deck is amazing. You are able to see forward due to the curvature of the fuselage up front. There just isn’t anything else like it as far as the view.
I remember sitting in my truck at work on a business trip to Tacoma, Washington and looking up to see a white and red 747 with chase planes around it. I got back to the hotel and looked for the news to see it was the 747-8's first flight! Suffice it to say, I quietly geeked out alone because nobody else I worked with really appreciated that fact. Didn't realize at the time that this would likely be the first flight of the last major variant.
Not likely, they wouldn't announce the end of production unless they were sure of it. One of the key suppliers announced they will no longer produce parts for it.
I think it would have been prolonging the inevitable. The Emirates canceled their A380 orders for more A350s and 787s. Its not the first time customers have changed their orders so I believe that would have happened especially when everyone knew 787 was development and were excited to get it.
Actually, Boeing only built it to give itself more time to develop the 787. In fact, several (though not all) features of the 787 can be found on the 747-8.
i grew up with the genetation of the 747 which i knew as the jumbo jet. its shape is unique with the special area for the 1st class flyers which is beautiful. no other plane has this shape, it was a masterpiece. apart from its security features and reliability it has been beautifully designed. i think it will live on as a classic.
The 747 line of aircraft should never be allowed to die. Like a blue whale massive but graceful. Will always hold a special place in so many heart, just like concord.
Boeing had looked at a trijet for the 747 before, one of the major reasons they didn’t develop the project, was it wouldn’t keep the same pilot rating as the 4 engine 747. So it would require the airlines to have the pilots retrained and certified to fly a trijet and that killed the project
Probably would have increased sales, but then again, the A380 hasn't been a roaring financial success either, so I don't think that would have made the 747-8 into a tremendous financial success
The more I read/hear about 747 productions about to seize, the more I realize how lucky I was to be able to fly in both 747-400 and the 747-8I. Now I just need to fly on the A380 before that seize to exist
@@roguejeff1 You are talking bullshit. Emirates has taken delivery of its 116th A380 a couple weeks ago. They have, since last week-end reopened 4 lines with their A380s : From Dubai to Paris, London, Amsterdam and Cairo. And it's only the beginning. Qantas is re-designing the interior of their A380 fleet. This type is back in the sky, just as Lufthansa's 747-830s. ANA took delivery of its first A380 last week (just a test flight was made since as far as I know). BA has withdrawn at least two A380 from the Châteauroux Air base but I don't know what they are up to (one of them made a repatriation flight from Johannesburg to London a couple months ago).
I think some of the major carriers should have bought and kept few 747-8 in there fleet. It's a massive beast of a plane but beautiful looking. I feel angry and gutted that they have not been bought.
Average Joe Not likely in commercial. There needs to be some level of redundancy. Although current engines are generally very reliable, engine shut downs are still common inflight.
@@johniii8147 also balancing. Engines on the wings make the most sense for maintenance vs putting it on the roof of the plane or the tail like the MDs.
the only thing that would've made the 747 more viable would probably be refitting it with two stronger engines like the GE90 but that's also unrealistic and makes it not feel the same
Stupid question I suppose but can't you turn off 2 of the 4 engines once at cruse speed and save on fuel? Basically just using all 4 to get going with.
I have loved the 747 since I was 7 years old. I hope, I really hope that I am wrong. However, the quads may be one twin-jet accident away from coming back. The newer engines are very efficient but they are also more delicate. I wonder if they will as reliable as the CF6s that have been flying for decades. Although statistically very unlikely, there can be dual engine failures in the middle of the Atlantic or Pacific. ETOPS airport distance requirements assumes you have one engine operational. What if you have none because of whatever reason? Remember, the United flight 811 747 returned to Honolulu on 2 engines. If it were a twin-jet, the ending would have been tragically different. The ocean is no Hudson river. If there is one, only one, of those accidents in the future, people will flock to whatever quads are still flying.
Boeing didn’t ‘kill their own jet’. The 747-400 was announced about four years after the 747-300, which basically made the 747-300 redundant. Despite that, the -300 is still my favourite 747 variant.
There is something beautiful about the 747’s that non of the other can compete with , it’s like looking at a beautiful portrait of Sophia Loren and then looking at a portrait of miley Cyrus and then saying, thank God for giving us the abilities to make choices .
I ve travelled to Tokyo from Mumbai, in 2003,. It was 747- 300 Combi, and Airline Offcours AIR INDIA. It was a great experience, i will never forget this wonderful Journey. What is the Flying, i experienced it. Such a huge, wide bodied, large and spacious airplane it was. I request to Boeing people please do not stop produce these Great Planes.
At the beginning of the 737max problems and during '1st wave' of C-19 shutdowns, Boeing should have streamlined, redesigned and upgraded 747 to current avionics. Reducing base weight by at least 25%. Making only models with cargo nose front with direct loading ramp for rapid turnaround. Every major airline would want at least 2, running in continuous long haul service.
The only thing what could have saved the Boeing 747 is replacing her smaller gas guzzling engines with powerful efficient large ones such as the GE9X. Had The 747-8I been fitted with GE9X instead of GENx-2B's maybe the 747-8i would have sold loads of units. Don't get me wrong I love the DreamLiner so so much, she's hands down the best modern Jet Aircraft in my opinion. But there's nothing quite like the sight or sound of a 747, the 747 will always have a special place in my heart, and I'll always remember our first long haul flight in 2010 on a Virgin Atlantic B747-443.
I think if the 747-8i had been offered with the option of Rolls Royce engines then British Airways could have placed a significant order. Perhaps in conjunction with an offer to take back ageing 400 series models which could have had a new lease of life as freight variants. BA is one of the few airlines with a profitable enough route network, in particular, London - New York which could have made the plane profitable with a large number of business class seats. The delays around the 787 which were passed on to the -800 also allowed Airbus entry into the market with the A380 but also, somewhat forgotten, with the A340-600. Without airlines like Emirates or British Airways on board it's nearly impossible for a large aircraft to thrive.
I think if the queen of the skies was to be constructed out of more carbon materials and lighter then it could still be very successful, maybe even have just two engines.
to make a 747 with 2 engines wont work. Engines are part of the balancing the plane. You can't just throw a bigger engine and make it do what 2 engines per wing did. You would have to design it from scratch to do that and it will cost money.
Lufthansa’s business class “upstairs” in the 747-8 is still a special experience for me. Even though the overall product and 2-2 layout is sub-par compared to other modern business classes, the feeling of sitting in a cozy small private jet still beats the ususal wide-body experience.
The Boeing 747 is indeed the Queen of Skies. Undoubtedly it is the most gorgeous aircraft ever built. I remember flying in a brand new 747-400 British Airways in 1991. The feeling was awesome. It is sad that airlines are no longer interested in the 747s. To keep the 747-8i variant hopes alive, maybe Boeing can look into technologies like switching off 2 of its engines when the aircraft is in the sky to save fuel. The Boeing 747 has history of landing safely with all 4 engines failed.
Thank you UPS, Lufstansa, Korean Air and China Airlines. For your business, loyalty and keeping our Queen of the sky's flying. Hopefully some day the luxury liner will make a come back and provide safe reliable transportation for tho's of us who prefer to travel in style.
Considering Boeing wasn't sure if the passenger airlines would be all that interested in the 747, it proved amazingly popular. To hedge their bets in the market they started it out intending to be a freighter more than anything. In both roles it's been an amazing success, and 50 years later still in production. The reason the A 380 has failed is simply that the market for 4 engine jumbo jets was already all but gone with the popularity of the 777 and other twin engine aircraft. New engines were made so powerful that you no longer needed four to do the job.The 380 wasn't initially designed for cargo either, something the 747 was and with so many out of passenger service planes around, they'll be flying for years to come.
Flying across the vast Pacific Ocean, I'd much prefer the perceived sense of SAFETY I get in a big, stable and comfortable FOUR ENGINE AIRLINER! Thank You!
One thing that could have made the 747 more attractive is making it more spacious and comfortable inside, but that would mean fewer seats and bigger seats. And this would assume that airlines care about passenger comfort, which they don't.
I always liked flying on the 747. I think Boeing just became complacent and assumed that everyone would just choose Boeing. The A380, whist coming on to the market far too late, was the death knell for the 747. I found it quieter, more comfortable and a great flight experience every time. Boeing got to where it was by hard work, innovation and quality control. Recent troubles at Boeing (787 batteries over heating, 737 max) and a failure to come up with credible responses to Airbus have put it where it is now,
I don't believe the figures are public, but I VERY much doubt it. Airbus didn't with the A380 and that was a MUCH larger production run, though the 747-8 was essentially a revision of an existing model so there was probably less R&D involved. A lot of the improvements that went in the -8 were also spin-offs of developments for the 787, which again might have helped with some savings, but also muddles the true costs involved.
Really wish to fly on the 747 before he retirement!! I would also love to see a twin engine with that iconic hump designed as a new model some time in the future..
Some airline should adapt a plane to fly Auckland nz to Seville Spain. They are directly underneath each other. It would be a popular route even if only for the novelty value.
I live under the Heathrow flight path and I remember back in the early 2000s, you'd see 747's everywhere! That was it's peak and what an amazing time it was. Now it's extremely rare to see. 747-8 is a case of bad timing sadly, despite being a beautiful aircraft. Its all about being more economical, and the 747 could no longer compete with all these new and efficient aircrafts like the 787 and A350. I'm sad to see it go, as well as the A380.
many comments about turning the 4 engine into 2 or 3, and about balance, so on and so forth. Yes, there is placement for thrust vectoring, but those could technically be overcome by adapting the 787 wings to the 747. In my opinion its the desire to make the 747-8 have super heavy lift capabilities. They basically put the engines from 2 787's and shoved them under the 747, like making a hotrod. They designed the 747-8 to be their flagship airplane. The problem is while everyone loves the 747 like a Chevy Corvette, nobody likes the fuel costs, and gets a econo car or a prius. What they should have done is have a smaller engine option with a higher bypass ratio, which would decrease the drag by decreasing its frontal area. Unless close to max takeoff weight, the 747-8 is like a semi truck with no trailer. Its hardly using its full potential. Sadly, it seems all engine development is for twin engine designs.
A big part of the 747-8 wasn't to necessarily sell a lot of them, but to put pressure on Airbus to sink resources into the A380. The 747 platform already existed and making upgrades was far more cost effective than building a whole new platform like the A380. Boeing knew the hub and spoke model was dying and smaller jets were becoming more desirable, but by releasing a new large aircraft, Airbus had competition and had to do that much more to make the A380 program successful, all while Boeing was really banking on the 787.
@@77l96 I'm sure they did, but they made the bet that the hub and spoke model would continue, slots at major airports would become even more limited and every plane needed more capacity to ease congestion. If that's your expectations for the future, the A380 is the perfect solution. Unfortunately for them, their assumptions were wrong.
The 747-8 didn't sell well because of the generalization of ETOPS certifications. Now the longest routes can be operated by twin engines planes which are more fuel efficient than four engines planes. All four engines planes are hit, not only the 747, but also Airbus A380 and A340.
If had been released around 2004 the 747-8 might have been more successful. Around that time airlines were phasing out earlier 747s built prior to 1990. Then years after they were looking to replace the 400. The engine technology was not available that early and the 787/A350 was not around.
Boeing was not expecting the passenger version to be a success and only built it to throw Airbus briefely off course. The freighter version is a different story...
Let's just, the 747 has been around for around 60 years and the a380 has been around for around 20 years... Both are being phased out. But you can say, for the 747, that's been one hell of a ride when compared to the measly 20ish years for the the Airbus
It is over ....... I just built and handed over the last 747 Pressure Bulkhead to Boeing ......after 35 years I am retiring next week .... I am old and tired .... it was a good run and afforded me a great life........ :-)
The 747-8 had only one purpose and that was to fool airbus into thinking that the hub and spook was the way to go whereas boeing themselves were more concerned towards the dreamliner
The 747 could and still can be a very popular aircraft to fly on if the airlines took advantage of all that space and I'm not talking about adding more seats to fill it up. I'm talking about making space just like the good old days, having lounges and bars, why not converting them into retro airlines! ? I mean who wouldn't take a flight on board a 747-8 over any other airliner here? Let's see some likes shall we.
Highly doubt it. The current Air Force One jets are over 30 years old. When the new ones are replaced in give or take 30 years, Boeing will likely have a new high capacity jet by then, or they will switch to the 777 if there isn't. They will continue to support the 747 for maintenance, as some freighters will probably be in service into the 2070s, but there's no reason to keep the program alive in hopes of selling two presidential planes every 30 years.
Dustin Remington Smith Only time will tell. Its highly likely that these new planes we have coming will not even touch this type of market. Its all about speed and distance capability and most war planes cant even keep up with the 747, historically speaking. Which is why we keep using them!!
@@idiotburns it's a great plane but it's far from exclusive in its capabilities. With the exception of giving up a little bit of floor space and the redundancy of four engines there isn't much the 747 can do that the 777 can't. I think it's a bit silly to think that there won't be a better platform 80 years after the 747 was released.
As a matter of fact the point to point system is more likely killed the 747 production line. Some airlines may have thrived in hub and spoke model but due to the fact during this time, the passenger demand is diminishing. The twins is more likely to inherit the golden time of the jumbos.
I don't think anything could've prevented the 747's decline. Other than Emirates, the majority of airlines have retired their 747 and A380 fleets already. Like the trijets of late, quadjets just can't compete financially with a twinjet. And there are far too many viable twinjets on the market now. The 787 and 777 both added to the 747's retirement through no fault of their own.
It's just a matter of fashion. In the 70s the "in" aircrafts were the tri-jets. They defied the quad jets that didn't sell so much after 1970 (eg the 727 replacing the 720 in Boeing range). They were just more fashionable. Now two jets are the trend. Nothing says it won't change again in the next 10 years or so.
The only thing that can save the super jumbos like the 747 and A380 is if they’re made from lighter weight materials, super magnesium instead of aluminum and all engines are hybrid electric running on M100 methanol.
I think a redesign and investment in marketing would keep it alive. I'm sure there's things they could do to make it more economical and it's certainly got its use cases.
When passenger demand increases enough (So maybe 5-10 years from now) There'll be a demand for something that big or slightly bigger on some routes. The only question is how cheap to maintain and fuel efficient will it be compared to other options at that time? and how much will each unit cost?
A380 vs 747, A380 wins on legroom in economy. 787 is quite cool with window shades that tint instead of pulling them up and down. The A380 is good if you have a seat upstairs with Emirates economy, twice I've had a seat there now.
Yes. Adding more engines. Turning the 747 into a 6 jet airplane would be awsome, and since awsome is better - it would result in more sales. Hopefully.
it would be really cool if Boeing could make a another version of the 747 which would have 2 real engines and two fake engines. they would also have to make it smaller than the 747-8. maybe airlines would buy that kind of 747 because it's much more fuel efficient than the 747-8
Sharklets aren’t just some fancy thing they add to make planes look good. Boeing found with the 787 that a raked wingtip was more efficient so added it to the 747-8
The 747 is still loved by air cargo companies, governments for presidential use and there are used that two engine aircraft cannot do. It's ironic that the several airlines are bringing the 747 from the boneyard back into service. Boeing saw the writing on the wall; Airbus didn't with the A380.
I assume will be a tourist segment that simply would like to fly 747 because is the most iconic plane of history. I would gladly pay a ticket just to not let her die. Just as happened with Concorde, which end was not because of lack of users, but due to much much sad reasons.
747 was a great airplane. Still is, but passenger demand is the most compelling reason to nix it. Most 747s now are for freight, where it is still economical to fly long routes.
I understand why the passenger variant of the 747-8 is being discontinued, why is the cargo variant getting discontinued too??? While the overall 747-8 program didn’t meet its intended sales goals, out of the ones that were sold, the cargo version made up the overwhelming majority of those sold. To me, it seems that the 747-8 has a decent future as a cargo only plane, and that there is a market for such cargo plane as evidenced by UPS. I mean, Boeing still produces the 767 as a freighter only option. I thought factors like fuel efficiency weren’t as important to cargo operators like it is to regular passenger operators??
Also the 747 passenger variant can easily be converted into the cargo version, without any ridiculous amount of work, so many can just get used 747-8 and convert them rather than buy new
@@tomstravels520 yeah. If u look the 747 you can see where the nose door mechanism goes. From day 1 it was designed to be convertible, unlike many other planes. That's why it has the high cockpit so there is no issue with adding the door, unlike the a380 which has a mid level cockpit. I mean it's not an easy job, it is still a plane, but it's not an issue of rebuilding the plane.
ETOPS killed the B727 and the A380. As soon as two engine planes were allowed to do transatlantic routes, two engine technology did leaps and bounds over four engine aircraft, resulting in better fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs. Plus, smaller planes are much easier to fill up for maximum profitability, and can easily fly at airports that can't handle the four engined Jumbos.
Let’s be factual!!!! None of the 747’s types were failures as the all sold over forty+ airframes. Their end came with the development of twin engine long haul types.
The 747 is technically a victim of its own success. According to a documentary on trans-atlantic cruises, the 747 was directly blamed for the crash of that industry. Now, people want cheap travel, and its smaller brothers can pull that off with no problem. Had the air cargo industry not kept chocking, maybe the cargo version would have lasted, or this virus not been a thing, it may have moved on a bit longer, but...nope. She created long-haul flying and I still say its one of the best jets in the sky today. It will be sad to see it leave.
747 is such a beautiful airplane, if I was rich enough I would buy one without hesitation
yes!
I'd buy a G700 from Gulfstream
Boeing basically killed the 747 with 777x and 787
ETOPS killed quad engines.
and the pandemic makes matters worse for the venerable 747... and to some extent, maybe even the 777X as many airlines deemed it too big... and with the downturn and the long long loooong recovery of the travel and tourism industry makes the situation bad to worse...
@@alexeimscruz2893 the pandemic pushed the timeline up. The fact that Boeing stopped making the passenger variant it meant it was done. Carriers were going to move away. 777X was always going to have a slow start. Boeing still has a few orders of the Gen 2 to complete and there plus some young gen 2 birds still flying. That's why it's not really a shocker that none of the US carriers have ordered any 777X.
I mean if they kept making 747s and didn’t make new planes like the 777 and 787 Boeing would be bankrupt and Airbus would rule the commercial aircraft industry
Andy Dai yea I know that but it’s sad that the 747 is being discontinued
747 will continue to fly as a freighter for decades. the passenger version was killed by ETOPS.
@6 - A4 Jai Kartik Mynepalli etops allowed the twins to cross oceans...That spelled the end.. 747 became redundant. twins can fly as far for less money.. more flexible in sizes available to customise routes. if you notice this also affects the A380 and A340..not just the 747. 4 engine airliners are dead... large twins are not fairing much better...
@@bobdevreeze4741 agreed ETOPS essentially killed the hub & spoke model because it allowed smaller twin engines to fly international point to point.This allowed more frequent flights to be scheduled to suit customer needs. It was easier to fill a 757 to 60% capacity vs a 747 to 60%. A 757 at 60% didn't hurt the operators wallet as a 747 at 60% did.
And even the freighter versions’ future is now at stake. Cuz boeing has confirmed that all 747 models will be discontinued by 2022.
@@ssd3748 There are still 747-200’s flying. I think they’ll be fine.
@6 - A4 Jai Kartik Mynepalli a380? airlines are still flying those stupidly huge whales
Honestly The 747-8 is underrated
Explain
@Professor Mike AmericanuckRadio I also think Boeing didn't market the jet enough. But I do believe it could work here in Africa. If only the continent could develop faster to have new people start airlines
Stardust roman If I were to start an airline I would buy a lot of 747-8 along with 777-300ERs
@@famous1803 definitely. I think the a380 as well from lhr to an African base considering most countries here won't allow multiple flights.
It is but its better for Cargo Airlines than it is for Passenger service more efficient in that role.
Row 1 on the lower deck is amazing. You are able to see forward due to the curvature of the fuselage up front. There just isn’t anything else like it as far as the view.
I remember sitting in my truck at work on a business trip to Tacoma, Washington and looking up to see a white and red 747 with chase planes around it. I got back to the hotel and looked for the news to see it was the 747-8's first flight! Suffice it to say, I quietly geeked out alone because nobody else I worked with really appreciated that fact. Didn't realize at the time that this would likely be the first flight of the last major variant.
cool video, I work at Boeing (Puget Sound), I have a feeling that the 747 will be kept alive but I am just speculating on the unknown future
Do you think a 747 with just two engines is possible? The airplane is really iconic and very useful so a new life is possible.
Not likely, they wouldn't announce the end of production unless they were sure of it. One of the key suppliers announced they will no longer produce parts for it.
Here is article from back in 2019 www.investors.com/news/boeing-747-line-nearing-end-triumph-shuts-factory/
Joseph Huang thanks! I’ll give it a read
Joseph Huang oh haha, I am aware, those are just buildings, ever wonder who bought the auctioned product, lmao bro
I think if it was released a couple of years before the 787 it might of had more of a future
I think it would have been prolonging the inevitable. The Emirates canceled their A380 orders for more A350s and 787s. Its not the first time customers have changed their orders so I believe that would have happened especially when everyone knew 787 was development and were excited to get it.
eWorkx ye posssibly
Actually, Boeing only built it to give itself more time to develop the 787. In fact, several (though not all) features of the 787 can be found on the 747-8.
i grew up with the genetation of the 747 which i knew as the jumbo jet. its shape is unique with the special area for the 1st class flyers which is beautiful. no other plane has this shape, it was a masterpiece. apart from its security features and reliability it has been beautifully designed. i think it will live on as a classic.
The 747 line of aircraft should never be allowed to die. Like a blue whale massive but graceful. Will always hold a special place in so many heart, just like concord.
If i have a coin every time for a video talking why the 747-8 and a380 isn't a huge success 😅
😄
I m trying to tell everyone that
It was a double whammy: new engines for the new twins, and changing passenger /airline appetites.
The 747-300 tri jet should be in production to save the 747 series
Boeing had looked at a trijet for the 747 before, one of the major reasons they didn’t develop the project, was it wouldn’t keep the same pilot rating as the 4 engine 747. So it would require the airlines to have the pilots retrained and certified to fly a trijet and that killed the project
Absolutely, the timing could have made it popular, if it was launched prior to A380’s launch, it definitely would have sold more
Probably would have increased sales, but then again, the A380 hasn't been a roaring financial success either, so I don't think that would have made the 747-8 into a tremendous financial success
The more I read/hear about 747 productions about to seize, the more I realize how lucky I was to be able to fly in both 747-400 and the 747-8I. Now I just need to fly on the A380 before that seize to exist
You'll likely never see a passenger carrying VARIANT of either the 747 or A380 in the skies ever again, thanks to Covid-19.
@@roguejeff1 You are talking bullshit. Emirates has taken delivery of its 116th A380 a couple weeks ago. They have, since last week-end reopened 4 lines with their A380s : From Dubai to Paris, London, Amsterdam and Cairo. And it's only the beginning. Qantas is re-designing the interior of their A380 fleet. This type is back in the sky, just as Lufthansa's 747-830s. ANA took delivery of its first A380 last week (just a test flight was made since as far as I know). BA has withdrawn at least two A380 from the Châteauroux Air base but I don't know what they are up to (one of them made a repatriation flight from Johannesburg to London a couple months ago).
@@julosx yes, and one day, I hope to get on Emirates A380
Wish the queen 747 could still active in the future 😢
🤧
I think some of the major carriers should have bought and kept few 747-8 in there fleet. It's a massive beast of a plane but beautiful looking. I feel angry and gutted that they have not been bought.
Tired question by this point. The technology moved on to twin engines and it was bigger than airlines need. Also just an old platform
Two engine aircraft are becoming outdated. Single engine aircraft will emerge soon enough
Average Joe Not likely in commercial. There needs to be some level of redundancy. Although current engines are generally very reliable, engine shut downs are still common inflight.
@@johniii8147 also balancing. Engines on the wings make the most sense for maintenance vs putting it on the roof of the plane or the tail like the MDs.
the only thing that would've made the 747 more viable would probably be refitting it with two stronger engines like the GE90 but that's also unrealistic and makes it not feel the same
Stupid question I suppose but can't you turn off 2 of the 4 engines once at cruse speed and save on fuel? Basically just using all 4 to get going with.
I have loved the 747 since I was 7 years old. I hope, I really hope that I am wrong. However, the quads may be one twin-jet accident away from coming back. The newer engines are very efficient but they are also more delicate. I wonder if they will as reliable as the CF6s that have been flying for decades. Although statistically very unlikely, there can be dual engine failures in the middle of the Atlantic or Pacific. ETOPS airport distance requirements assumes you have one engine operational. What if you have none because of whatever reason? Remember, the United flight 811 747 returned to Honolulu on 2 engines. If it were a twin-jet, the ending would have been tragically different. The ocean is no Hudson river. If there is one, only one, of those accidents in the future, people will flock to whatever quads are still flying.
747-300: *am I a joke to you*
Wait there was a -300
Yeah, there’s only one left in service with TransAVIAexport.
@@aquatikat I thought there would still be more! Like, 20 747-300s. Damn, Boeing killed their own jet...
Boeing didn’t ‘kill their own jet’. The 747-400 was announced about four years after the 747-300, which basically made the 747-300 redundant. Despite that, the -300 is still my favourite 747 variant.
@@aviationlba747 It is mine too!
There is something beautiful about the 747’s that non of the other can compete with , it’s like looking at a beautiful portrait of Sophia Loren and then looking at a portrait of miley Cyrus and then saying, thank God for giving us the abilities to make choices .
This is a really boomer thing to say. Really, really boomer.
@@osasunaitor A millennial i presume ., no sense of taste or class.
Two engines might work efficiently, but it's quite comforting to know there are a couple of spare on a four engined version!
Absolutely agree. Rog .
3:28 best part of video
I ve travelled to Tokyo from Mumbai, in 2003,. It was 747- 300 Combi, and Airline Offcours AIR INDIA. It was a great experience, i will never forget this wonderful Journey. What is the Flying, i experienced it. Such a huge, wide bodied, large and spacious airplane it was. I request to Boeing people please do not stop produce these Great Planes.
At the beginning of the 737max problems and during '1st wave' of C-19 shutdowns, Boeing should have streamlined, redesigned and upgraded 747 to current avionics. Reducing base weight by at least 25%. Making only models with cargo nose front with direct loading ramp for rapid turnaround. Every major airline would want at least 2, running in continuous long haul service.
The only thing what could have saved the Boeing 747 is replacing her smaller gas guzzling engines with powerful efficient large ones such as the GE9X. Had The 747-8I been fitted with GE9X instead of GENx-2B's maybe the 747-8i would have sold loads of units.
Don't get me wrong I love the DreamLiner so so much, she's hands down the best modern Jet Aircraft in my opinion. But there's nothing quite like the sight or sound of a 747, the 747 will always have a special place in my heart, and I'll always remember our first long haul flight in 2010 on a Virgin Atlantic B747-443.
Fortunately, the 474-8F did have 106 orders, and we'll be seeing them for at least the next three or four decades.
I think if the 747-8i had been offered with the option of Rolls Royce engines then British Airways could have placed a significant order. Perhaps in conjunction with an offer to take back ageing 400 series models which could have had a new lease of life as freight variants. BA is one of the few airlines with a profitable enough route network, in particular, London - New York which could have made the plane profitable with a large number of business class seats. The delays around the 787 which were passed on to the -800 also allowed Airbus entry into the market with the A380 but also, somewhat forgotten, with the A340-600. Without airlines like Emirates or British Airways on board it's nearly impossible for a large aircraft to thrive.
I think if the queen of the skies was to be constructed out of more carbon materials and lighter then it could still be very successful, maybe even have just two engines.
So basically the 777x
Stephen Yeh the 777x is still way smaller. Its easier to make smaller planes like that lighter than it is to make a 747.
@@turnr3326 yeah it's downgrade
to make a 747 with 2 engines wont work. Engines are part of the balancing the plane. You can't just throw a bigger engine and make it do what 2 engines per wing did. You would have to design it from scratch to do that and it will cost money.
We called it "777x"
Lufthansa’s business class “upstairs” in the 747-8 is still a special experience for me. Even though the overall product and 2-2 layout is sub-par compared to other modern business classes, the feeling of sitting in a cozy small private jet still beats the ususal wide-body experience.
The Boeing 747 is indeed the Queen of Skies. Undoubtedly it is the most gorgeous aircraft ever built. I remember flying in a brand new 747-400 British Airways in 1991. The feeling was awesome.
It is sad that airlines are no longer interested in the 747s. To keep the 747-8i variant hopes alive, maybe Boeing can look into technologies like switching off 2 of its engines when the aircraft is in the sky to save fuel. The Boeing 747 has history of landing safely with all 4 engines failed.
How about the B747- 8i 2E (2 Engine Option)? Or the B777X with a humpback?
Thank you UPS, Lufstansa, Korean Air and China Airlines. For your business, loyalty and keeping our Queen of the sky's flying. Hopefully some day the luxury liner will make a come back and provide safe reliable transportation for tho's of us who prefer to travel in style.
lufthansa*
Out of all the 747 variants the 747-8 Is my absolute favorite! I wonder why this one didn't gain attention
Considering Boeing wasn't sure if the passenger airlines would be all that interested in the 747, it proved amazingly popular. To hedge their bets in the market they started it out intending to be a freighter more than anything. In both roles it's been an amazing success, and 50 years later still in production. The reason the A 380 has failed is simply that the market for 4 engine jumbo jets was already all but gone with the popularity of the 777 and other twin engine aircraft. New engines were made so powerful that you no longer needed four to do the job.The 380 wasn't initially designed for cargo either, something the 747 was and with so many out of passenger service planes around, they'll be flying for years to come.
Boeing should use composite materials to build the body and wings like the a350-1000 and place the GE9X under the wings.
Flying across the vast Pacific Ocean, I'd much prefer the perceived sense of SAFETY I get in a big, stable and comfortable FOUR ENGINE AIRLINER!
Thank You!
Absolutely bro.totally agree. Rog. Psr
They should have made the top part a night club like soul plane. 😂😂😂
One thing that could have made the 747 more attractive is making it more spacious and comfortable inside, but that would mean fewer seats and bigger seats. And this would assume that airlines care about passenger comfort, which they don't.
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I always liked flying on the 747. I think Boeing just became complacent and assumed that everyone would just choose Boeing. The A380, whist coming on to the market far too late, was the death knell for the 747. I found it quieter, more comfortable and a great flight experience every time. Boeing got to where it was by hard work, innovation and quality control. Recent troubles at Boeing (787 batteries over heating, 737 max) and a failure to come up with credible responses to Airbus have put it where it is now,
Did they make a profit or at least break even with the 747-8?
I don't believe the figures are public, but I VERY much doubt it. Airbus didn't with the A380 and that was a MUCH larger production run, though the 747-8 was essentially a revision of an existing model so there was probably less R&D involved. A lot of the improvements that went in the -8 were also spin-offs of developments for the 787, which again might have helped with some savings, but also muddles the true costs involved.
Really wish to fly on the 747 before he retirement!! I would also love to see a twin engine with that iconic hump designed as a new model some time in the future..
The 747 will always be queen of the skies.
Some airline should adapt a plane to fly Auckland nz to Seville Spain. They are directly underneath each other. It would be a popular route even if only for the novelty value.
I live under the Heathrow flight path and I remember back in the early 2000s, you'd see 747's everywhere! That was it's peak and what an amazing time it was. Now it's extremely rare to see.
747-8 is a case of bad timing sadly, despite being a beautiful aircraft. Its all about being more economical, and the 747 could no longer compete with all these new and efficient aircrafts like the 787 and A350. I'm sad to see it go, as well as the A380.
Efficiency, Money, DECISIONS AND DECISIONS AND DECISIONS .....And this would go worst
I think Boeing should reduce the size of 747 & put in two ge9x engines btw we will miss you queen ✈️
Umm. That will a 777
@@bidhanchandraroy5524 it could be Say Boeing 747 SP Intercontinental
They have. It’s called a 777x
@@tomstravels520 But it would be a 777x with a HUMP!
Eugene McDonald well then that’s not reducing the size
many comments about turning the 4 engine into 2 or 3, and about balance, so on and so forth. Yes, there is placement for thrust vectoring, but those could technically be overcome by adapting the 787 wings to the 747. In my opinion its the desire to make the 747-8 have super heavy lift capabilities. They basically put the engines from 2 787's and shoved them under the 747, like making a hotrod. They designed the 747-8 to be their flagship airplane. The problem is while everyone loves the 747 like a Chevy Corvette, nobody likes the fuel costs, and gets a econo car or a prius. What they should have done is have a smaller engine option with a higher bypass ratio, which would decrease the drag by decreasing its frontal area. Unless close to max takeoff weight, the 747-8 is like a semi truck with no trailer. Its hardly using its full potential. Sadly, it seems all engine development is for twin engine designs.
I flew on a Korean Air 747-8i and it was fantastic in Biz class
A big part of the 747-8 wasn't to necessarily sell a lot of them, but to put pressure on Airbus to sink resources into the A380. The 747 platform already existed and making upgrades was far more cost effective than building a whole new platform like the A380. Boeing knew the hub and spoke model was dying and smaller jets were becoming more desirable, but by releasing a new large aircraft, Airbus had competition and had to do that much more to make the A380 program successful, all while Boeing was really banking on the 787.
@@77l96 I'm sure they did, but they made the bet that the hub and spoke model would continue, slots at major airports would become even more limited and every plane needed more capacity to ease congestion. If that's your expectations for the future, the A380 is the perfect solution. Unfortunately for them, their assumptions were wrong.
Did you get this from norebbo
The 747-8 didn't sell well because of the generalization of ETOPS certifications. Now the longest routes can be operated by twin engines planes which are more fuel efficient than four engines planes. All four engines planes are hit, not only the 747, but also Airbus A380 and A340.
If air travel started growing rapidly at like 3000 per day,than the largest planes can fly again
If had been released around 2004 the 747-8 might have been more successful. Around that time airlines were phasing out earlier 747s built prior to 1990. Then years after they were looking to replace the 400.
The engine technology was not available that early and the 787/A350 was not around.
Boeing was not expecting the passenger version to be a success and only built it to throw Airbus briefely off course.
The freighter version is a different story...
Atleast every airline needs to have one or two of em. They are so majestic!
Yeah -- and every man should have three wives, too ...
@@sking2173 bruh.
Let's just, the 747 has been around for around 60 years and the a380 has been around for around 20 years... Both are being phased out. But you can say, for the 747, that's been one hell of a ride when compared to the measly 20ish years for the the Airbus
It is over ....... I just built and handed over the last 747 Pressure Bulkhead to Boeing ......after 35 years I am retiring next week .... I am old and tired .... it was a good run and afforded me a great life........ :-)
At least we will still see some passenger and cargo variants of the 747-8 flying around...don't forget we will see 2 as the new Air Force One.
The 747-8 had only one purpose and that was to fool airbus into thinking that the hub and spook was the way to go whereas boeing themselves were more concerned towards the dreamliner
Exactly! Boeing was able to steal some of the VLA market from Airbus at a very minimal cost.
The 747 could and still can be a very popular aircraft to fly on if the airlines took advantage of all that space and I'm not talking about adding more seats to fill it up. I'm talking about making space just like the good old days, having lounges and bars, why not converting them into retro airlines! ? I mean who wouldn't take a flight on board a 747-8 over any other airliner here? Let's see some likes shall we.
Air force One will keep it alive I believe
Hey man I think that too
Highly doubt it. The current Air Force One jets are over 30 years old. When the new ones are replaced in give or take 30 years, Boeing will likely have a new high capacity jet by then, or they will switch to the 777 if there isn't. They will continue to support the 747 for maintenance, as some freighters will probably be in service into the 2070s, but there's no reason to keep the program alive in hopes of selling two presidential planes every 30 years.
Dustin Remington Smith Only time will tell. Its highly likely that these new planes we have coming will not even touch this type of market. Its all about speed and distance capability and most war planes cant even keep up with the 747, historically speaking. Which is why we keep using them!!
It will only be one 747-8 though
@@idiotburns it's a great plane but it's far from exclusive in its capabilities. With the exception of giving up a little bit of floor space and the redundancy of four engines there isn't much the 747 can do that the 777 can't. I think it's a bit silly to think that there won't be a better platform 80 years after the 747 was released.
Reports surfacing? Boeing have confirmed they are ending production
What freight will replace the -8f
Probably nothing new expand on the 777F program. Besides there will be enough 47s parked and in storage to be converted into combi's or freighters.
As a matter of fact the point to point system is more likely killed the 747 production line. Some airlines may have thrived in hub and spoke model but due to the fact during this time, the passenger demand is diminishing. The twins is more likely to inherit the golden time of the jumbos.
Good stuff !!! The 747 and 380s will rule forever
@@77l96 True !! However the 380 is a great plane
I don't think anything could've prevented the 747's decline. Other than Emirates, the majority of airlines have retired their 747 and A380 fleets already. Like the trijets of late, quadjets just can't compete financially with a twinjet. And there are far too many viable twinjets on the market now. The 787 and 777 both added to the 747's retirement through no fault of their own.
It's just a matter of fashion. In the 70s the "in" aircrafts were the tri-jets. They defied the quad jets that didn't sell so much after 1970 (eg the 727 replacing the 720 in Boeing range). They were just more fashionable. Now two jets are the trend. Nothing says it won't change again in the next 10 years or so.
I wish boeing announce the version of 747 with 2 big ge90 with more power so that this plane can be saved
Or just get the more modern 777X..
747-8 is the most graceful plane in the sky today. so sad to see it go. but the fuel economy makes this ancient plane a thing of the past
Ah, simpleflying always answers the question I have in mind
Thanks for the feedback. - TB
Au Revoir to the Boeing 747. The last time I flew in a 747 was on a Cathay Pacific Hongkong to New Chitose (Sapporo) flight five years ago.
The only thing that can save the super jumbos like the 747 and A380 is if they’re made from lighter weight materials, super magnesium instead of aluminum and all engines are hybrid electric running on M100 methanol.
I think a redesign and investment in marketing would keep it alive. I'm sure there's things they could do to make it more economical and it's certainly got its use cases.
Yes. They already redesign the 747 since loong ago to be 2 engine.
It called "777"
When passenger demand increases enough (So maybe 5-10 years from now) There'll be a demand for something that big or slightly bigger on some routes. The only question is how cheap to maintain and fuel efficient will it be compared to other options at that time? and how much will each unit cost?
I think it would be cool to see a 747SP with twin engines, but I doubt any airline would be interested...🙁
747-8F is what makes 747-8 relevant.
I've wondered, maybe its possible to make a twin engine 747? The GE engines do have a similar power delivery to the existing quads
2x GE9X have 210,000lb thrust
4x GENX2B have 266,000lb thrust. Quite a difference there
Ground clearance to fit those engines are the issue. The 747 would need a major design change to accommodate even a GE90 let alone a GEN9X
J4 M ah, true that
That just defeats the purpose of the 777x
the 747-8 is so much more sucsessful as a cargo plane and the 747's altogether will mainly fly as cargo airplanes for a long time to come
Fuel efficiency & maintenance cost, this 2 factor reduced 747-8 order.
Just put my hands on the last 747 to be built as it is being assembled as I text. I said to goodbye to the plane I started my career with. Sad.
A380 vs 747, A380 wins on legroom in economy. 787 is quite cool with window shades that tint instead of pulling them up and down. The A380 is good if you have a seat upstairs with Emirates economy, twice I've had a seat there now.
Yes. Adding more engines. Turning the 747 into a 6 jet airplane would be awsome, and since awsome is better - it would result in more sales. Hopefully.
haha.. remember the main issue for it's decline is poor fuel economics..
it would be really cool if Boeing could make a another version of the 747 which would have 2 real engines and two fake engines. they would also have to make it smaller than the 747-8. maybe airlines would buy that kind of 747 because it's much more fuel efficient than the 747-8
I specifically like aircrafts with Sharklets so that could be a reason why these planes are less popular than the Boeing 747-400.
Sharklets aren’t just some fancy thing they add to make planes look good. Boeing found with the 787 that a raked wingtip was more efficient so added it to the 747-8
Sharklets are also the reason the A350 is my favourite aircraft. Also, sharklets improve takeoff performance.
The 747 is still loved by air cargo companies, governments for presidential use and there are used that two engine aircraft cannot do. It's ironic that the several airlines are bringing the 747 from the boneyard back into service. Boeing saw the writing on the wall; Airbus didn't with the A380.
Woah 747-8I passenger versions are rare then
I assume will be a tourist segment that simply would like to fly 747 because is the most iconic plane of history. I would gladly pay a ticket just to not let her die. Just as happened with Concorde, which end was not because of lack of users, but due to much much sad reasons.
wow I can't believe there were several private buyers for a 747. anyone have any idea what kind of people / organizations run those?
747 was a great airplane. Still is, but passenger demand is the most compelling reason to nix it. Most 747s now are for freight, where it is still economical to fly long routes.
I wonder how many 747s out there that are no longer seeing passenger service are being converted to permanent freight operation.
All 747-400 operators, should have replaced them with 747-8I aircrafts. Also, it’s quite sad that not one North American airline bought DVD 747-8I
can’t they make it bigger? or redesign it to be a 3 or 2 engine jet?
The video clearly said that bigger means downfall.
And we already had 747 in 2 engine. It called "777"
I understand why the passenger variant of the 747-8 is being discontinued, why is the cargo variant getting discontinued too??? While the overall 747-8 program didn’t meet its intended sales goals, out of the ones that were sold, the cargo version made up the overwhelming majority of those sold. To me, it seems that the 747-8 has a decent future as a cargo only plane, and that there is a market for such cargo plane as evidenced by UPS. I mean, Boeing still produces the 767 as a freighter only option. I thought factors like fuel efficiency weren’t as important to cargo operators like it is to regular passenger operators??
John Radford because no one is ordering them anymore
Also the 747 passenger variant can easily be converted into the cargo version, without any ridiculous amount of work, so many can just get used 747-8 and convert them rather than buy new
Luigi Benigni is it really that easy to add a folding nose?
@@tomstravels520 yeah. If u look the 747 you can see where the nose door mechanism goes. From day 1 it was designed to be convertible, unlike many other planes. That's why it has the high cockpit so there is no issue with adding the door, unlike the a380 which has a mid level cockpit. I mean it's not an easy job, it is still a plane, but it's not an issue of rebuilding the plane.
ETOPS killed the B727 and the A380. As soon as two engine planes were allowed to do transatlantic routes, two engine technology did leaps and bounds over four engine aircraft, resulting in better fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs. Plus, smaller planes are much easier to fill up for maximum profitability, and can easily fly at airports that can't handle the four engined Jumbos.
Let’s be factual!!!! None of the 747’s types were failures as the all sold over forty+ airframes.
Their end came with the development of twin engine long haul types.
Yes, just revamp the new versions with the newer engines on the 777x
The 747 is technically a victim of its own success. According to a documentary on trans-atlantic cruises, the 747 was directly blamed for the crash of that industry. Now, people want cheap travel, and its smaller brothers can pull that off with no problem. Had the air cargo industry not kept chocking, maybe the cargo version would have lasted, or this virus not been a thing, it may have moved on a bit longer, but...nope. She created long-haul flying and I still say its one of the best jets in the sky today. It will be sad to see it leave.
still sad.. why don't airlines give their customer a choice what plane to fly... and why does a ticket have to be 400 LA to Sydney...?