I just love this plane. I like the A380, it’s technological advancements, innovations built in, and the fact that it responds to inputs and handles SO WELL in the air. But there is something about the 747 that can’t be matched. It is often imitated, and will NEVER be replicated. It is simply, THE BEST.
Captain Harvey Beebe Jr flew 47 versions of the 747 for about 14 of his 32 years with Pan Am the remainder was DC-7 as a navigator. He loved the 747SP. He was my father,an aviation pioneer and it trail blazer
No other plane that I have evr flown on has made me feel as confident, as comfortable, and as safe as the 747. 4 Engines for long haul each and every time. I love this beauty since my first flight on board Pan Am in 1981, and continue to try to fly on the 747 as often as I can!
several years ago there were two LH-Flights from PVG to Germany at the same time: a 747-8 to MUC and a A340-600 to MUC. I tried both once and prefered the A340 as it was more quiet ...
What most people are surprised to discover is that the 747 is not only one of the largest civilian jets, it is also one of the fastest. Most people assume it would be a big, lumbering giant, but no, it is actually one of the fastest air liners ever built. Maybe partly because of the scale effect that make high speed and long range easier to obtain from a larger and more powerful aircraft, but mostly because the relatively high sweep angle of the wings. They went for a higher sweep in spite of the potential handling problems at lower speeds because it was the only way to fit the wing span into existing airport dimensions. A a result, the 747 can reach a higher Mach number than most jets can. Over Mach .9, if I recall.
I completely agree with you. I am an aerospace engineer of almost 40 years now. The 747 is one of those rare projects where they got it right the first time. LOL....They had no choice, they bet the farm on it. Joe Sutter was one hell of an engineer and project manager..........
And they're phased from almost every domestic route and I've never even been on one. Was on a DC-10 once and that was exciting because of all the disasters they've had!
Thank you I flew 747 everywhere I went wile in the Air Force in the early 70's, now at 66 years old, I fly one every day, all day on my flight simulator on my desktop, having all the fun!
I remember my father took our whole family to East Boston where they had a 747 parked right at the edge of Logan in the early 70's ! I couldn't get over the size of it, bigger than the 3 floor house we lived in.
50 years in production, it was so right at the time, and the decades have been kind to it, with modernizing taking place throughout. It is more beautiful than the A380 in my opinion.
The 747 is by far the best looking plane. Especially the early ones. Followed by the a340. The a380 is far more comfertable though, probably the best plane ever made for passengers. It is ugly as hell though lol.
All pilots that flew the 747 loved it, it would probably be pretty hard to find a 747 pilot that would say he hated flying the 747. It's literally every pilots wet dream to fly the 747.
10:28 for those of you not in aviation, the "type certificate" is basically an airplane version of a deed for a house. Or a diploma. Or even a birth certificate for a person. That is your primary goal when designing an aircraft, is getting your Type Certificate. And a momentous occasion once you get it. :)
My first ever flight was on an Olympic 747 ,Heathrow to Athens ,April 1978.brilliant flight ,I’ll never forget the power on take off,comeback on a 707 ,we were spoilt on that holiday !
My first 747 flight was in July 1971 - Chicago to Seattle. It was my most unforgettable flight to this very day. We flew past Mt. Hood just as the sun was setting on the Pacific.
Boeing lucked into building the most beautiful aircraft ever made, by concentrating on the cargo 747 first. I’m glad they did, you can’t help watch it fly. We have British Air non-stops tp Heathrow which still use their 747-400s. With the newest interiors it’s a great bird. The 380 looks like a brick with conventional wings.by comparison. When I’ve flown the non-stop, I’m yet to hear anyone complain about the 747, it still amazing passengers. I have flown the 380 to Paris and London, out of LAX. It’s a nice aircraft I have no complaints, I just prefer the 747. I would call the 380 the Prince maybe? Not a King most definitely
Another great show! I am very nostalgic for the 747: In about 1977 I was allowed to make a student film on one of United Airlines flagships as it did a three hour turnaround at O'Hare International in Chicago. Can you imagine a major corporation just letting some kids shoot a movie on a plane these days?! As long as I stayed away from the cleaning and cabin servicing, I had complete access to both decks, but could not physically enter the cockpit... which was left wide open. Amazing experience!
im 60 now...as a kid i used to travel on the 747 often in transatlantic trips...This is a stunning ,majestic and Gargantuan craft that when you see it in person and come up to it, you find urself awed at its sheer size, its a behemouth... I remember the wide seats ,free food , in flight movies and drinks ect that were standard back then and now they nickel and dime u to death...I used to sneak up the stairs and check out the lounge area, i also used to visit the pilots in the cockpit as there was not the high security levels back then..these planes were the epitome of luxury flying and memorable...you never forget ur experience of these majestic behemouths...and yeah ,they had 4 engines ...how many craft these days have that?
Flew on a klm 747-400 last week. It's a beauty still, but not comfortable by modern standards. Noisy aircon, noisy and trembling in general. Flying back with a 777 showed a big difference in how planes have evolved! Yet I am impressed that this beauty was designed 50 years ago!
I first flew on the 747 in 1975 and many times since but always in economy. In 1995 I finally got to fly business class on the upper deck with Singapore airlines - I remember looking down at the tarmac so far below and weren't even flying yet! The cabin and seats were amazingly spacious and comfortable, and the service was spectacular. My 747 dreams came true.
I have been in love with this beauty and Graceful Queen of the Skies. This aircraft to me felt to be the most solid and safe equipment operating in the sky. The movements of the 747 were every bit of grace you can imagine. When you are in the air the engines propel you smoothly through the air. The auto control surfaces help to stabilize your ride in the air to be smooth and comfortable. I don't care how old she is. The Queen has not lasted this long for no good reason. BOEING had some great engineers design this baby for endurance. There has been no other aircraft built like this one and I am glad they did. GOD BLESS this Aircraft to be able to fly for many more good years.
Well it isn't because it is a secret or obscure fact. It is like the primary, basic facet behind the story. It is why they designed the 747. There really isn't any story without it. It is like trying to explain the 707 without mentioning the C-135.
My first ride on a 747 was in Dallas, Texas... early 80s. Braniff Airlines was doing promo rides on one of their 747s. I thought my 5 y/o son would get a kick out of it (and he did). For $25 a person, my wife, son, and I queued up in a hanger, paid our money, signed a waiver, and climbed airstairs to board. The "flight" lasted about 45 minutes - a circle around DFW airport. The pilot did a few banks so people on either side of the plane could see the countryside. One of the flight attendants (stewardesses back then) took a shine to our son - he was gregarious, but not obnoxious. After we landed, she held us back as the other people departed so that our son (and my wife and I) could visit the cockpit. The cockpit crew was, of course, very gracious and answered way too many questions from our son. He was over the moon about the whole deal. Looking back... that PR event must have cost Braniff a gazillion bucks. Even so, it was a fun afternoon for us!
I got to fly on the first Pan Am 747 put into service, the most beautiful, sexiest airplane man has ever built. Will never forget that wonderful experience on that amazing gorgeous airplane.
Time is proving that Boeing was correct to leave the VLA market to Airbus and the slow sales for the A380 have proven this. Airbus is still selling every A380 at a loss and it is unlikely that they will ever see any profits from it. Also the secondary market for used A380s is extremely weak with 2 off lease aircraft scheduled to be dismantled for parts even though they are only 10 years old. It is too heavy to be an economic freighter along with being more difficult to load and unload while also needing special equipment to load the upper deck. While the 747-8I is no longer in production and the 747-8F only has enough orders to continue in production into 2022 at a rate of only 6 per year Boeing is still predicting that there will be a large increase in freighter aircraft orders before 2022 with the 747-8F being in demand once again. While the A380 is a good airliner it was built at the wrong time to be a financial success.
It in some ways the A380 is Europe's White Elephant. Yes Emirates is the A380's bread and butter, but now the company is facing a financial issue in Dubai with labor, who are leaving skyscrapers undone or not built. Causing lots of money lost to the royal family who run the UAE.
@Ecc12:13 , after the 737 MAX debacle, we now know that Boeing is pure human dung. With the A350, we know that Airbus is at the cutting edge of aircraft design and, just as important, quality control, something that the Americans have slacked on and have now been found out. Long may Boeing rot.
@@kingwilliam763 Its still euroshit. and if your'e going to let 1 plane tell if a multi billion dollar company which has produced many other planes if they are shit, it proves that you do not have an iq larger than the average 6 year old.
@@77l96 The point was about the most beautiful airliner, not the one that sold the most. Besides, Concorde was a commercial failure in a direct sense, but we must remember that without it there would be no Airbus. So from that point of view, as Concorde was created not only to sell, but more broadly to try to save the European aviation industry from being wiped out, it actually achieved its objective many times over.
Never loses the draw. I saw my first 747, PanAm at LAX in 1970. We flew from Atlanta on a Delta DC-8-61 (so Cool!) and I caught this beautiful euphoric sight of two 747s next to a 707, which added perspective. I was 13 then and will never forget the awe and wonder of that moment. The next year Delta received its first 747 and we flew it on the ATL -Dallas Love field- LAX route' The WoW effect endures to this day 49 years later. Thank you Juan Tripp Joe Suttter and Bill Allen.
Absolutely! its the sheer size wight and mass fo the thing thats stunning to behold...to see something that big and heavy just leave the ground or come gracefully in for a landing in slow motion , and Not just dropping like a rock is fascinating!
Replacements will come, and replacements go away (A380), but the 747 was, is, and will always be, the queen of the skies. Absolutely fantastic aircraft, enviable safety record. If it ain't Boeing...I ain't going.
If you can get a window seat in row 48 and further back, you can see the 747’s body flexing. United used to have a 747 round trip LAX-DEN, leaving about 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon. I always took that flight home after attending meetings in LA. I have never seen an aircraft do this, not the TriStar or the DC-10. Looking forward from the rear seats windows, the pointy end moves left and right just a little; the flex is really coming from the tail end . The way the aircraft is tapered gives you this unique view and the reason the 747 looks so incredible, South Korea also uses a 747 to fly its president around.
The end of the story...until UPS ordered a whole bunch of them last minute. Kudos to them for keeping the jumbo jet alive into the early 2020s. It’s a shame it hasn’t gotten as many orders but alas, all good things must come to an end. The 777X is definitely a worthy successor.
I love the 747!!! Coolest looking commercial airplane in the sky. I hope it never goes away. Question to anyone who knows. Why can't they adopt it into a twin engine airplane?
Over 7,000 views and only 414 likes?. Why is it so hard for people to press that like button, this guy puts a lot of time and research into his video's, the least you could do is leave a like. I love his videos so much that I always press the like before the video even starts. Please guy's, show some love for this guy's video's and hit that like button.
Your best video just yet! I think of the 747 as one of the best aircrafts in the world, and it’s going to be painful see it go and fade into everyone’s memories.
I have been a fan of this plane almost since it's release. My Dad used to travel a lot back in the 70's and 80's. First time we picked him up at the airport(back in the days where you could meet people getting off the plane) when he was getting off one of these, I was a fan. I still am today, 50 yrs later. I never got to fly on one regrettably, although I still hope that one day I can. However, it isn't looking too promising these days, with the Boeing 747 being retired from service. Oh well, never say never.
toom2141 why is that whenever someone says that Boeing is better than Airbus you people from Europe come in the comments and just that it is American Pride all the time we never say that all you Airbus lover have ridiculous European pride he just has a preference of which plane he like more why can’t it just stay like that why do you have to go and talk about all these Americans stereotypes
Technically, the modern A380 is better than the modern 747. But, the Jumbo was the first and it dominated for decades. For now I think, the large twin-aisle planes as the A380 will not dominate against A350 and Boeing 777.
I think they can probably make one more variant using carbon fiber wing , advance versions of GE9x engines , more electric components etc in the near future . It should not die !!
50 yrs of production aint bad! The B52 was not in production until the early 60s but is still used and will be until its 100th birthday. I am sure that somewhere a 747 800 will be still going 50 yrs from now.
well, 50 yrs from now we will all be travelling in the air by Very different means than these aircraft...tech of that time will make todays most modern craft seem like it was from a prehistoric era
@@guyontheinternet8891 Ya i wonder why nobody just fills 747s and makes tons of profit... to fill the plane you would make less money because you would have to have deep discounts. Also you might be able to fill it in peak demand season in summer, but what about winter?
No OTHER plane can conquer the skies like the Boeing 747. Th USAF even considered using it as an airborne aircraft carrier, and is in wide military usage. Hail the Queen of the skies
There are greats all through aviation, but the 747 is one the The Greats, not only of aviation, but of the 20th Century. One of the most iconic objects ever created.
I was gonna grab one myself for tips to bermuda but I couldnt fit it in my driveway............dude, if ur rich enough to do that, ur lucky....I couldnt even imagine the cost of these, the maintaince and the storage, the Fuel! let alone paying someone to fly it for me... maybe ur a moviestar lol
@@sarahkevin2831 the president of one country. it would be weird if american president flew a non-american plane. so it doesn't prove aircraft's superiority.
My first flight was a 747. Acting like a grownup, I accepted stewardess's offer of a coffee, but was amazed at how it didn't spill or slide during ascent - steady as could be(am I wrong or could tray tables stay open during takeoff then?) . 45 years later, after initially a few 727 rides, a few nice L-1011s, a few nice MD rides, and mostly a ton of 737s since, largely only domestic U.S. flights (a couple to the Caribbean), I have yet to make my second flight on a 747. And my great regret was that I never got to try those awesome staircases to see what was above. (On my first flight, a Delta from ATL to ORD, they told me that the upper deck was closed. I remember how in the 70s and 80s, unlike now, you would routinely have plenty of empty seats on many flights - even having only like 29 aboard a full size jet flight, I remember on one - so I suppose my one 747 flight just wasn't full enough to justify opening the upper deck at all.)
I watch the very first one fly from Edmonds Beach. my dad helped build that one and many more I hope the cargo Market keeps production alive for a while. they are the queen of the Skies!
The most comfortable rides I've ever had were on the spacious 747 and DC-8. Wide comfortable seats, no crowding and hot food served with real knives, spoons and forks.
I’ve flown on all of them all around the world. It doesn’t get any better than sitting upstairs in Business Class of a 747 Megatop on Singapore Airlines. Quiet, smooth, & comfortable with impeccable service from the flight attendants. A Private First Class seat on other airlines wasn’t worth the extra expense.
Thats a cool thing to be proud of. It may seem kind of trivial compared to the great deeds done by the ones in the history books (or who used to be in the history books anyway), but it's more significant and interesting than anything most people will do in their lives.
The oh so classic 747 will have a cherished place in aviation history for generations to come. The A380 will be remembered as an oversize albatross of an airplane.
I remember my first 747 flight, MIA-FRA, the takeoff roll was very long, I thought something was wrong lol! I was in the very last cabin in one of the middle seats, later I flew United from ORD-FRA and IAD-FRA, I got FC once and regret that I didnt take upper deck BC, the agent asked if I preferred upper deck Business or First class, I took First! I did go up there later during the flight. Will never forget those flights! The A-380 is cool but has no personality like the 747!
It still has a market in the cargo business. It is the only airliner that can be loaded from the front & can carry stuff other airplanes cannot carry, because it has the front loading capability.
My favorite airplane ever and still the best large cargo airplane money can buy. However like all good things the story comes to an end. Not bad for over 50 years of Flight and production. She definitely is the queen of the skies!
The queen of the skies. It is a shame that these very reliable aircraft are being assigned as shit haulers because all the airlines want the more “efficient” 2 engine passenger aircraft. Sad!
Every A380 will have been scrapped long before the last 50 747's are even retired. The A380 is a "one trick pony" and whereas the '47 can be easily modified for cargo, the 380 will be sent to be made into razor blades. Many airlines are already cancelling super jumbo orders due to the fact there are quite a number of routes flying at under 80% capacity...roughly the "break even" mark.
What good can you say about AB? They built the anemic A340. A fully loaded 172 can out climb a fully loaded A340(the original)on a hot day out of Denver!lol! The 300's are nice aircraft and made great cargo haulers for UPS and Fed Ex but the 310/320's are disposable and the 380 is, well...the 380. Better see them now...I doubt there will be a single one flying in 15 years...at most.
The a300 did okay. It sold 500+ which is their first plane, not bad for a first try. The a310 was a complete failure, the a340 was a waste of time, the a380 came out at the wrong time. It’s surprisingly that the a330ceo is their best selling widebody but a330Neo is the worst selling. Look like the a350-900 will be the hotspot, not even the -1000 is doing good. The a320 program is completely fine
The 380 reminds me of the Steamship "Great Eastern" which was a the biggest in the world but an economic disaster for several sets of owners - an interesting story by itself.
Funny you say that, as there are still orders for the A380 coming in, yet a large portion of passenger 747s are being retired. And there aren’t too many on order for cargo either.
Interesting that your video on one of the legends of aviation only has about half the views of your videos on less well known aircraft. I guess that signifies that most people coming here are more interested in subjects that they can't hear about elsewhere. The 747 has already been covered by many people. With good reason, but it's nice to hear about new things.
The 777 is taking its spot. It is the reason of the death of 747 passengers versions, once the 747s leave the 777 will be the next iconic aircraft replacing it and will be doing what it’s 747 did that Ruled the skies for almost 50 years! She will remain a freighter for many many years to come. They make a perfect match.
There have been no 747-8i orders in several years, although cargo operators are still ordering the 747-8. The days of the 747 as a passenger model are coming to an end. I predict that we will see the retirement of the 747-8i in 15-20 years. The small number of extant airframes will mean faster depreciation and lower resale values. I'll miss the beautiful Queen of the Skies, too. But that's how things go. In the meantime, the A380 has just garnered 20 new orders from Emirates. It still won't break even for Airbus, but those orders are enough to hold the line running for several more years. It's likely that Emirates will place yet more orders. As a result, Airbus is planning to upgrade the A380 with new engines, new wingtip devices, and some cabin reconfiguration that will increase passenger capacity. Whether this new "A380 Plus" variant will garner much interest remains to be seen, but the overall development costs will be *way* lower than the original program and the improvements should reduce CASM. So we'll see.
That's going to be a bit of a toughie. The 747-F offers a very unique capability that only the AN-124 and AN-225 can match: the nose swings up so that very long items like wind turbine blades can be loaded. The 777F, 767F, and A330F, while excellent aircraft, can only load cargo from side doors. So if there's a very long item that cannot be broken down into shorter segments, it simply cannot be loaded into these aircraft. The good news is that the 747-8 freighter will probably be flying for a good 3-4 decades to come, so the industry has quite a while to figure out the solution to this challenge.
I will never forget the feeling of elation when I boarded a 747 for the first time. The plane is like something out of science fiction. It conveys the message that mankind can do amazing things when it rises to the challenge.
This is why 7474 will last longer than A380..I bet 747 will be around long after I’m gone..this aircraft is just that versatile..unlike 380 which is only could be use as a assigner carrier.
@Jason Bouphasavanh you are wrong, my friend, they are about equal in marketshare, also can you explain "so much superior" cause I see no reason to claim so?
There are a few missed points here: 1. The first ever 747-100 (known as the City of Everett reg. N7470) was built at the same time the walls of the Everett factory were coming up. The team that assembled N7470 was known as "The Incredibles" 2. Joe Sitter is known as "The Father of the 747" 3. The 747 is commonly regarded to as the "Queen of the Skies" 4. The proposed 747-600 was to have a full upper deck. 5
I just love this plane. I like the A380, it’s technological advancements, innovations built in, and the fact that it responds to inputs and handles SO WELL in the air. But there is something about the 747 that can’t be matched. It is often imitated, and will NEVER be replicated. It is simply, THE BEST.
100%
Very True
No new aircraft of modern time has the beauty and majestic look of the 747 - Truly the queen of the skies
Captain Harvey Beebe Jr flew 47 versions of the 747 for about 14 of his 32 years with Pan Am the remainder was DC-7 as a navigator. He loved the 747SP. He was my father,an aviation pioneer and it trail blazer
No other plane that I have evr flown on has made me feel as confident, as comfortable, and as safe as the 747. 4 Engines for long haul each and every time. I love this beauty since my first flight on board Pan Am in 1981, and continue to try to fly on the 747 as often as I can!
ntcrwler nice
Wikipedia: u wot mat?
several years ago there were two LH-Flights from PVG to Germany at the same time: a 747-8 to MUC and a A340-600 to MUC. I tried both once and prefered the A340 as it was more quiet ...
What most people are surprised to discover is that the 747 is not only one of the largest civilian jets, it is also one of the fastest. Most people assume it would be a big, lumbering giant, but no, it is actually one of the fastest air liners ever built. Maybe partly because of the scale effect that make high speed and long range easier to obtain from a larger and more powerful aircraft, but mostly because the relatively high sweep angle of the wings. They went for a higher sweep in spite of the potential handling problems at lower speeds because it was the only way to fit the wing span into existing airport dimensions. A a result, the 747 can reach a higher Mach number than most jets can. Over Mach .9, if I recall.
The best civilian transport aircraft ever produced...as well as the safest.
When it goes, I go. It’s been my “office” for 30 years.
You have been with the President of U.S. ?
Concorde much?
speed at least
William Stowe the romance and prestige surrounding commercial pilots will never die for me👍👍👍
I completely agree with you. I am an aerospace engineer of almost 40 years now. The 747 is one of those rare projects where they got it right the first time. LOL....They had no choice, they bet the farm on it. Joe Sutter was one hell of an engineer and project manager..........
Nothing beats Boeing's 747. Most imposingly beautiful aircraft ever.
A380 is better bigger more quite comfortable.And never crashed
@@miroslavvarga3707 And will never carry half as many people.
Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle: YOU DARE CHALLENGE ME?!
@@miroslavvarga3707 You can only wish for the A380 to stand up to the legacy left behind by the 747.
Also, the 747 had a huge effect in lowering the cost of air travel with its big capacity and relatively efficient engines. Fast too!
soaringtractor It’s been proven that it can go past Mach 1. The VC-25 went Mach 1 one 9/11.
@@juddpalmer5445 Yea. They were evacuating the president from Florida when they did that.
And they're phased from almost every domestic route and I've never even been on one. Was on a DC-10 once and that was exciting because of all the disasters they've had!
Thank you I flew 747 everywhere I went wile in the Air Force in the early 70's, now at 66 years old, I fly one every day, all day on my flight simulator on my desktop, having all the fun!
I remember my father took our whole family to East Boston where they had a 747 parked right at the edge of Logan in the early 70's ! I couldn't get over the size of it, bigger than the 3 floor house we lived in.
50 years in production, it was so right at the time, and the decades have been kind to it, with modernizing taking place throughout. It is more beautiful than the A380 in my opinion.
The 747 is by far the best looking plane. Especially the early ones. Followed by the a340.
The a380 is far more comfertable though, probably the best plane ever made for passengers. It is ugly as hell though lol.
@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 i do agree with you on the a380 is a ugly looking bird where as the 747 is most elegant looking plane ever produced..
@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 No A380 is modern a double decker have 1 of each at a knock down price start your own airline lol.
All pilots that flew the 747 loved it, it would probably be pretty hard to find a 747 pilot that would say he hated flying the 747. It's literally every pilots wet dream to fly the 747.
The legendary Boeing 747, greatest aircraft every made.
Joe Sutter (R.I.P), you were a genius.
10:28 for those of you not in aviation, the "type certificate" is basically an airplane version of a deed for a house. Or a diploma. Or even a birth certificate for a person.
That is your primary goal when designing an aircraft, is getting your Type Certificate. And a momentous occasion once you get it. :)
My first ever flight was on an Olympic 747 ,Heathrow to Athens ,April 1978.brilliant flight ,I’ll never forget the power on take off,comeback on a 707 ,we were spoilt on that holiday !
My first 747 flight was in July 1971 - Chicago to Seattle. It was my most unforgettable flight to this very day. We flew past Mt. Hood just as the sun was setting on the Pacific.
The Queen Of The Skies!!
Indeed, and the A380 is the King.
If it ain't Boeing...........it's on time.
No more future orders to Queen and king...
Boeing lucked into building the most beautiful aircraft ever made, by concentrating on the cargo 747 first. I’m glad they did, you can’t help watch it fly. We have British Air non-stops tp Heathrow which still use their 747-400s. With the newest interiors it’s a great bird. The 380 looks like a brick with conventional wings.by comparison. When I’ve flown the non-stop, I’m yet to hear anyone complain about the 747, it still amazing passengers. I have flown the 380 to Paris and London, out of LAX. It’s a nice aircraft I have no complaints, I just prefer the 747.
I would call the 380 the Prince maybe? Not a King most definitely
@soaringtractor "Scarebus"? Boeing is dying in the arse due to 737-MAX crashes, and the 747-8i is dead too.
In the early 70's I flew all across the pacific in the 747's, loved every minute of it, from take off to landing, it was a big party.
Another great show! I am very nostalgic for the 747: In about 1977 I was allowed to make a student film on one of United Airlines flagships as it did a three hour turnaround at O'Hare International in Chicago. Can you imagine a major corporation just letting some kids shoot a movie on a plane these days?! As long as I stayed away from the cleaning and cabin servicing, I had complete access to both decks, but could not physically enter the cockpit... which was left wide open.
Amazing experience!
im 60 now...as a kid i used to travel on the 747 often in transatlantic trips...This is a stunning ,majestic and Gargantuan craft that when you see it in person and come up to it, you find urself awed at its sheer size, its a behemouth... I remember the wide seats ,free food , in flight movies and drinks ect that were standard back then and now they nickel and dime u to death...I used to sneak up the stairs and check out the lounge area, i also used to visit the pilots in the cockpit as there was not the high security levels back then..these planes were the epitome of luxury flying and memorable...you never forget ur experience of these majestic behemouths...and yeah ,they had 4 engines ...how many craft these days have that?
Flew on a klm 747-400 last week. It's a beauty still, but not comfortable by modern standards. Noisy aircon, noisy and trembling in general. Flying back with a 777 showed a big difference in how planes have evolved! Yet I am impressed that this beauty was designed 50 years ago!
Jumbo Jet, Queen of the sky and the mothership!
I first flew on the 747 in 1975 and many times since but always in economy. In 1995 I finally got to fly business class on the upper deck with Singapore airlines - I remember looking down at the tarmac so far below and weren't even flying yet! The cabin and seats were amazingly spacious and comfortable, and the service was spectacular. My 747 dreams came true.
My first 747 flight was in 1974, TWA 747-100.
The latest was in 2016, El Al 747-400.
Many others on Delta and Lufthansa.
Dave Glo I’ve only been on a Singapore airlines 747
No
I have been in love with this beauty and Graceful Queen of the Skies. This aircraft to me felt to be the most solid and safe equipment operating in the sky. The movements of the 747 were every bit of grace you can imagine. When you are in the air the engines propel you smoothly through the air. The auto control surfaces help to stabilize your ride in the air to be smooth and comfortable. I don't care how old she is. The Queen has not lasted this long for no good reason. BOEING had some great engineers design this baby for endurance. There has been no other aircraft built like this one and I am glad they did. GOD BLESS this Aircraft to be able to fly for many more good years.
The A380 is a good plane but it will never be as great as the Queen of the Skies
a fucking men
A380 no doubt is much more comfortable, but 747 is my first love in aviation industry, So both is the Legend of the Skies
soaringtractor !!!
the most beautiful airliner, she is an icon
I had no idea about the C5 HLC backstory. Also, this is the first I've ever heard of the -500 and -600 variants. Well done as always!
There was a -700 version as well planned in that time period.
Well it isn't because it is a secret or obscure fact. It is like the primary, basic facet behind the story. It is why they designed the 747. There really isn't any story without it. It is like trying to explain the 707 without mentioning the C-135.
My first ride on a 747 was in Dallas, Texas... early 80s. Braniff Airlines was doing promo rides on one of their 747s. I thought my 5 y/o son would get a kick out of it (and he did). For $25 a person, my wife, son, and I queued up in a hanger, paid our money, signed a waiver, and climbed airstairs to board. The "flight" lasted about 45 minutes - a circle around DFW airport. The pilot did a few banks so people on either side of the plane could see the countryside. One of the flight attendants (stewardesses back then) took a shine to our son - he was gregarious, but not obnoxious. After we landed, she held us back as the other people departed so that our son (and my wife and I) could visit the cockpit. The cockpit crew was, of course, very gracious and answered way too many questions from our son. He was over the moon about the whole deal.
Looking back... that PR event must have cost Braniff a gazillion bucks. Even so, it was a fun afternoon for us!
It is now, and forever will be, The Queen of the Skies!
I got to fly on the first Pan Am 747 put into service, the most beautiful, sexiest airplane man has ever built. Will never forget that wonderful experience on that amazing gorgeous airplane.
My 2 favorites are the 747-400 and the 747-8. The Queen of the Skies will NEVER be dethroned! The A380 is just a big blob!
Time is proving that Boeing was correct to leave the VLA market to Airbus and the slow sales for the A380 have proven this. Airbus is still selling every A380 at a loss and it is unlikely that they will ever see any profits from it.
Also the secondary market for used A380s is extremely weak with 2 off lease aircraft scheduled to be dismantled for parts even though they are only 10 years old.
It is too heavy to be an economic freighter along with being more difficult to load and unload while also needing special equipment to load the upper deck.
While the 747-8I is no longer in production and the 747-8F only has enough orders to continue in production into 2022 at a rate of only 6 per year Boeing is still predicting that there will be a large increase in freighter aircraft orders before 2022 with the 747-8F being in demand once again.
While the A380 is a good airliner it was built at the wrong time to be a financial success.
It in some ways the A380 is Europe's White Elephant. Yes Emirates is the A380's bread and butter, but now the company is facing a financial issue in Dubai with labor, who are leaving skyscrapers undone or not built. Causing lots of money lost to the royal family who run the UAE.
@Ecc12:13 , after the 737 MAX debacle, we now know that Boeing is pure human dung. With the A350, we know that Airbus is at the cutting edge of aircraft design and, just as important, quality control, something that the Americans have slacked on and have now been found out. Long may Boeing rot.
@Ecc12:13 I agree with you Airbus is eurocrap
Ecc12:13 at least they fly
@@kingwilliam763 Its still euroshit. and if your'e going to let 1 plane tell if a multi billion dollar company which has produced many other planes if they are shit, it proves that you do not have an iq larger than the average 6 year old.
Hello, gorgeous) Boeing 747 is the most beautiful ariliner in the world. My word)
There's nothing more beautiful then B777 or incoming B777X. They're perfect. Though B747 are quite nice too
B777 is ideal. But the hump makes the 747 most recognizeable
When it comes to beauty, nothing beats the Concorde.
Let's work on teleportation
@@77l96 The point was about the most beautiful airliner, not the one that sold the most. Besides, Concorde was a commercial failure in a direct sense, but we must remember that without it there would be no Airbus. So from that point of view, as Concorde was created not only to sell, but more broadly to try to save the European aviation industry from being wiped out, it actually achieved its objective many times over.
I worked on these machines for many years ...............best transport ever ....loved it .....designed by geniuses
Bring back the 747 as a passenger aircraft.
There still over 500 of them flying so you have options!
There will be for...around 10 years to come bfore theyre completely gone
Never loses the draw. I saw my first 747, PanAm at LAX in 1970. We flew from Atlanta on a Delta DC-8-61 (so Cool!) and I caught this beautiful euphoric sight of two 747s next to a 707, which added perspective. I was 13 then and will never forget the awe and wonder of that moment. The next year Delta received its first 747 and we flew it on the ATL -Dallas Love field- LAX route' The WoW effect endures to this day 49 years later. Thank you Juan Tripp Joe Suttter and Bill Allen.
The 747 still the most beautiful airplane of all see that beauty take off or landing is just breath taking ✈️
Absolutely! its the sheer size wight and mass fo the thing thats stunning to behold...to see something that big and heavy just leave the ground or come gracefully in for a landing in slow motion , and Not just dropping like a rock is fascinating!
Replacements will come, and replacements go away (A380), but the 747 was, is, and will always be, the queen of the skies. Absolutely fantastic aircraft, enviable safety record. If it ain't Boeing...I ain't going.
I flew on many 747’’s.. great, comfortable planes
If you can get a window seat in row 48 and further back, you can see the 747’s body flexing. United used to have a 747 round trip LAX-DEN, leaving about 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon. I always took that flight home after attending meetings in LA. I have never seen an aircraft do this, not the TriStar or the DC-10. Looking forward from the rear seats windows, the pointy end moves left and right just a little; the flex is really coming from the tail end . The way the aircraft is tapered gives you this unique view and the reason the 747 looks so incredible,
South Korea also uses a 747 to fly its president around.
14:25 is the 15th Boeing 747 built. Destroyed over Lockerbie in December 1988. Was 18 years old at that point having been delivered in 1970.
That bit about depleted uranium blew my mind!
The end of the story...until UPS ordered a whole bunch of them last minute. Kudos to them for keeping the jumbo jet alive into the early 2020s.
It’s a shame it hasn’t gotten as many orders but alas, all good things must come to an end. The 777X is definitely a worthy successor.
They should put a hump on the 777.
Even decades after its creation, the 747 is still a timeless beauty.
I love the 747!!! Coolest looking commercial airplane in the sky. I hope it never goes away. Question to anyone who knows. Why can't they adopt it into a twin engine airplane?
It's called the 777.
4:06 "At that time, many believed that soon this guy would be Concorde by the supersonic airliners" I see what you did there!!!
I don't think it was intentional.
love this aircraft......powerful and absolutely stunningly beautiful...
Nothing is more beautiful as the Queen, the 747... And if is ain't Boeing, I ain't going...
I just love this man and all his vids, they make me feel comfortable :D
same
i know right, calming..
Jan Vereecken exactly
Over 7,000 views and only 414 likes?. Why is it so hard for people to press that like button, this guy puts a lot of time and research into his video's, the least you could do is leave a like. I love his videos so much that I always press the like before the video even starts. Please guy's, show some love for this guy's video's and hit that like button.
Your best video just yet! I think of the 747 as one of the best aircrafts in the world, and it’s going to be painful see it go and fade into everyone’s memories.
I have been a fan of this plane almost since it's release. My Dad used to travel a lot back in the 70's and 80's. First time we picked him up at the airport(back in the days where you could meet people getting off the plane) when he was getting off one of these, I was a fan. I still am today, 50 yrs later. I never got to fly on one regrettably, although I still hope that one day I can. However, it isn't looking too promising these days, with the Boeing 747 being retired from service. Oh well, never say never.
The a380 will never be as good as the 747
ooooohhhhh, do we have some symptoms of wounded ridiculous american pride. hahahaha....
I flew both and although i love the 747, the a380 is better for passengers.
toom2141 why is that whenever someone says that Boeing is better than Airbus you people from Europe come in the comments and just that it is American Pride all the time we never say that all you Airbus lover have ridiculous European pride he just has a preference of which plane he like more why can’t it just stay like that why do you have to go and talk about all these Americans stereotypes
Here it goes again, cancerous fanboyism.
Technically, the modern A380 is better than the modern 747. But, the Jumbo was the first and it dominated for decades. For now I think, the large twin-aisle planes as the A380 will not dominate against A350 and Boeing 777.
I think they can probably make one more variant using carbon fiber wing , advance versions of GE9x engines , more electric components etc in the near future . It should not die !!
50 yrs of production aint bad! The B52 was not in production until the early 60s but is still used and will be until its 100th birthday. I am sure that somewhere a 747 800 will be still going 50 yrs from now.
well, 50 yrs from now we will all be travelling in the air by Very different means than these aircraft...tech of that time will make todays most modern craft seem like it was from a prehistoric era
well 50 yrs from now we will be travelling in the air in ways that will make todays most advanced carft seem as if from a prehistoric era
Truly my favorite aircraft.
The 747 is the best I just wish that it could avoid the one thing nothing can avoid. Age.
@@guyontheinternet8891 Ya i wonder why nobody just fills 747s and makes tons of profit... to fill the plane you would make less money because you would have to have deep discounts. Also you might be able to fill it in peak demand season in summer, but what about winter?
No OTHER plane can conquer the skies like the Boeing 747. Th USAF even considered using it as an airborne aircraft carrier, and is in wide military usage. Hail the Queen of the skies
Good job in making such a wonderful documentary........
The queen of the skies - Boeing 747
The most iconic airplane of all time.
There are greats all through aviation, but the 747 is one the The Greats, not only of aviation, but of the 20th Century. One of the most iconic objects ever created.
I was fortunate enough to have flown in a 747SP on UAL from MNL to SFO via Seoul with their old Tulip livery.
It makes me sad to think that I may never fly on a 747 again
You can thank wide-bodies for that.
Though, maybe in the future, the 747 may come back in a more gigantic form. Who knows.
I hope I get to fly in one
Kate Joyce Keep saving. There’s a few around.
Kate you can fly Korea air they have b747-8
Korean Air, Air China, and Lufthansa fly the B747-8I. A couple of airlines still have the B747-400.
I bought two of these magnificent birds for private jets to keep the legacy alive.
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN OF THE SKIES
I was gonna grab one myself for tips to bermuda but I couldnt fit it in my driveway............dude, if ur rich enough to do that, ur lucky....I couldnt even imagine the cost of these, the maintaince and the storage, the Fuel! let alone paying someone to fly it for me... maybe ur a moviestar lol
@@skip741x3 oh yeah the dude with the anime photo and GTA like cover photo can afford two 747s 🤦♂️
@@tedtheodorelogan8618 he probably made a ton of money from bitcoin
I was a systems engineer on emergency equipment , escape slides rafts etc for 11 years .
That record-setting evacuation flight actually landed with more passengers than it took off with; two babies were born in-flight.
747 - 400 is the king of the skies. A380 will always be second best.
Sarah Kevin not really both have advantages and disadvantages
@@noobraider99 every single airplane has their advantages & disadvantages. True. But even the president uses the air force 1. 747. I just love it.
@@sarahkevin2831 the president of one country. it would be weird if american president flew a non-american plane. so it doesn't prove aircraft's superiority.
@Colin Baker A380 didn't trump anything it went straight into the ground! Bye-bye flying forehead!
@soaringtractor This is exactly what I wanted to say. It's normal for any government to support their country's industry.
My first flight was a 747. Acting like a grownup, I accepted stewardess's offer of a coffee, but was amazed at how it didn't spill or slide during ascent - steady as could be(am I wrong or could tray tables stay open during takeoff then?) . 45 years later, after initially a few 727 rides, a few nice L-1011s, a few nice MD rides, and mostly a ton of 737s since, largely only domestic U.S. flights (a couple to the Caribbean), I have yet to make my second flight on a 747. And my great regret was that I never got to try those awesome staircases to see what was above. (On my first flight, a Delta from ATL to ORD, they told me that the upper deck was closed. I remember how in the 70s and 80s, unlike now, you would routinely have plenty of empty seats on many flights - even having only like 29 aboard a full size jet flight, I remember on one - so I suppose my one 747 flight just wasn't full enough to justify opening the upper deck at all.)
I watch the very first one fly from Edmonds Beach. my dad helped build that one and many more I hope the cargo Market keeps production alive for a while. they are the queen of the Skies!
The most comfortable rides I've ever had were on the spacious 747 and DC-8. Wide comfortable seats, no crowding and hot food served with real knives, spoons and forks.
It is the Queen of the skies. Majestic, reliable and yes beautiful!
I’ve flown on all of them all around the world. It doesn’t get any better than sitting upstairs in Business Class of a 747 Megatop on Singapore Airlines. Quiet, smooth, & comfortable with impeccable service from the flight attendants. A Private First Class seat on other airlines wasn’t worth the extra expense.
The 747 will fly for many more years to come 🤩🤩 it's orders will never cease 😍
This legendary giant will best for Ever...
Wow! Your video was a revelation. It answered my question of why I thought the Galaxy's nose reminded me of the 747.
They had the same plastic surgeon.
I machined the ribs that went into the Dreamlifter's bonnet, 10 or 11 years ago. We actually made enough for one more plane, but it was never built.
At least they have spares.
Thats a cool thing to be proud of. It may seem kind of trivial compared to the great deeds done by the ones in the history books (or who used to be in the history books anyway), but it's more significant and interesting than anything most people will do in their lives.
The Boeing 747 should not retire
Boeing should invent a new model of the 747
Long live the queen of the skies (not England )
Great stuff as always thanks Sky!!!
The oh so classic 747 will have a cherished place in aviation history for generations to come. The A380 will be remembered as an oversize albatross of an airplane.
I remember my first 747 flight, MIA-FRA, the takeoff roll was very long, I thought something was wrong lol! I was in the very last cabin in one of the middle seats, later I flew United from ORD-FRA and IAD-FRA, I got FC once and regret that I didnt take upper deck BC, the agent asked if I preferred upper deck Business or First class, I took First! I did go up there later during the flight. Will never forget those flights! The A-380 is cool but has no personality like the 747!
The take off and landing of a 747 Jumbo is a visual delight !
It still has a market in the cargo business. It is the only airliner that can be loaded from the front & can carry stuff other airplanes cannot carry, because it has the front loading capability.
The Boeing 747. The KING of the skies. Long Live the Boeing 747
My favorite airplane ever and still the best large cargo airplane money can buy. However like all good things the story comes to an end. Not bad for over 50 years of Flight and production. She definitely is the queen of the skies!
The queen of the skies. It is a shame that these very reliable aircraft are being assigned as shit haulers because all the airlines want the more “efficient” 2 engine passenger aircraft. Sad!
boeing needs to upgrade the 747 with more efficient engines or completely redesign it somehow so we can still it fly in the future
Every A380 will have been scrapped long before the last 50 747's are even retired. The A380 is a "one trick pony" and whereas the '47 can be easily modified for cargo, the 380 will be sent to be made into razor blades. Many airlines are already cancelling super jumbo orders due to the fact there are quite a number of routes flying at under 80% capacity...roughly the "break even" mark.
TakeDeadAim And Airbus though that challenging the 747 was going to be a piece of cake. I might as well say they challenged themselves
What good can you say about AB? They built the anemic A340. A fully loaded 172 can out climb a fully loaded A340(the original)on a hot day out of Denver!lol! The 300's are nice aircraft and made great cargo haulers for UPS and Fed Ex but the 310/320's are disposable and the 380 is, well...the 380. Better see them now...I doubt there will be a single one flying in 15 years...at most.
The a300 did okay. It sold 500+ which is their first plane, not bad for a first try. The a310 was a complete failure, the a340 was a waste of time, the a380 came out at the wrong time. It’s surprisingly that the a330ceo is their best selling widebody but a330Neo is the worst selling. Look like the a350-900 will be the hotspot, not even the -1000 is doing good. The a320 program is completely fine
The 380 reminds me of the Steamship "Great Eastern" which was a the biggest in the world but an economic disaster for several sets of owners - an interesting story by itself.
Funny you say that, as there are still orders for the A380 coming in, yet a large portion of passenger 747s are being retired. And there aren’t too many on order for cargo either.
The real Queen of the skies!
A beautiful plane from beautiful times: cars, planes) DC-10, L-1011 are beuty too
Interesting that your video on one of the legends of aviation only has about half the views of your videos on less well known aircraft. I guess that signifies that most people coming here are more interested in subjects that they can't hear about elsewhere. The 747 has already been covered by many people. With good reason, but it's nice to hear about new things.
747 was a King of the wide body aircrafts. But It's time has gone. After few years the new Boein 777X will be the flagship model
soaringtractor except they're ancient 744s, all of which will be retired in 5 years, and no one's buying the 788. Big planes are on the way out
It's interesting, what plane will be the main freigter if they will stop the 747F-models production?
The 777 is taking its spot. It is the reason of the death of 747 passengers versions, once the 747s leave the 777 will be the next iconic aircraft replacing it and will be doing what it’s 747 did that Ruled the skies for almost 50 years! She will remain a freighter for many many years to come. They make a perfect match.
There have been no 747-8i orders in several years, although cargo operators are still ordering the 747-8. The days of the 747 as a passenger model are coming to an end. I predict that we will see the retirement of the 747-8i in 15-20 years. The small number of extant airframes will mean faster depreciation and lower resale values. I'll miss the beautiful Queen of the Skies, too. But that's how things go.
In the meantime, the A380 has just garnered 20 new orders from Emirates. It still won't break even for Airbus, but those orders are enough to hold the line running for several more years. It's likely that Emirates will place yet more orders. As a result, Airbus is planning to upgrade the A380 with new engines, new wingtip devices, and some cabin reconfiguration that will increase passenger capacity. Whether this new "A380 Plus" variant will garner much interest remains to be seen, but the overall development costs will be *way* lower than the original program and the improvements should reduce CASM. So we'll see.
That's going to be a bit of a toughie. The 747-F offers a very unique capability that only the AN-124 and AN-225 can match: the nose swings up so that very long items like wind turbine blades can be loaded. The 777F, 767F, and A330F, while excellent aircraft, can only load cargo from side doors. So if there's a very long item that cannot be broken down into shorter segments, it simply cannot be loaded into these aircraft.
The good news is that the 747-8 freighter will probably be flying for a good 3-4 decades to come, so the industry has quite a while to figure out the solution to this challenge.
I will never forget the feeling of elation when I boarded a 747 for the first time. The plane is like something out of science fiction. It conveys the message that mankind can do amazing things when it rises to the challenge.
same feeling bro...i was on them alot as a kid...they are unforgetable and stunning
Your videos are super. Weldone. Keep it up.
This is why 7474 will last longer than A380..I bet 747 will be around long after I’m gone..this aircraft is just that versatile..unlike 380 which is only could be use as a assigner carrier.
@Jason Bouphasavanh you are wrong, my friend, they are about equal in marketshare, also can you explain "so much superior" cause I see no reason to claim so?
The best airplane on the world 747. The queen of the Sky must not disappear!
Yet another incredible video from Sky! Absolutely World class videos! I can't thank you enough!
This is such an awesome channel. Thank you so much for taking the time to do these videos. I really enjoy them.
There are a few missed points here:
1. The first ever 747-100 (known as the City of Everett reg. N7470) was built at the same time the walls of the Everett factory were coming up. The team that assembled N7470 was known as "The Incredibles"
2. Joe Sitter is known as "The Father of the 747"
3. The 747 is commonly regarded to as the "Queen of the Skies"
4. The proposed 747-600 was to have a full upper deck.
5
Forever the best airliner.