There never will be another aircraft as beautiful as the 747. Truly the lady of the skies, never losing the ability to stop people in their tracks and watch, spellbound.
@CS-zn4bu747 is the Marilyn Monroe of aircraft. Looks exquisite from every possible angle, never takes a bad photo, and an absolute legacy for the ages. 😍
I always think "spraying all that water will have been a bad plan if it crashes and they need to put out a fire". And it being a KLM 747 backtaxiing at a little island airport doesnt help. At least theres no fog.
@@palmyratoll They use up the water needed to put out fire(s). I dont know how long it takes to refill a crash truck, but I bet its a noticeable amount of time, especially if theres a plane on fire. If the plane has an accident (think Tenerife - 2 747s crashing into each other on a little island) they might wish they hadnt done that. Are the odds in their favor? Sure, it probably wont crash.
I flew these KLM 747's several times (on their Asia routes) and beautiful on the outside as they were, inside they were just really old and uncomfortable.
@@bartobruintjes7056 Just my opinion right? I used to fly a lot to Hong Kong, only those 747's used by Virgin Atlantic were worse. I would usually go out of my way to use Air New Zealand. None of them come even close to the comfort a more modern A330 or dreamliner provides.
@@m74796 Yeah because United's old aircraft having problems due its shitty maintenance is clearly Boeing's fault. Just so you know how stupid you sound, that's like saying my 20 year old car is having engine issues after 20 years of rigid use so it must be the manufacturer's fault.
I never had the privilege of riding on one of those. Quite amazing how long they built those. Beautiful takeoff on such a short runway. Sad to see the BOEING 747 coming to an end for the most part but it certainly earned legend status.
There are still many, don’t worry! I’m assuming the title refers to KLM’s 74-400…The passenger version is being retired slowly though, Lufthansa, Qatar, and a few others still proudly fly their 74’s. This exact model is hard to find but the 747-8 is still flying high :)
A historic video in its own right -- pitch-perfect filming, and the way the camera hangs onto the departing sky-high Boeing in the video's closing moments is stunningly beautiful. Well done, PH.
What a spectacular video! As a limo driver, on a daily run from the Toronto airport to the downtown hotels, I had the privilege of transporting the KLM crew pilots as well as the flight attendants. The pilots mentioned that the 747 was much more exciting to fly than a Concorde.
They wouldn't know. There are only a chosen few trained to fly a Concorde, very few pilots in history have ever been at the controls of one Only the best were chosen and trained.
I flew the KLM 747 Combi flight ORD-AMS probably 20 times in the early 2000´s for business. Always tried to get the seat in front of the door in the bubble. I still have my Delft Houses set. Some of the crew started recognizing me I was flying that route so often.
Nice! I flew several times on KLM's 747 -200's -300's and -400's as a kid. In 2019 I did JFK-AMS in the hump and back in the nose, and of course have the houses as a souvenir haha. I didn't know at the time it would be my last chance before they were abruptly retired in 2020.
It’s just awesome to think about the fact a pilot flying this beast could easily fly almost any other plane out there! All the respect to them from a new pilot with 100 hours :P
Great filming! I worked at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for decades. My skin crawls by just hearing the sound. I can almost even smell the kerosene. I'll never loose that feeling!
I got to go in the cockpit while flying as an unaccompanied minor from Toronto to London in the early 80’s when stuff like that was still allowed even got to sit in one of the seats up there for about 15 minutes. 8 year old me loved it. Honestly unaccompanied minors were treated like royalty back then pretty much had my own flight attendant for most of the flight.
Was lucky enough to fly on a BA 747 a couple times a year. I basically grew up in that plane and will never ever forget it! A pure joy to fly in and a pure marvel of engineering! ✌️
After university I worked in South Africa for a while ..wil never forget my first trip there ..on a BA 747.. Evening flight, I think flight number BA05 .. followed Concord and a Qantas 747.. I had a great view of both planes from my window seat Regards from Whitley Bay, near NCL
Flew to Curacao and St.Maarten, both times with KLM, used to work for them as flight attendant in the past. Another trip scheduled to Curacao for next year, putting this vile Corona tome behind me!
As a frequent visitor to SXM (over 18 trips) I used to love heading to Maho to watch the KLM 747 land and takeoff once a week whenever I was there. So I was very sad that not only did it stop flying that route, but today in 2021 nearly all the 'Queens of The Skies' - my absolutely favourite airliner - have been discontinued from passenger travel. In 2018 when I heard this was going to happen, I intentionally re-routed my travel plans from London to include a stop in Amsterdam so that I could fly home on a KLM 747 transatlantic flight one last time (I've flown them on 3 return trips before). It was wonderful. PS I was actually born in the City of Nairobi! :)
KLM had planned a long protracted retirement for the Queen, but upon seeing them start to be retired from service one by one I also booked a trip from JFK-AMS with 747's both ways back in 2018. (By that point they had already reduced the 747 on that route so that it was only flying on certain days). Managed to get myself upgraded into the hump on the way over and in the nose on the way back. I thought maybe I'd have an opportunity to get on a farewell flight but of course it all ended abruptly last year, so I'm glad I got one last trip in while I still could!
@@kayceadair They are being discontinued as passenger aircraft and are being converted to cargo aircraft. Lufthansa and one or two Asian airlines are the only ones that I know of who are still using them as passenger aircraft, but I don't know for how long.
Well, it’s a small airport so the facilities aren’t so impressive. Typically KLM would have a lighter passenger load on these flights anyway, either because they would pick up more passengers in Curaçao on the way back to Amsterdam and/or because they would often fly the “Combi” version of the 747, with the main deck split between passengers and cargo.
Absolutely. I had what will probably be my last flight in a 747 in May 2018 when I flew Qantas from SYD to SFO. It was a perfect flight, not so much as a ripple the whole way. They may be getting a bit long in the tooth but they’re still an amazing aircraft to fly in. I’ll miss them.
I remember the astonishment and awe we felt when the first 747 to arrive in NZ did a fly-over of Auckland in the early '70s - an enormous aircraft that momentarily blocked out the sun. They soon became routine and the astonishment vanished but the awe remained. To the end, when the FAA finally allowed large 2-engine planes to do trans-oceanic flights.
I started with Northwest Airlines in '87 and while I was at my initial training at MSP a new 400 came in from Seattle. They took my training class up for a walk-through, For a kid that grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin it was hard to believe I worked for a company that operated 50 747's. The KLM-NWA alliance was formed and matured over the 17 years I worked there, they were a great partner.
What a great experience! Yes, if I recall NWA was the launch customer for the 400 and got the first one off the production line. It was still flying with Delta up until 2015 - I remember checking it out a few years ago when it was put on display at the Delta museum in Atlanta. www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits/exhibits/aircraft/boeing-747-400
THANK YOU for keeping the camera trained on the aircraft, instead of showing the stupid sand blowing on the tourists (that EVERYONE pans away toward). FINALLY found a video that shows the uninterrupted takeoff. Great video. Thumbsup!
Agreed! Beautiful to see instead of those mindless adults acting like children, risking eye, ear and body injuries like they don't even care! And goodbye, KLM's 747s from St. Martin's!
Phased-out for passenger use yes, but not freight. Most of the 747s now retired from passenger service have been converted to freight carriers. So, you will still see them in the sky if you live near a major airport. Or in air-freight hub Anchorage, Alaska.
I was at KDFW a few days ago, and saw a UPS tagged cargo 747 come in for a landing. It was so cool to see, just how massive and graceful she was. It's a shame they are relegated to cargo duty these days. It's truly a beautiful airplane, and even from the waiting area at my gate I could hear the thunder of the reverse thrust. Such a cool airplane. I wish I had gotten the chance to fly on her.
Yeah I doubt we'll see another aircraft that's simultaneously so massive and yet so graceful moving through the sky. Fortunately I think they'll still keep flying cargo for many years to come.
I feel super lucky to have flown in a 747 many times and have been to Sint Maarten once(in 12/2021) a so beautiful island! From an Algerian Canadian! Hamdou Allah!
I watch this video first time, but i got so emotional cos I remember these planes had been flying for more than 4 decades. However i didn't have the chance to fly with them ever.. The pilot on this video shows how experienced enough he is to turn the plane at an 180 angle, in such a narrow air strip. Very striking video.
I love this plane and have traveled all over the world on her many times .including KLM Houston to skipol .. Travelled on first BOAC jumbo jet from Johannesburg to Heathrow ...... I do hope she comes back ! 💛. The most beautiful bird ever !!!!
I was on that flight, coming from Amsterdam and going to Curaçao. Still have some footage from inside the cabin and from the pilots, which I got by email from them. If you are interested, just let me know and I'll try to retrieve it for you. What a beauty!!
Awesome! Glad you could make it onto that flight. I wanted to take it on the SXM-CUR leg but apparently KLM doesn't sell that separately. I'd love to see your video, if you want you can email me at theplanehound@gmail.com
The 747's left people standing in awe as they took off and landed. There was just something about that plane that gave one a feeling of humility and a sense of honor to witness it.
😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 I love ❤️ this plane....It was the very best aircraft that I flew in all my career as a professional pilot. I will never forget it😢😢😢😢o😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
I was very lucky in the early days of the 747 about 1976, I had to go to Seattle to the Boeing facility to take a computer system for work on the YC 14 project. It was a rush job and the only seat they could get me on was a 1st class ticket. The upper deck was the 1st class restaurant, I shared the table with two high flying executives of Ford and Wrangler jeans, what an experience!! It was my first 747 flight, did a number going back and forth to the US etc, what a great plane.
Those were the days, huh? I really wish I'd been around in the early 1970s when in addition to the first class lounge in the hump they were doing crazy things like putting a piano bar at the back of coach. Fun times!
Nov 2018: One of the 4 engines was damaged bij hitting a vehicle on Schiphol Airport. That was this plane: the city of Nairobi. And: Dec 2018: This very plane took off from Nairobi airport, with only 3 generators working. The captain told the passengers they could easy made Amsterdam with 3 generators working. Hell no. After 20 minutes there was a Mayday, a big bang and the engine went on fire. The plane had to stay in Nairobi for 4 days before they could fix the problem.
i remember flying a 747 4 years ago from Newark to San Antonio to see my sister graduate college. i flown with united and was taking aback how giant the plane only knowing the smaller ones when id go plane spotting... that was also my first flight i remembered doing since my first ever flight was at the age of 3. the female captain of that plane was really kind and i still dont understand how she managed to keep that thing flying... the vibration at takeoff was amazing and we were up so quick... haha only bad thing about it was: i used the restroom and at the worst possible time it became turbulent it was shaky to say the least xd!! overall it was a really nice flight and great a nice cabin crew too!! its sad to think theres hardly many of these birds left like the mad-dog their stories and memories will never die only to fly high in our hearts.
@@culcune I know, it is amazing isn't it. I was on a flight once and I said to myself, under your feet there is absolutely nothing and made myself feel ill lol.
Excellent explanation in your blog, stating WHY the B-747 did not often fly into St. Maarten. That is a difficult airport for many aircraft; island airports often have swirling air currents around them making a difficult time for aircraft in windy weather, AND, the runway is only 7,150+ feet long at Princess Juliana, which is not long enough for a heavy aircraft. The 747 was a favorite aircraft of mine, I hated to see it retire and be replaced by the Airbus (A-340s regularly go into that airport) which isn't "Queen of the Skies" but more like a big bus and I don't like flying with so many people on board! (The 90-second evacuation rule was and still is tested with "normal" people orderly evacuating rapidly, NOT with disabled, lame, elderly people, babies, mentally inadequate people, some of which you will find on every flight in most circumstances, especially with 800+ people on some flights.) To avoid that situation, I take the "red-eye, if I have to take a long flight, it's just so much nicer, quieter, and all-around better!
I've flown both an A380 and a 747 to and from Australia (15hrs from LAX) ... Don't get me wrong, I'm an Airbus fangirl on the smaller commercial flights, but the 747 economy class was WAAYY more comfortable than the A380 ... I was pleasantly shocked ...
Totally agree with you Emily I too have flown to Australia several times on the A380 and many, many times on the 747. The Boeing 747 was much, much more comfortable in economy than the Airbus A380 where you feel like a sardine!
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There never will be another aircraft as beautiful as the 747. Truly the lady of the skies, never losing the ability to stop people in their tracks and watch, spellbound.
Yea
@CS-zn4bu747 is the Marilyn Monroe of aircraft. Looks exquisite from every possible angle, never takes a bad photo, and an absolute legacy for the ages. 😍
@CS-zn4bu So I’m not the only one! 😂
i gotta say its the queen of the skies
@CS-zn4bu the commenter said its the lady of the sky
The "Water Cannon Salute" is such a beautiful thing and always brings tears to my eyes.
Same 😊
I always think "spraying all that water will have been a bad plan if it crashes and they need to put out a fire". And it being a KLM 747 backtaxiing at a little island airport doesnt help. At least theres no fog.
Absolutely couldn't agree with you more !!
@@natehill8069 Can you explain why you think it is a bad idea
@@palmyratoll They use up the water needed to put out fire(s). I dont know how long it takes to refill a crash truck, but I bet its a noticeable amount of time, especially if theres a plane on fire. If the plane has an accident (think Tenerife - 2 747s crashing into each other on a little island) they might wish they hadnt done that. Are the odds in their favor? Sure, it probably wont crash.
Nothing like a 747 thundering down the runway. Most beautiful bird ever!
Mark S hear hearrr!!!🌟✈️☝️👏👏👏
You haven't seen the A380. Now thats a beautiful birdie
They come over once a day at O’Hare. I like them too, 747 still my favorite.
She's my favorite too
NOPE AIRFORCE 1is
The most beautiful aircraft ever designed. And KLM's paint scheme is iconic.
Scheme? It's just Blue ffs!
I flew these KLM 747's several times (on their Asia routes) and beautiful on the outside as they were, inside they were just really old and uncomfortable.
@@TamertonChocolates No
@@bartobruintjes7056 Just my opinion right? I used to fly a lot to Hong Kong, only those 747's used by Virgin Atlantic were worse. I would usually go out of my way to use Air New Zealand. None of them come even close to the comfort a more modern A330 or dreamliner provides.
Concorde ?😉
Imagine how proud Boeing is when they see this takeoff. Never gets old
Update , apparently not much pride at Boeing anymore.
If it's Boeing , I'm not going !
Well... How much pride Boeing *had.*
@@m74796😂😂😂 Absolutely love that expression! Well done‼️👍🏻👍🏻
Damn so true
@@m74796 Yeah because United's old aircraft having problems due its shitty maintenance is clearly Boeing's fault. Just so you know how stupid you sound, that's like saying my 20 year old car is having engine issues after 20 years of rigid use so it must be the manufacturer's fault.
The farewell water spray and seeing the ground crew waving this girl got me all emotional
I just love the KLM 747s. It’s gotta be my favorite livery on the 747. Long live the queen!
It's just Blue for gods sake. It ain't De Vinci))))))
@@jimmymcjimmyvich9052 Scheme? It's just Blue ffs!. What's wrong with you?
@@jimmymcjimmyvich9052 Cry some more, crybaby.
Indeed, Boeing 747 is still "the Qeeen of the Skies!" she is the most beautiful airplane in the world!
The Super G Connie comes in a close second.
@@larrypascoe6210 Exactly my thought. The Connie and the 747. The great queens of the sky.
Big fella rollin' out. Never ceases to amaze me, the grace, the power, the ingenuity.
There isn't another plane that can look as beautiful as a 747 jet .
Lester James true dat! The 380 is ugly.....
The Constellation was a good one. We are lucky as we have both of them.
The 8i
not even the A380!
As far as passenger aircraft go it’s the 747 and Concorde above all others.
That was so beautiful. I feel so blessed to have flown in a KLM 747 a few years ago from Amsterdam to Nairobi. That was some climb out!
This plane name is KLM Nairobi
Thumbs up if you were watching this teary eyed.
Queen of the skies, never to be outdone for its sheer beauty.
it never gets old, no matter how many times we see it. Thanks for posting, I miss this plane so much. Wish it would still land in Toronto.
yep
You'll still see it. The Queen of the Skies may be getting phased out of passenger service but it has a long life ahead it as a freighter.
me too Hermann of Luxembourg
Just a se-xy design!
I never had the privilege of riding on one of those. Quite amazing how long they built those. Beautiful takeoff on such a short runway. Sad to see the BOEING 747 coming to an end for the most part but it certainly earned legend status.
If you can try and go on lufthansa, they still operate 10-20 I think
There are still many, don’t worry! I’m assuming the title refers to KLM’s 74-400…The passenger version is being retired slowly though, Lufthansa, Qatar, and a few others still proudly fly their 74’s. This exact model is hard to find but the 747-8 is still flying high :)
@@elfiewickens3691 yeah, I've had the privilege of being on one of them. 10/10 experience. I would highly recommend it
Such an awesome 😎 ride!!!!
Buddy they’re still flying… the last 3 are still being produced. There are 7 remaining passenger 747’s, you just need to try to find them.
I cannot get over how beautiful the 747 is! Truly the "Queen of the Skies"!
Definitely the most iconic aircraft ever.
A se-xi air plane for sure!
what a gorgeous video, the plane, the take-off, just heady stuff. Thank you for posting it, and what a historic moment for the island's airport.
A historic video in its own right -- pitch-perfect filming, and the way the camera hangs onto the departing sky-high Boeing in the video's closing moments is stunningly beautiful. Well done, PH.
Thanks so much! It was sad to see her leave for the last time but she looked so graceful sailing through the sky. I didn't want to let the moment go!
What a spectacular video! As a limo driver, on a daily run from the Toronto airport to the downtown hotels, I had the privilege of transporting the KLM crew pilots as well as the flight attendants. The pilots mentioned that the 747 was much more exciting to fly than a Concorde.
They wouldn't know. There are only a chosen few trained to fly a Concorde, very few pilots in history have ever been at the controls of one Only the best were chosen and trained.
I flew the 747-4 and -8 for 5 years from San Francisco to Hong Kong. Never had a glitch. Beautiful plane and the reliability was remarkable.
Amazing, what a privilege. Beautiful plane ✈️
No glitch ever? No minor electrical system u/s ever? Sorry, but that doesn't ring true.
I flew the KLM 747 Combi flight ORD-AMS probably 20 times in the early 2000´s for business. Always tried to get the seat in front of the door in the bubble. I still have my Delft Houses set. Some of the crew started recognizing me I was flying that route so often.
Nice! I flew several times on KLM's 747 -200's -300's and -400's as a kid. In 2019 I did JFK-AMS in the hump and back in the nose, and of course have the houses as a souvenir haha. I didn't know at the time it would be my last chance before they were abruptly retired in 2020.
Doesn't even break out into a sweat on take off... she's like a world class athlete gradually warming up for a marathon, awesome aircraft.
It’s just awesome to think about the fact a pilot flying this beast could easily fly almost any other plane out there! All the respect to them from a new pilot with 100 hours :P
Clear skies and calm winds for you friend.
@@jogman262 Thank you Mark! ;D
Student pilot with 2.6
100 seems so far
@@gianttigerfilms just keep flying, don’t give up on it and it’ll come. -3600 hours here
As a pilot myself, I would like to say; Pocketa-Pocketa-Pocketa… )))))))
Great photograhy, awesome aircraft. Nothing like a 747, nothing compares.
I once got to fly in the upstairs seats. Love this airplane. Even watching this takeoff on my small screen is very literally BREATHTAKING!
She is still "The Queen of the Skies". A great send-off and well-done film. Thanks.
This plane is so beautiful and so majestic that even Christ the redeemer of Rio de Janeiro would applaud seeing it.
Greetings from Paris.
Aggree because even airbus A380
is approaching it’s memorial monument sooner!
Tf
I have been a passenger on her majesty several times.Always a smooth takeoff and landing and wonderful service especially in first class.
Great filming! I worked at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for decades. My skin crawls by just hearing the sound. I can almost even smell the kerosene. I'll never loose that feeling!
Thanks! I took some video at Schiphol in 2019 before the Queens were retired... I'll have to hunt that down and post some clips
@@PlaneHound Yes that would be nice! 🤩Thank you.
Shower more frequent and perhaps carry fresh flowers. Thank me later.
That is just about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
Indeed, over a million pounds taking off on a short runway and having to turn sharply for topography issues!!!!!
OK, how about the most beautiful jet aircraft of any sort ? ------ The SR-71 has my vote.
@@joemag6032 especially since it was designed and built in 1965/66!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@RantzBizGroup, Kelly Johnson, and the guys he surrounded himself with, were aeronautic geniuses .
They gave her a beauty bath for her final flight out. Gorgeous plabe!!
soundwavs1961c plabe?
Miss my president, you was awesome !
I feel lucky that I flew several times in this amazing air plane. One of my favourites.
This aircraft (PH-BFN) kept flying through March of this year when she was finally retired!
I got to go in the cockpit while flying as an unaccompanied minor from Toronto to London in the early 80’s when stuff like that was still allowed even got to sit in one of the seats up there for about 15 minutes. 8 year old me loved it. Honestly unaccompanied minors were treated like royalty back then pretty much had my own flight attendant for most of the flight.
Ive been on a lot of planes in my life,but never a 747,So sad.
@@haroldpayne2527 same, theres not msny 747s in my country
I mean, they’re still flying. Most are for Cargo but 7 are left for passengers. Maybe a final ride?
Pilots don't get enough credit! Amazing takeoff!
Because it is a job, and most people have them to varying degrees
Verdade 👏👏
@@Ben6164 it is a job with high responsibility, high skills are needed, it is not as if they were driving a car...
Anyone in 2025
Me
Me
Me
Even after 8 years it got recommended and I never realized they stopped operating 747 to SXM for so long
Yooo
Was lucky enough to fly on a BA 747 a couple times a year. I basically grew up in that plane and will never ever forget it! A pure joy to fly in and a pure marvel of engineering! ✌️
After university I worked in South Africa for a while ..wil never forget my first trip there ..on a BA 747.. Evening flight, I think flight number BA05 .. followed Concord and a Qantas 747.. I had a great view of both planes from my window seat
Regards from Whitley Bay, near NCL
Flew to Curacao and St.Maarten, both times with KLM, used to work for them as flight attendant in the past. Another trip scheduled to Curacao for next year, putting this vile Corona tome behind me!
Love how you see that baby rotating up from behind the palm trees. I can’t explain it but it looks awesome!
One of the greatest aircraft ever built.
6 b
👍🏻💎
@@juanrodriguez1940 >
True😃
Yes it is
As a frequent visitor to SXM (over 18 trips) I used to love heading to Maho to watch the KLM 747 land and takeoff once a week whenever I was there. So I was very sad that not only did it stop flying that route, but today in 2021 nearly all the 'Queens of The Skies' - my absolutely favourite airliner - have been discontinued from passenger travel. In 2018 when I heard this was going to happen, I intentionally re-routed my travel plans from London to include a stop in Amsterdam so that I could fly home on a KLM 747 transatlantic flight one last time (I've flown them on 3 return trips before). It was wonderful. PS I was actually born in the City of Nairobi! :)
KLM had planned a long protracted retirement for the Queen, but upon seeing them start to be retired from service one by one I also booked a trip from JFK-AMS with 747's both ways back in 2018. (By that point they had already reduced the 747 on that route so that it was only flying on certain days). Managed to get myself upgraded into the hump on the way over and in the nose on the way back. I thought maybe I'd have an opportunity to get on a farewell flight but of course it all ended abruptly last year, so I'm glad I got one last trip in while I still could!
the 747 has the golden ratio of all airplanes. it is truly perfection
Having been in 747 few times and also watching it take off is a marvellous experience. No other plane will ever be like the 747.
I really, really miss the B747. My favourite aircraft of all time. Luckily I've been fortunate to fly on them many, many times. But alas, no more.
@@jasminderpinder They aren’t being discontinued are they? I see them flying all the time?
@@kayceadair They are being discontinued as passenger aircraft and are being converted to cargo aircraft. Lufthansa and one or two Asian airlines are the only ones that I know of who are still using them as passenger aircraft, but I don't know for how long.
Why is there only one jet bridge? That would take hours to board off the massive 747. Usually there is two jet bridges
Well, it’s a small airport so the facilities aren’t so impressive. Typically KLM would have a lighter passenger load on these flights anyway, either because they would pick up more passengers in Curaçao on the way back to Amsterdam and/or because they would often fly the “Combi” version of the 747, with the main deck split between passengers and cargo.
The other jet bridge was in the workshop for maintenance.
Sad knowing we will no longer get to see this impressive bird and take off
Not in passenger service, but the 747 will still be used as a cargo plane
Queen of the skies,.she will always be the most beautiful~!
G Todd I totally agree!
747s looks best on KLM liveries.
I agree....
I totally agree! 100%!!!
Absolutely. I had what will probably be my last flight in a 747 in May 2018 when I flew Qantas from SYD to SFO. It was a perfect flight, not so much as a ripple the whole way. They may be getting a bit long in the tooth but they’re still an amazing aircraft to fly in. I’ll miss them.
THAT, was the most Beautiful takeoffs I've EVER Seen. I'm crying, seems so sad, it'll never be back😢😟
I remember the astonishment and awe we felt when the first 747 to arrive in NZ did a fly-over of Auckland in the early '70s - an enormous aircraft that momentarily blocked out the sun. They soon became routine and the astonishment vanished but the awe remained. To the end, when the FAA finally allowed large 2-engine planes to do trans-oceanic flights.
I started with Northwest Airlines in '87 and while I was at my initial training at MSP a new 400 came in from Seattle. They took my training class up for a walk-through, For a kid that grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin it was hard to believe I worked for a company that operated 50 747's. The KLM-NWA alliance was formed and matured over the 17 years I worked there, they were a great partner.
What a great experience! Yes, if I recall NWA was the launch customer for the 400 and got the first one off the production line. It was still flying with Delta up until 2015 - I remember checking it out a few years ago when it was put on display at the Delta museum in Atlanta.
www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits/exhibits/aircraft/boeing-747-400
As a pilot myself, I would like to say; Pocketa-Pocketa-Pocketa… )))))))
THANK YOU for keeping the camera trained on the aircraft, instead of showing the stupid sand blowing on the tourists (that EVERYONE pans away toward). FINALLY found a video that shows the uninterrupted takeoff. Great video. Thumbsup!
ImmortalSynn yes I agree great filming of what we wanted to see!
Terrific job‼️
stupid sand? that's why this airport so famous ...
Agreed! Beautiful to see instead of those mindless adults acting like children, risking eye, ear and body injuries like they don't even care! And goodbye, KLM's 747s from St. Martin's!
Almost spoken by people who have not been there to do that. I have been, and experienced the thrust from this very plane. It was an absolute blast!
@pete witheridge - so the blast didn't kill her, that "something" did. The blast indirectly did.
Great video and fantastic zoom on your camera.
She looks so majestic against that clear blue sky!
Thanks! A 747 in KLM blue is quite a sight to behold emerging from the sky and flying over the Caribbean sea.
Nothing graces the sky like a '4-7' 400. Absolutely magnificent.
Mom: "alright kids, let's go. Dad - are you coming?"
Dad: "hold on. Got something in my eye."
Excellent!!!!! Farewell to "The Queen of the Skies". Thanks for all the wonderful memories.
The most beautiful plane ever!
Next to the Concorde of course
Indeed. Concorde is #2 for me.
I love that livery. Such a beautiful plane.
The Boeing 747 is the one plane that everyone recognizes. Beautiful!!
Isn't she a pretty bird, in the prettiest livery.
So sad to see them being phased out....
Phased-out for passenger use yes, but not freight. Most of the 747s now retired from passenger service have been converted to freight carriers. So, you will still see them in the sky if you live near a major airport. Or in air-freight hub Anchorage, Alaska.
Wouldn't call it the prettiest livery 😬 but yeah
It’s a shame klm
I'm afraid of planes but this is just beautiful. Excellent takeoff Eric. All the best 👍🇧🇸
I was at KDFW a few days ago, and saw a UPS tagged cargo 747 come in for a landing. It was so cool to see, just how massive and graceful she was. It's a shame they are relegated to cargo duty these days. It's truly a beautiful airplane, and even from the waiting area at my gate I could hear the thunder of the reverse thrust. Such a cool airplane. I wish I had gotten the chance to fly on her.
Yeah I doubt we'll see another aircraft that's simultaneously so massive and yet so graceful moving through the sky. Fortunately I think they'll still keep flying cargo for many years to come.
I left in stand by this hobby of airplanes in 2017 and now that I barely come back, I realize that times really change.
Went to St.Maarten some years ago and spent hours out at the airport-what a wonderful place !!!
The first time I saw 747 in 1972 it was called the "whispering giant" .sad to see you go old lady.....
It as always amazed me how we get the 747 up at v1 and rotate....up she goes. :)
I feel super lucky to have flown in a 747 many times and have been to Sint Maarten once(in 12/2021) a so beautiful island! From an Algerian Canadian! Hamdou Allah!
The 747 remains the most beautiful, majestic, regal aircraft to ever fly the skies.
Except of course the Concorde...
How many pilots does it take to change a lightbulb?
Just one, he holds the lightbulb and the earth rotates around him.
Haha, of course 🙃
Could watch this all day. Beautiful!
Seriously I could too.. Such a beautiful aircraft and so big yet the roll out and take off were flawless!!!
I had a good friend that used to fly 747 into St Maarten for KLM..The 747 was one of my favorite aircraft,I always enjoyed flying on them.
The queen of the sky. The mighty 747 will be missed.
Sadly it’s the only Boeing plane I haven’t flown on.
Thanks so much for posting. 👍👍
You still have a chance to get on one if you fly Lufthansa. Amazingly they have a fleet of 27 of them in regular passenger service... for now.
I watch this video first time, but i got so emotional cos I remember these planes had been flying for more than 4 decades. However i didn't have the chance to fly with them ever.. The pilot on this video shows how experienced enough he is to turn the plane at an 180 angle, in such a narrow air strip. Very striking video.
I love this plane and have traveled all over the world on her many times .including KLM Houston to skipol .. Travelled on first BOAC jumbo jet from Johannesburg to Heathrow ...... I do hope she comes back ! 💛. The most beautiful bird ever !!!!
I was on board these beautiful birds about 2 times a year from their beginning to end ... shall miss them dearly ! ,
A beautiful take off by this beautiful Jet!
The video was superbly shot, great camera quality and angel. I watched it till the end, it was worth watching it. 👏👏
Thanks for watching! I'm glad you liked it.
Queen if the Skies STILL, with the 747~8🌟✈️☝️ Flew her last August Chicago to Frankfurt, on Lufthansa🌟🇩🇪, what a terrific bird✈️!!!
I was on that flight, coming from Amsterdam and going to Curaçao.
Still have some footage from inside the cabin and from the pilots, which I got by email from them.
If you are interested, just let me know and I'll try to retrieve it for you.
What a beauty!!
Awesome! Glad you could make it onto that flight. I wanted to take it on the SXM-CUR leg but apparently KLM doesn't sell that separately. I'd love to see your video, if you want you can email me at theplanehound@gmail.com
Great video, beautiful plane! Love the extended zoom shot at the end. Thanks for posting this.
A sad farewell to such a graceful beast... I didn't want to let her go. Eventually the KLM blue blended into the sky and she was gone.
What a great send off for the last 747 to lift off from St Maarten. This would have been a forever memory to witness in person.
The 747's left people standing in awe as they took off and landed. There was just something about that plane that gave one a feeling of humility and a sense of honor to witness it.
Excellent summary. Excellent.
i Looooove your video of the KLM 747🛫
This plane will always be in my top 3 favorites the 747 is a beautiful plane
M
Which are the other two?
I agree, this beautiful plane, United Airlines (battleship grey livery) and the all white red tailed Qantas. Are my three!
What are the others?! For me it's the Super VC10 then Concord. Icons of their eras.
@@jennybroad1763 A380 and 737
What a beautiful picturesque final takeoff from St Maarten!!!❤
Theres something so majestic about how easily these beasts get themselves into the air
😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
I love ❤️ this plane....It was the very best aircraft that I flew in all my career as a professional pilot.
I will never forget it😢😢😢😢o😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Hanging onto the fence at Malo beach will never be the same again.
I was very lucky in the early days of the 747 about 1976, I had to go to Seattle to the Boeing facility to take a computer system for work on the YC 14 project. It was a rush job and the only seat they could get me on was a 1st class ticket. The upper deck was the 1st class restaurant, I shared the table with two high flying executives of Ford and Wrangler jeans, what an experience!! It was my first 747 flight, did a number going back and forth to the US etc, what a great plane.
Those were the days, huh? I really wish I'd been around in the early 1970s when in addition to the first class lounge in the hump they were doing crazy things like putting a piano bar at the back of coach. Fun times!
I've seen the surviving YC-14 prototype at the Pima Air Museum... a great design, too bad they never went into production
"Climb baby, climb!" --Charlton Heston
Some real beautiful footage. Thanks for sharing! ...and for all the detailed info in the drop down menu.
So graceful. 'The Queen of the Skies.' Wow, why do we always lose the good stuff?
Nov 2018: One of the 4 engines was damaged bij hitting a vehicle on Schiphol Airport. That was this plane: the city of Nairobi.
And: Dec 2018: This very plane took off from Nairobi airport, with only 3 generators working. The captain told the passengers they could easy made Amsterdam with 3 generators working. Hell no. After 20 minutes there was a Mayday, a big bang and the engine went on fire. The plane had to stay in Nairobi for 4 days before they could fix the problem.
Yikes. I hope she has an easier time between now and her retirement!
Opp
i remember flying a 747 4 years ago from Newark to San Antonio to see my sister graduate college. i flown with united and was taking aback how giant the plane only knowing the smaller ones when id go plane spotting... that was also my first flight i remembered doing since my first ever flight was at the age of 3. the female captain of that plane was really kind and i still dont understand how she managed to keep that thing flying... the vibration at takeoff was amazing and we were up so quick... haha only bad thing about it was: i used the restroom and at the worst possible time it became turbulent it was shaky to say the least xd!! overall it was a really nice flight and great a nice cabin crew too!! its sad to think theres hardly many of these birds left like the mad-dog their stories and memories will never die only to fly high in our hearts.
Thanks so much for posting this. Incredible shots of the Queen in all her glory. Wow!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I still cannot understand how these planes can take off, with all the body weight and all the baggage. I know I am simple, but it blows my mind.
and they're absolutely gorgeous and graceful doing it.
Michelle Henderson You’re not alone. It is an indescribably gorgeous sight.
Not only that, they are 7 miles up in the sky for thousands of miles at 600 mph...
@@culcune I know, it is amazing isn't it. I was on a flight once and I said to myself, under your feet there is absolutely nothing and made myself feel ill lol.
Max weight of a 747 is 400 Tons!!!
Today, does the A340 still come to St-Marteen on regularly scheduled flights?
Yes, Air France is still flying them from Paris almost daily... for now.
The end of an era. 😢
I am so lucky i got the chance to take a 747 from NYC to LAX one time. A magnificent beast, just beautiful.
Excellent explanation in your blog, stating WHY the B-747 did not often fly into St. Maarten. That is a difficult airport for many aircraft; island airports often have swirling air currents around them making a difficult time for aircraft in windy weather, AND, the runway is only 7,150+ feet long at Princess Juliana, which is not long enough for a heavy aircraft. The 747 was a favorite aircraft of mine, I hated to see it retire and be replaced by the Airbus (A-340s regularly go into that airport) which isn't "Queen of the Skies" but more like a big bus and I don't like flying with so many people on board! (The 90-second evacuation rule was and still is tested with "normal" people orderly evacuating rapidly, NOT with disabled, lame, elderly people, babies, mentally inadequate people, some of which you will find on every flight in most circumstances, especially with 800+ people on some flights.) To avoid that situation, I take the "red-eye, if I have to take a long flight, it's just so much nicer, quieter, and all-around better!
Greetings from Jundiaí, Brazil
it almost brought tears to my eyes to see this
I've flown both an A380 and a 747 to and from Australia (15hrs from LAX) ... Don't get me wrong, I'm an Airbus fangirl on the smaller commercial flights, but the 747 economy class was WAAYY more comfortable than the A380 ... I was pleasantly shocked ...
Totally agree with you Emily I too have flown to Australia several times on the A380 and many, many times on the 747. The Boeing 747 was much, much more comfortable in economy than the Airbus A380 where you feel like a sardine!
such a beauty, i have travelled on the KLM 785 747 4 times between 1999 and 2002
“Dad: why the heck are you crying so darn loud?”
FFS
3:08 the pilot flashed a paper in the window, what was written on it? Shouldve zoomed ☹
Yeah the zoom was maxed out but couldn’t quite get it from that distance. The sign said “Bye bye SXM!”