I worked as a flight attendant for TWA out of Boston and flew the SP several times. One problem we had with it was due to the flying altitude and the tendency for the water lines to freeze up. As we descended and reached lower altitudes and warmer air, the frozen likes would thaw and we’d experience flooding from the aft section of the plane.
I flew TWA’s sp round trip New York to Cairo in first class. It was on of the most memorable flights ever. The aircraft provided a smooth ride and I believe at a higher altitude than the regular variants. As I recall the f/a boasted that you could see the curvature of the earth but I am not sure I ever did. The inflight service was incomparable.
In 1980 I flew nonstop from JFK NY to Dhahran Saudi Arabia. About 20 hours back then and the longest flight back then I think - Wow. I think we were flying at a higher altitude than the other commerical Airlines. The pilot pointed out the mouth of the Nile River as we flew over , what a clear beautiful site. Also this was my First time on a 747.
I for one saw them taxing or on runways and always found them quite spectacular visually, with the taller tails and shorter fuselages. They looked “intense”, for lack of a better word.
According to the Boeing 747SP book by Brian Baum, the SP's were ordered by TWA in anticipation of them being awarded routes to the Middle East, but these routes were never authorized. They ended up flying transcon and transatlantic routes instead. I saw them regularly at JFK and LHR back in the day.
Nice video, but I was more curious about where TWA and American actually flew them. Where they ended up is more trivial, as are the registration numbers (useful but don’t need to be announced)
American used them on the Dallas to Tokyo route. DFW/NRT. TWA purchased them in hope of getting China routes but that never materialized. TWA ended up flying them JFK/Cairo, JFK/Tel Aviv, Boston/LHR, JFK/CDG, JFK/LHR. Since they really didn't fit into their route structure TWA sold them.
I flew on one of these Pan Am SPs in the mid 80s, from Hong Kong to San Francisco. I recall that it was incredibly fast and because of its smaller configuration, completely packed with passengers. I recall that it seemed to take like forever to get airborne out of Kai Tak airport and then flying direcly over Taiwan. Incredible experience that remains with me to this day.
I flew the last two SP's quite a lot as a F/O for TWA, which ended when they went to American Airlines. Then in 1990, I flew the 747 for 7 years as a captain until they got rid of the last one in February of 1998 if I remember correctly..
Incredible plane with enormous range! I flew on a CAAC (now Air China) Boeing 747SP on January 15-16 1988, as flight CA 174 between CAN - SYD with stopover in MEL.
I spotted TWA’s 747SP “Boston Express” in the summer of 1980 on finals of Long Beach, NY to JFK. I was/am always a loyal avgeek and was surprised to see the SP variant in the TWA fleet. I did fly PanAm’s 747SP in October 1983 between Miami and JFK, that was then continuing to LHR and FRA. I LOVED THE FLYING EXPERIENCE and wished I was flying all the way to Germany to to further relish this beautiful flying machine as a passenger.
I flew on a 747SP from Tokyo to Dallas in 1990. At that time, most 747 flight to/from Tokyo were from West Coast airports, Dallas was a stretch. The aircraft was configured with a small first class section, a huge business class, and a small (50 seats?) economy class. Yaw movement was more noticeable than other aircraft, and that was about the only difference I observed.
Flew on TWA's 747SP's - JFK-CAI-JFK in 1984. We left JFK an hour late and arrived an hour early into CAI. On the return, we had a rejected takeoff due fuel spilling from the vent according to the captain's announcement.
I flew once as a passenger on UN001 to dead head from FRA to ALA, Kasachstan Airlines used it and they tried very hard to meet Business Class standards of western airlines, in the cockpit were Kasachstan Airlines pilots and additional pilots from TWA - made me and my crew feel safer.
I flew the 747SP twice, in July and August 1982, Rome to Buenos Aires and back, with AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS - my first of more than 40 RT flights to South America
I was at the SFO viewing area besides runway 10R. that is no longer there, and watched a TWA 747SP doing some kind of test flights or pilot training. It would take off normal, land then take off with a short roll and then a tight banking turn. Was fun to watch. The 747SP was besides shorter had a taller tail and the flaps were one piece instead of triple slotted.
Quite enjoyed flying on the 747SP. With PanAm their greater range meant that they could fly across the Pacific from Sydney to LAX without an intermediate stop, whereas other aircraft of the time couldn't. Another factor which meant more comfortable travel was that their cruising altitude was considerably higher so you would rarely encounter turbulence. With fewer passengers on board, compared with the other 747 aircraft, meant boarding and unloading times were shorter, meaning also that you didn't have to endure quite such an ordeal in airports for customs and immigration, which were horrible at the time in LAX in particular. Qantas had a couple of them, which were of benefit in their flights to and from Wellington NZ, where the runway was rather short, requiring their better performance.
I saw the SP only 2 times as they did not make it to LAX much. They were bought to service the Asian routes that did not materialize as hoped. They were a poor fit to other routes. I did not think we kept them that long.
Used to see one occasionally at Heathrow. To me it just looked like someone had put the fuselage in the hot wash. It was almost a cartoon version of its bigger sibling. Added to that the tail was far too big, the wings were too big, the fuselage was too fat and tall etc etc. It had ugly duckling written all over it.
On what routes did T.W.A. use these aircraft? When Pan Am & Iran Air began flying the S.P.s, it was between New York & Tehran, and Pan Am then started using them between N.Y. and Tokyo. What long-distance routes did T.W.A. have that were suitable for the S.P., rather than its L-1011s, 707s, and 747?
Interesting how before the 1979 Iran revolution, Iran Air was one of the largest Boeing's customers. PAN AM and Iran Air both wanted 747SP for Tehran-New York root.
SAA , South African Airways , had 6 of the B747SP LR variant. Because of the geographic position of South Africa , the most southern country on the African continent . SAA were not permitted to fly over the air space of the majority of African countries , do to the Apartheid government regime . They had to fly around the bulge of west Africa to destinations in the UK and in Europe . SAA asked Boeing if there was a Long Range variant . The SP was able to fly non stop to Europe , the UK , no fuel stops. In comparison the B747 -200 series , had a fuel stop in Cape Verde or Las Palma. I was in junior school when I am got to fly on SAA's SP with my parents, on two occasions on the JNB-HKG-JNB service. It was then that my passion for commercal aviation grew.
SAA ordered these aircraft off the the drawing board because they offered the possibility of a non-stop round the bulge capability that was unavailable with the -200s. However before they were delivered, P&W came out with the -Q version of the JT-9D with a specific fuel burn that rendered the -200 able to do get the same range at the SP with a larger payload even with the JSV density altitude of 9000 feet plus. They had to be retained as their was no market value for the model after this that would have avoided an embarrassing parliament disclosure/ Something that SAA has essentially offered nothing but such disclosures ever since.
So nice to see the priorities of a tax exempt “Christian ministry” where they feel the need to buy a jumbo sized private luxury jet in order to take “missionary trip”. How much did that cost their elderly followers?
They were hoping they could get LAX to Tokyo when they had the pacific route case. They were awarded the around the world with stops in Guam and Okinawa as well as HKG and BKK, Columbo and Bombay.
Simple Flying proving yet again they know how to read Wiki pages, but can't figure out stuff....Interface was the founding company for Las Vegas Sands, it was Adelsons convention and travel business which morphed into what you see today.
Between 1970 and 2001, TWA's active roster consisted of aircraft built by Boeing (707,727, 747), McDonnell-Douglas (DC, and MD single aisle aircraft), Lockheed (L-1011) and Convair (880). No Airbus.
@@Hat65 Why would I be jealous of someone who devoted their life to a fictitious character in order to fleece gullible people of their money so they can buy a jet. I might be a little envious of someone who's achieved success in a moral way and owns a nice G650, though. 😊
I saw a program on why preachers need/use private jets because they can get to where they want to go at anytime. Not having to deal with the headaches of airlines and airports. Ok that's fine, but most of those guys can afford their own private jet. No need to fleece the parishioners to pay for a it....
I worked as a flight attendant for TWA out of Boston and flew the SP several times. One problem we had with it was due to the flying altitude and the tendency for the water lines to freeze up. As we descended and reached lower altitudes and warmer air, the frozen likes would thaw and we’d experience flooding from the aft section of the plane.
Atleast the nose didn’t fall of
The 747SP has range records that stand today. It was one of the candidates to replace the 707 Air Force One, along with the 747-200 and the DC-10.
I flew TWA’s SP twice as a flight engineer crew member just before they were sold.
I probably flew with you because I flew them to Cairo and Athens right up to when they were sold.
Was the certification for the SP the same as the longer ones (pre-400)?
I miss these 747s so much. And I am glad I have flown on the 747-400s.
My first of now hundreds international flights was TWA from JFK to Rome when I was a kid.
You never forget your first! 😀
I flew on one. Pan Am. JFK to Tokyo. 1979. As a kid they let me into the cockpit over the Arctic Circle. Was an amazing view!
Amazing how a simple change in paint job can change something like a 747 from looking 'old fashioned' to modern.
Yes! Can’t wait to see someone manage to create a modern-liveried DH Comet concept lol
I flew a TWA 747 from Los Angeles to Heathrow in 1980. Was my first time flying. Was awesome 👌.
Love these historical overviews of specific operator fleet types.
Well, the SP variant is awesome, but is nobody gonna talk about the SOFIA which is now owned by NASA and DLR?
Also NASA had a 747 SP for transporting the Space Shuttle.
@@darkpepsi no. that was a 747-100
@@kingsharkoon Google it my dude. There were two Boeing 747s. Yes one was a -100 but the other one was an SP.
@@kingsharkoon “NASA procured a surplus 747SR-46 from Japan Airlines. Registered N911NA”
@@darkpepsi 747SR is based on a 747-100 frame built with special specifications for Japan market
Flew TWA several times while in Navy. Always treated good.
I flew TWA’s sp round trip New York to Cairo in first class. It was on of the most memorable flights ever. The aircraft provided a smooth ride and I believe at a higher altitude than the regular variants. As I recall the f/a boasted that you could see the curvature of the earth but I am not sure I ever did. The inflight service was incomparable.
In 1980 I flew nonstop from JFK NY to Dhahran Saudi Arabia. About 20 hours back then and the longest flight back then I think - Wow. I think we were flying at a higher altitude than the other commerical Airlines. The pilot pointed out the mouth of the Nile River as we flew over , what a clear beautiful site. Also this was my First time on a 747.
I for one saw them taxing or on runways and always found them quite spectacular visually, with the taller tails and shorter fuselages. They looked “intense”, for lack of a better word.
Great video. Remember seeing these iconic planes at heathrow airport back in the 80’s
According to the Boeing 747SP book by Brian Baum, the SP's were ordered by TWA in anticipation of them being awarded routes to the Middle East, but these routes were never authorized. They ended up flying transcon and transatlantic routes instead. I saw them regularly at JFK and LHR back in the day.
Nice video, but I was more curious about where TWA and American actually flew them. Where they ended up is more trivial, as are the registration numbers (useful but don’t need to be announced)
Mostly JFK/DFW - LHR/CDG
American used them on the Dallas to Tokyo route. DFW/NRT. TWA purchased them in hope of getting China routes but that never materialized. TWA ended up flying them JFK/Cairo, JFK/Tel Aviv, Boston/LHR, JFK/CDG, JFK/LHR. Since they really didn't fit into their route structure TWA sold them.
If I could bring back one airline, it would 100% be TWA
It really could work in the modern age
@@alexanderboulton2123 it really could.
I’d pick FlyBe 😅
Pan am for me.
@J.P.M. 52 he’s such a bad business man he made a hotel in Las Vegas go bankrupt
I flew on one of these Pan Am SPs in the mid 80s, from Hong Kong to San Francisco. I recall that it was incredibly fast and because of its smaller configuration, completely packed with passengers. I recall that it seemed to take like forever to get airborne out of Kai Tak airport and then flying direcly over Taiwan. Incredible experience that remains with me to this day.
I did fly on the Qantas SP in 1988. Sydney to SFO via LAX. Amazing range and power.
I flew the last two SP's quite a lot as a F/O for TWA, which ended when they went to American Airlines. Then in 1990, I flew the 747 for 7 years as a captain until they got rid of the last one in February of 1998 if I remember correctly..
What were some of the routes?
I have no personal experience with the TWA‘s SPs but my dad had his first 747 flight on an SP of TWA!
Remember the video about Televangelist's 747SP a month ago ? Until now, there are only 6 747SP is still in the current fleet
My first flight on SP was United Airlines Narita-San Francisco direct in 1988. Had good experience.
Yes, as a child I was a passenger on one of SAA's B747SP's several times.
Incredible plane with enormous range! I flew on a CAAC (now Air China) Boeing 747SP on January 15-16 1988, as flight CA 174 between CAN - SYD with stopover in MEL.
I spotted TWA’s 747SP “Boston Express” in the summer of 1980 on finals of Long Beach, NY to JFK. I was/am always a loyal avgeek and was surprised to see the SP variant in the TWA fleet.
I did fly PanAm’s 747SP in October 1983 between Miami and JFK, that was then continuing to LHR and FRA. I LOVED THE FLYING EXPERIENCE and wished I was flying all the way to Germany to to further relish this beautiful flying machine as a passenger.
I flew on a 747SP from Tokyo to Dallas in 1990. At that time, most 747 flight to/from Tokyo were from West Coast airports, Dallas was a stretch. The aircraft was configured with a small first class section, a huge business class, and a small (50 seats?) economy class. Yaw movement was more noticeable than other aircraft, and that was about the only difference I observed.
Flew on TWA's 747SP's - JFK-CAI-JFK in 1984. We left JFK an hour late and arrived an hour early into CAI. On the return, we had a rejected takeoff due fuel spilling from the vent according to the captain's announcement.
I flew non stop in a B747 SP of Braniff from Bogota BOG to Los Angeles LAX in December of 1979. Fantastic fly.
I remember watching the crew load freight on the AA 747SP at the "freight house" at DFW before it's noon departure to Tokyo in the late 80's
I flew once as a passenger on UN001 to dead head from FRA to ALA, Kasachstan Airlines used it and they tried very hard to meet Business Class standards of western airlines, in the cockpit were Kasachstan Airlines pilots and additional pilots from TWA - made me and my crew feel safer.
I flew the 747SP twice, in July and August 1982, Rome to Buenos Aires and back, with AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS - my first of more than 40 RT flights to South America
You can see the Sands 747sp almost every time you fly into Las Vegas, their ramp is very close to Janet too!!
That Las Vegas 747, I feel like I've seen that plane in Kahului, HI (Maui) at one point. The paint scheme looks so familiar that no 747s fly to Maui.
I was at the SFO viewing area besides runway 10R. that is no longer there, and watched a TWA 747SP doing some kind of test flights or pilot training. It would take off normal, land then take off with a short roll and then a tight banking turn. Was fun to watch. The 747SP was besides shorter had a taller tail and the flaps were one piece instead of triple slotted.
officially my favorite plane
R.I.P. TWA 1930-2001
Amazing! Keep it up!
My favourite 747 variant
Interesting
Very cute mini 747 😻
Quite enjoyed flying on the 747SP. With PanAm their greater range meant that they could fly across the Pacific from Sydney to LAX without an intermediate stop, whereas other aircraft of the time couldn't. Another factor which meant more comfortable travel was that their cruising altitude was considerably higher so you would rarely encounter turbulence. With fewer passengers on board, compared with the other 747 aircraft, meant boarding and unloading times were shorter, meaning also that you didn't have to endure quite such an ordeal in airports for customs and immigration, which were horrible at the time in LAX in particular. Qantas had a couple of them, which were of benefit in their flights to and from Wellington NZ, where the runway was rather short, requiring their better performance.
I was impressed with Air Mauritius 747SPs.
It is said that the 747 SP was a speed demon. 😈
VP-BLK is still at McCarran in Vegas. Just saw it there 2 weeks ago.
Not those ones specifically, but I did fly a return trip on a 747SP with China Airlines in the mid 80's.
yes, I have flown on Iran Air SP's many times, excellent aircraft.
I think all sp had the galls on the right side between R1 door and R2 door except TWA. Their spgallies were in the center like their -121s.
TWA was my very first flight, Boston to LA nonstop....about 1981 for $ 198.00 round trip.
it was the 747sp
I saw the SP only 2 times as they did not make it to LAX much. They were bought to service the Asian routes that did not materialize as hoped. They were a poor fit to other routes. I did not think we kept them that long.
One of the most iconic a and still flying 747SP was NASA/DLR SOFIA airborne observatory
My favourite 747!
If I could bring back 2 airlines it would be TWA and PanAm
For which special routes did TWA need the 747SP ?
I can't believe Iran air was mentioned given that it retired a 747SP as late as 2016
Really Nice to see it parked at Cape Town at 3:50
Dont see any reference to Cape Town - it was parked in Arizona
@@Yves_Ka I was referring to the photo of the aircraft.
Used to see one occasionally at Heathrow. To me it just looked like someone had put the fuselage in the hot wash. It was almost a cartoon version of its bigger sibling. Added to that the tail was far too big, the wings were too big, the fuselage was too fat and tall etc etc. It had ugly duckling written all over it.
One time I saw were the SP 747‘s and it looks like the big ones except for shorter
I should have mentioned that I was a TWA FA.
wow This plane pass down
I never seen TWAs SPs . The only SPs Ive seen in person were Iran Air and Saudi Arabian both at LAX
I last flew a qantas boeing 747 sp in 2002
Nowhere in the video is it mentioned what routes TWA flew with the SP. Any info on that?
Got to fly the red eye Jedi smoking flight out of Tokyo midnight WAS a great flight
Please make a video about Elal 747, I promise you a very interesting story ...
The Sands SP was in an accident a couple of years ago. Has it been fixed? There was speculation it would be scrapped.
Las Vegas Sands had two 747SPs. One was damaged and scrapped in 2020, the other one is the one mentioned in the video and is still active
On what routes did T.W.A. use these aircraft? When Pan Am & Iran Air began flying the S.P.s, it was between New York & Tehran, and Pan Am then started using them between N.Y. and Tokyo. What long-distance routes did T.W.A. have that were suitable for the S.P., rather than its L-1011s, 707s, and 747?
Interesting how before the 1979 Iran revolution, Iran Air was one of the largest Boeing's customers.
PAN AM and Iran Air both wanted 747SP for Tehran-New York root.
South African Airways had six of these, one is at the bottom of the Indian Ocean.
The Helderberg wasnt a 747SP
SV has one in his VIP Fleet
Unfortunately it hasn’t flown In years
I used to see the Sands 747SP while taxiing at LAS. I thought they had two of them though...
The other one was damaged beyond repair last year :(
one was damaged beyond repair :(
SAA , South African Airways , had 6 of the B747SP LR variant.
Because of the geographic position of South Africa , the most southern country on the African continent . SAA were not permitted to fly over the air space of the majority of African countries , do to the Apartheid government regime . They had to fly around the bulge of west Africa to destinations in the UK and in Europe . SAA asked Boeing if there was a Long Range variant . The SP was able to fly non stop to Europe , the UK , no fuel stops. In comparison the B747 -200 series , had a fuel stop in Cape Verde or Las Palma.
I was in junior school when I am got to fly on SAA's SP with my parents, on two occasions on the JNB-HKG-JNB service.
It was then that my passion for commercal aviation grew.
I flew once JHB - ROME with a stops in Ilha da Sol and Lisbon - I seem to remember it was a 20 Hour flight
I flew on SAA‘s 747 SP‘s from Frankfurt to Windhoek and back. Great experience, loved the SP.
SAA ordered these aircraft off the the drawing board because they offered the possibility of a non-stop round the bulge capability that was unavailable with the -200s. However before they were delivered, P&W came out with the -Q version of the JT-9D with a specific fuel burn that rendered the -200 able to do get the same range at the SP with a larger payload even with the JSV density altitude of 9000 feet plus. They had to be retained as their was no market value for the model after this that would have avoided an embarrassing parliament disclosure/ Something that SAA has essentially offered nothing but such disclosures ever since.
Such a huge Airline but just 3 Boeing747SP's?
I love the 747 but I don’t like the 747SP as it’s too short.
When I hear twa 747 I think about a crash
I thought the Chinese airlines were the only ones that had 747SPs in their fleet. 🤔
This isn't really a story. It's mainly a list of registrations.
So nice to see the priorities of a tax exempt “Christian ministry” where they feel the need to buy a jumbo sized private luxury jet in order to take “missionary trip”. How much did that cost their elderly followers?
But why did TWA order the SP and why was their stint in the fleet so brief?
They were hoping they could get LAX to Tokyo when they had the pacific route case. They were awarded the around the world with stops in Guam and Okinawa as well as HKG and BKK, Columbo and Bombay.
@@skipphillips6457 Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for the explanation!
What’s up my fellow aviation enthusiasts
I have 3D printed 747 so and I’m going to make NASA or TWA
There is an sp in Tijuana
Simple Flying proving yet again they know how to read Wiki pages, but can't figure out stuff....Interface was the founding company for Las Vegas Sands, it was Adelsons convention and travel business which morphed into what you see today.
What you say is also incorrect.
0:22
It looks like a regular 747 that had some kind of genetic mutation.
american owns twa and i guess american just dosent like it
Most airlines didn't like it. They only sold 45 of them.
They look like toy model air planes, to what I have seen
Did TWA own Airbuses?
By the way, video suggestion: What happens to aircraft from bankrupt airlines?
They had orders for Airbus 318s. No other Airbus aircraft in their fleet that I know of.
I think they had a330’s
@@snooz221 They never had Airbus aircraft besides the A318 orders which have never happened since they ceased operations
Between 1970 and 2001, TWA's active roster consisted of aircraft built by Boeing (707,727, 747), McDonnell-Douglas (DC, and MD single aisle aircraft), Lockheed (L-1011) and Convair (880). No Airbus.
Great video suggestion!
O
Today’s 9 11 :(
1st
Ha! No...
Actually you were first
MSRT was first, check new first and scroll down
You’ll never be first lmao MSRT&A held this title for a long time
Even if you were, nobody would have a damn
Sorry, you did not name Iran Air
1.07
Look up Ernest Angley's vids on YT -- he's been a grifting, tax-evading prosperity televangelist since the 1970s.
An evangelist shouldn't have a private jet in the first place. But I guess that's the hypocrisy of religion and those who preach it.
Alun Jones ☝️Someone’s jealous 😂
@@Hat65 Why would I be jealous of someone who devoted their life to a fictitious character in order to fleece gullible people of their money so they can buy a jet.
I might be a little envious of someone who's achieved success in a moral way and owns a nice G650, though. 😊
@@alunjones2550 Poor you.
@@Hat65 No need to feel sorry, I'm perfectly happy.
I saw a program on why preachers need/use private jets because they can get to where they want to go at anytime. Not having to deal with the headaches of airlines and airports. Ok that's fine, but most of those guys can afford their own private jet. No need to fleece the parishioners to pay for a it....
So what makes it interesting? 😂