Final two BA 747s Leaving Heathrow for the Last Time
Discussion
andy97 said:
Indeed, i see a cargo one from one carrier or another most days at East Midlands Airport.
Oh yes, I appreciate that, but with BA and Virgin retiring their 747s, my kids are very unlikely to ever fly on one on holiday, unless I decide to put them in a container and send them ahead with Kalitta 
There's something about the shape of the 747 that makes it more exciting and impressive to a 9 year old, even though he'd be comfier and better entertained in a shiny new 777X or A350.
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
You can if you’re always bombing down the road to Tetbury and don’t take the turning to go round the other side!I’ve got a bit more time this weekend so will venture over there, just a shame AV8 is still closed as that was good for a coffee and to watch the weekend pilots too.
Most will be broken up on site I'm sure. Re-usable parts will enter the second hand parts market. Some MAY find a buyer either as passenger airliner or, more likely, a freighter.
Way back in 1966, when the 747 was being designed, it was assumed that second hand 747s would have a second life as freighters. Boeing thought that they would be able to sell passenger 747s into the mid to late 1970s by which time everybody would want to be flying on supersonic airliners. As a result, they designed the 747 to be equally at home as a freighter as a passenger aircraft. That is why they went for the raised flight deck layout - it would give an unobstructed cargo hold plus an option for loading through a nose door.
They also gave the 747 a fairly sharp degree of wing sweepback - 37.5 degrees. This allowed it to have a high subsonic cruise speed - which would mean that airlines operating 747s in the supersonic era would not be so disadvantaged.
In the end, the supersonic era never really came to pass and the need for fuel economy meant that 747s rarely operated near their highest subsonic cruise capabilities.
But it didn't matter. What the 747 gave was economy and better return on a seat per mile basis. It ushered in a new era in 1969.
Way back in 1966, when the 747 was being designed, it was assumed that second hand 747s would have a second life as freighters. Boeing thought that they would be able to sell passenger 747s into the mid to late 1970s by which time everybody would want to be flying on supersonic airliners. As a result, they designed the 747 to be equally at home as a freighter as a passenger aircraft. That is why they went for the raised flight deck layout - it would give an unobstructed cargo hold plus an option for loading through a nose door.
They also gave the 747 a fairly sharp degree of wing sweepback - 37.5 degrees. This allowed it to have a high subsonic cruise speed - which would mean that airlines operating 747s in the supersonic era would not be so disadvantaged.
In the end, the supersonic era never really came to pass and the need for fuel economy meant that 747s rarely operated near their highest subsonic cruise capabilities.
But it didn't matter. What the 747 gave was economy and better return on a seat per mile basis. It ushered in a new era in 1969.
mstrbkr said:
Burrow01 said:
Wow. That is fantastic.mstrbkr said:
Burrow01 said:
Wow. That is fantastic.
jonobigblind said:
You can if you’re always bombing down the road to Tetbury and don’t take the turning to go round the other side!
I’ve got a bit more time this weekend so will venture over there, just a shame AV8 is still closed as that was good for a coffee and to watch the weekend pilots too.
AV8 is operating a "shack" with bacon baps, coffee etc but you have to consume them outside. Perfectly acceptable if you wrap up warm I’ve got a bit more time this weekend so will venture over there, just a shame AV8 is still closed as that was good for a coffee and to watch the weekend pilots too.
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