Jumbo: The Plane that changed the world.
Discussion
I used to have a desk overlooking the runway at Gatwick - I went back to the same desk today and watched one of the many 747s come in, I loved that desk. Such a pretty plane! I'd watch them landing day in day out back in the day.
It was a virgin one that came in today, my colleagues didn't seem to love the plane in the way I do
The slow, beautiful landing that they do is unique (I spent a long time at that desk a few years ago).
It was a virgin one that came in today, my colleagues didn't seem to love the plane in the way I do
The slow, beautiful landing that they do is unique (I spent a long time at that desk a few years ago).
strummerville said:
I think the difference was the massive 'can do' attitude that existed on the 60s. 1969. Inaugural flights of the 747, Concorde and a Saturn V landed men on the moon.
And far fewer computers and H&S people and people who sit in offices talking b
ks. No internet or social media to play on either.Boeing 747 -
project launched 1966
1st flight 1969
entered service 1970
Boeing 777 -
project launched 1989
1st flight 1994
entered service 1995
Not an altogether different time frame.
Modern airliners are a lot more sophisticated avionics wise than airliners of early generations so testing and [proving all these electronic systems now takes longer than when systems were simpler.
project launched 1966
1st flight 1969
entered service 1970
Boeing 777 -
project launched 1989
1st flight 1994
entered service 1995
Not an altogether different time frame.
Modern airliners are a lot more sophisticated avionics wise than airliners of early generations so testing and [proving all these electronic systems now takes longer than when systems were simpler.
Simpo Two said:
strummerville said:
I think the difference was the massive 'can do' attitude that existed on the 60s. 1969. Inaugural flights of the 747, Concorde and a Saturn V landed men on the moon.
And far fewer computers and H&S people and people who sit in offices talking bks. No internet or social media to play on either.
I think in the days of slide-rules & more unknowns (as the 747 was breaking new ground in terms of size for an airliner) greater strength margins were built-in.
Today airliners are built to the minimum structural requirements of the regulators & any margin above that is seen as compromising efficiency & both the manufacturer's & operator's margins.
To think that the DC8 was deliberately tested in a supersonic dive gives some appreciation as to the margins built into the best of the '60's jet airliners. I couldn't imagine any Airbus aircraft of today being able to survive that treatment without damage & then go into airline service. The 747 is a similar sort of beast to the DC8 - as strong as an Ox & designed by old-school engineers.
Today airliners are built to the minimum structural requirements of the regulators & any margin above that is seen as compromising efficiency & both the manufacturer's & operator's margins.
To think that the DC8 was deliberately tested in a supersonic dive gives some appreciation as to the margins built into the best of the '60's jet airliners. I couldn't imagine any Airbus aircraft of today being able to survive that treatment without damage & then go into airline service. The 747 is a similar sort of beast to the DC8 - as strong as an Ox & designed by old-school engineers.
Simpo Two said:
strummerville said:
I think the difference was the massive 'can do' attitude that existed on the 60s. 1969. Inaugural flights of the 747, Concorde and a Saturn V landed men on the moon.
And far fewer computers and H&S people and people who sit in offices talking bks. No internet or social media to play on either.Otispunkmeyer said:
Love the full scale testing. Most of that would be done in isolation today (perhaps still at full scale, but its not as exciting). Causing the engines to flame out deliberately mid flight to prove a point? Amazing.
I thought that as well!Right Mr P&W we're at 30,000 ft so watch this and I'll keep doing it until you acknowledge there's an issue
Haynes produced a manual for the 747 and I purchased a copy.
I was chuffed to see a Cathay 747-400 in the book itself, moreso because I now fly that very aircraft on a regular basis.
744 Cockpit by r1flyguy, on Flickr
I was chuffed to see a Cathay 747-400 in the book itself, moreso because I now fly that very aircraft on a regular basis.
744 Cockpit by r1flyguy, on Flickr
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