747-400 fading from the skies

[Dont call me Shirley]

Have any UAL ships met the scrapper's torch?

The aviation geek in me wants to weep.



http://www.businessw...en-of-the-skies

 

[jimntx]

As a customer, it was certainly my favorite airplane for long-distance flying.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

I remember watching one on final after going through a massive hail storm and returning with no radome, body fairings, cracked windshield, and all the leading edges looked like they had been nailed with an army of ball peen hammers. Of course the pilot knew none of this (other than the cracked windshield).

Quite the machine. She will be missed. (they still have many years IMHO)

 

[737823]

As a customer, it was certainly my favorite airplane for long-distance flying.

Beg to differ. I prefer the newer 777s, or A380. Just flew the LH A380 in F and it was awesome but to each their own I suppose

Josh

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Different era. As for flying, the DC-10 was the fastest of its era.

From a maintenance perspective, the 747-100/200/400 was great. I loved maintaining the Boeing family.

As for ease of troubleshooting, IMHO, the A-320 family was tops. But hey, that is me.

 

[azdryheat]

Different era. As for flying, the DC-10 was the fastest of its era.

From a maintenance perspective, the 747-100/200/400 was great. I loved maintaining the Boeing family.

As for ease of troubleshooting, IMHO, the A-320 family was tops. But hey, that is me.

I am type rated on both aircraft and they are both great airplanes to fly. The 747 is faster that the DC-10. The 10 cruised at .82-.83 but could do .88 if you needed to. The 747 is .84-.86 and I have had it over .90 many times.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

Thanks for the correction. I was told by our pilots that the 10 was faster and more comfortable to fly than the -200 whale. Of course, they were in love with their own type. Maybe it was the recline feature of the cruise attitude of the DC-10! Our DC-10-40's had JT-9's.

 

[xUT]

Give me any 747 with a lounge or a piano bar!

 

[whatkindoffreshhell]

The 747 pic in that article is for a combi. I don't think any airline has flown that version in years. Great plane which does have a role in this current market but the four engines are expensive.

This article sounds like it could have been written by an Airbus PR chickie. Remember when those crazy Euros ran an advertising campaign for the A340 "four engines for longhaul" -- ridiculous!

 

[WorldTraveler]

KLM still flies the 744 combi.
https://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/prepare_for_travel/on_board/seating_plans/747-400Combi.htm

Boeing is trying to keep the 747 in the game with the 748 but the economics of earlier generation 747s are getting more and more challenging vs. the 773 and the 380.

 

[tech2101]

KLM still flies the 744 combi.

I used to turn that KLM combi evey day along with some of the finest 747 maintenance minds.