“Queen of the skies” retiring

The 747's are not going away completely. There are just no more going to be built. Most of 747's are hauling very expensive freight all over the world. Lots of military items are also being transported on 747s.

I see a 747 coming over my house about 5-6 times a week coming in from Singapore, Hong Kong or South Korea through Anchorage. They also haul freight from Luxembourg, Brussels and Miami through here.

Hopefully I'll pick the report of the last departure up on King 5 news you tube channel later. It's not up yet but hopefully they will post the report.

I have fond memories of flying on her too. I was fortunate enough to fly business class on the upper deck a few times. It has a small cozy feel to it. One time I got a free upgrade to first and got to ride the very first seat on the left hand side downstairs. Quite the pilot’s eye view for an aviation geek like me. I miss flying on that plane. I hope to fly the Airbus A380 before she gets retired too.

Unfortunately the economics of these big 4 engine planes means they don’t make sense anymore. Burn too much gas and too many seats to fill.

The cloud cover is pretty low, so if it does a s/b take-off chances of seeing it are minimal; should hear it if I pay attention (assuming it hasn't left yet) A n/b take-off has 0 chance of my observing it.

First flight I ever took was on a 747. Was stunned at how much the wings 'flapped'.

End of production, but many years of use ahead, mostly as a freight truck or presidential limo.

In Dec 2019, I was fortunate to use points to book the upper deck/business for one of BA's last double-decker flights from Philly to London. It made for a great start to my trip. Cozy feel to that upper deck.

my best rides were on a Wardair 747-200 from Vancouver, British Columbia to Honolulu, Hawaii return, in the late 70s.

Have to concur--- real china-- open bar and got to be in the cockpit during flight... the only downer was the dome was the smoking section, but was able to spend a good deal of the time on the semi-circle couches

Debbie we also were on one of BA’s last 747 flights in late December 2019 from London to Vancouver seated in BC on the upper deck. It is memorable for that and also the beginnings of a Covid infection for both of us; a couple of months before the world knew what was coming. My partner was particularly unwell as we flew back so he was grateful to have the extra seat space.

There was a huge ceremony at Boeing Factory at Paine Field today. Their massive hangar full of people celebrating the last 747 manufactured and its history.

I love the 747 and was very disappointed when what was to be our last 747 flight on the upper deck was canceled due to the pandemic.

My first flight on a 747 was in 1976, a very stressful flight from Fairbanks Alaska to Seattle with our 5 month old baby to attend a family funeral. I had heard that the 747 was better pressurized than other planes and the changes would not hurt an infant’s ears as much. This seemed to hold true as our baby was not bothered by the landing.

Fast forward to 2003 and our honeymoon trip to Venice. I booked our flight on British Airways in business class with my Alaska Airlines miles and it turned out to be a 747. Back then one did not choose seats; they were assigned at the airport. And we were fortunate to be given seats on the upper deck. I have paid extra to have those upper deck seats when we fly British Airways ( with miles) ever since.

On two separate flights on 747’s in the years between 2003 and 2010, we experienced a. “go around” upon landing—- the plane is about to touch down but instead powers up and heads back into the sky.. It can be very unnerving, but I knew the 747 could handle it. Each time the pilot came on to explain that there was something about the landing he didn’t like ( in one case it was a helicopter in the landing path). So he pulls the plane up and goes around again.

I am sad that we will not be able to fly one of these beautiful and very comfortable planes again.

Smithsonian Channel has some docs about the history of the 747 and by now I assume they're on Youtube as well.

They changed international travel forever, for better and worse.

https://katu.com/news/nation-world/final-boeing-747-leaves-everett-leaves-message-in-virtual-sky

Flight path across E. Washington

Thanks to all who have shared their memories. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjilNjMlvf8AhWUHzQIHexqAH4QFnoECDIQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ekathimerini.com%2Fnytimes%2F1203659%2Fthe-last-boeing-747-leaves-the-factory%2Famp%2F&usg=AOvVaw23YCPDhM0XUBH3NxlgPkT2

This article reminded me of the beginning of the 747 production. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjC6uHPmff8AhV7CTQIHezZBPcQFnoECAwQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fspecial.seattletimes.com%2Fo%2Fspecial%2Fcentennial%2Fnovember%2Flights_out.html&usg=AOvVaw1xfVrvpumLjmxS_RcHGPaV