Sniff... A little sad about a farewell to 747

[monokakata]

"Airbus once forecast sales of more than 1,200 of the planes over 20 years; it has so far only delivered 193 planes and has orders for just 126 more."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/b...s-cuts-delivery-goal-for-a380-jumbo-jets.html

 

[cube]

They are reducing the rate to 1 per month, so that a NEO would bring an increased improvement, and to focus on other things at the moment.

Emirates said they would order up to 200 of them.

 

[quagmire]

They are reducing the rate to 1 per month, so that a NEO would bring an increased improvement, and to focus on other things at the moment.

Emirates said they would order up to 200 of them.

And they would be the only ones. No one else is ordering A380's. If it wasn't for Emirates, Airbus would probably shut the A380 line down soon too. Not sure if 200 planes would be enough for Airbus to justify the R&D of a neo/stretch. They haven't hit breakeven point on the current A380 investment.

 

[cube]

A neo does not need to be expensive like the major overhaul of the 747, which was the mistake.

It can be something like the A330neo, with the bulk of the cost taken by the engine manufacturer, and RR is ready.

To compete with an A380, you need another one. The average person wants to fly on it.

And metropolis are not Saudi Arabia. Give it time.

 

[cube]

747-400 looking good...

http://aviationtribune.com/airlines/europe/british-airways-completes-boeing-747-cabin-makeover/

 

[RedOrchestra]

My 1st ride was on a Pan Am 747-100 from Sydney, Australia to Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1970 / my latest ride was Business Class on a Lufthansa 747-8 from Frankfurt, Germany to Chicago, Illinois, in 2013/ my best rides were on a Wardair 747-200 from Vancouver, British Columbia to Honolulu, Hawaii return, in the late 70s.

 

[cube]

I hope that BA lighting retrofit is not just blue/white. That would not be the right color.

And of course, that business class does look suffocating. And I would avoid rear facing, even if it is safer.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Smaller and more and more and more CRAMPED is the new thing. If you're 6' or taller you better pay for 1st class or premium economy or you're going to be MISERABLE on anything longer than two hours or so on most of these newer planes. Being fat is one thing, but one cannot help how tall they are and they just keep decreasing the distance between seats constantly. The price difference between even economy and economy premium can be over $1000 on an International flight, let alone 1st class International. I would not have been able to stand the flight home from London with coach so I paid through the nose. Losing airline regulation is the reason they can do this with total impunity.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Best flight was on a 747, from Hawaii to Taipei.
My 10th birthday happened when I crossed the International Date Line, so the Airline gave free 1st class tickets to my family of six. They gave me a big model of the 747, a captain hat (for kids), and they even let me in the cabin where they allowed me to press a few switches (probably air conditioning stuff, but as a 10yo kid I felt like Tom Cruise in Top Gun).

 

[RedOrchestra]

If you're 6' or taller you better pay for 1st class or premium economy or you're going to be MISERABLE on anything longer than two hours or so on most of these newer planes.

My last 3 trips have all been in Premium Economy - the High-Density seating now in most economy sections on overseas flights, is no longer acceptable. Not only have they shortened the seat pitch but they've also cut the width of the seats - no way I'm flying back there again. 777s used to have 3x3x3 seating and with the change to high-density seating it's 3x4x3 - narrower seats and narrower aisles.

 

[yaxomoxay]

My last 3 trips have all been in Premium Economy - the High-Density seating now in most economy sections on overseas flights, is no longer acceptable. Not only have they shortened the seat pitch but they've also cut the width of the seats - no way I'm flying back there again. 777s used to have 3x3x3 seating and with the change to high-density seating it's 3x4x3 - narrower seats and narrower aisles.

Don't complain, or else ...

 

[Thomas Veil]

they surely knew their suff at that time...

"Take the wings off this thing and you can use it as a tank!"

-- George Kennedy in "Airport"

 

[Waragainstsleep]

They will still be in service in 20 years time so no sniff sniff from me.

And the rest. About 8 years ago I flew on a 737 that hadn't been updated since 196-something by the looks of it.

 

[Huntn]

A technological heavy hitter! Great airplane.
[doublepost=1472591449][/doublepost]

And the A380 will join it in the grave soon enough. Super Jumbo's are a dying breed. As sad as it is, Boeing owned the market to its death. And Boeing is the reason for its death due to the creation of the 777 and 787.



They still do. They went in the right direction with focusing on the 787 where Airbus went with the A380.

They just unfortunately messed up the way they developed the 787 with outsourcing everything which lead to problems and thus delays.

Unfortunately as well while Boeing was planning its 737 replacement, Airbus came out with the A320neo and Boeing had to respond with the MAXX because a true replacement wouldn't been out soon enough to go against the neo. Thus pushing the 737 replacement to the 2030's. Because while Boeing owns the wide body market, they desperately need a new airframe to be really competitive in the narrow body market.

Everything is harder with a bigger plane, especially that big, takes longer to do everything, load, unload, service, and it does not even fit some airports. Now the A320 and 330 are sweet planes that have given Boeing a kick in the behind. Delta was an all Boeing fleet until after the NWA merger when they gained NWAs 320s, and based on customer and aircrew feedback, made a huge 320 or was it 321 order?

 

[Vogue Harper]

As life imitates its masterpiece, Joe Sutter, the man behind the 747, has sadly passed away at the age of 95.

I adore the Boeing 747, one of my first loves and am sad to see its demise.

 

[Huntn]

"Airbus once forecast sales of more than 1,200 of the planes over 20 years; it has so far only delivered 193 planes and has orders for just 126 more."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/b...s-cuts-delivery-goal-for-a380-jumbo-jets.html

With the complications the 380 had that delayed its rollout , they lost a huge number of orders from cargo haulers. The sweet spot for big airplanes seems to max out at 747 size and for flexibility, smaller airplanes are in vogue these days.

 

[monokakata]

When the President is on Oahu, the backup 747 is parked at the rather small Hilo Airport. You come around a turn and whoa! There it is, literally a stone's throw away (if you have a strong arm).

It's here again, and I grabbed a couple of shots. This year, they closed off the right lane. Damn! Couldn't stop and get out of the car. This is called "hold RX100 in right hand while steering with left and don't make eye contact with the security person . . . "

 

[djmodifyd]

View attachment 679112 View attachment 679113
It's here again, and I grabbed a couple of shots. This year, they closed off the right lane. Damn! Couldn't stop and get out of the car. This is called "hold RX100 in right hand while steering with left and don't make eye contact with the security person . . . "

cool pictures! though...that's not "air force one" as we all know it (the VC25), thats an E4 (the "doomsday plane").

 

[monokakata]

Thanks for that information. I hadn't known about the E4, but now I do. Interesting.

 

[PracticalMac]

And the A380 will join it in the grave soon enough. Super Jumbo's are a dying breed. As sad as it is, Boeing owned the market to its death. And Boeing is the reason for its death due to the creation of the 777 and 787.



They still do. They went in the right direction with focusing on the 787 where Airbus went with the A380.

They just unfortunately messed up the way they developed the 787 with outsourcing everything which lead to problems and thus delays.

Unfortunately as well while Boeing was planning its 737 replacement, Airbus came out with the A320neo and Boeing had to respond with the MAXX because a true replacement wouldn't been out soon enough to go against the neo. Thus pushing the 737 replacement to the 2030's. Because while Boeing owns the wide body market, they desperately need a new airframe to be really competitive in the narrow body market.

That is a failure of the airlines to properly implement the wide bodies.

Size is always an advantage, be it engines or aircraft.

It is very simply this: there is only so much space in airports.
A 737 will take up the same space as a 747. It sounds counter-intuitive but it is not because both will still take up the same same gate, the same tug, the same service hookups, especially the the same space in the sky (but yes, the 747 will need a little more manpower to turn around for next flight).

World population is not getting smaller, and despite the economy there is reason and money to travel.