Boeing 747: Now On Final Approach
A Transaero 747-400 at Moscow’s Vnukovo international Airport
First Class was of course grand. The service was impeccable, the fine china perfect, and for the last time I pulled up to the Pan Am Worldport in a Pan Am-liveried aircraft.
Incidentally, Flight 001 originated in San Francisco, continued westward over the Pacific Ocean to Honolulu, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Delhi, Beirut, Istanbul, Frankfurt, London, and finally New York. Flight 002, which originated in New York, hit the same cities in the opposite direction, terminating in San Francisco.
Over the years, I’ve flown on the following 747 variants although, perhaps somewhat ironically, I’ve never flown on a United or Delta 747.
- 747-100 Pan Am and Lufthansa
- 747-200 Pan Am, America West
- 747-400 British Airways, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic
- 747-8 Lufthansa
A KLM 747-400 at JFK
In a few weeks I shall be flying from San Francisco to Honolulu on UA 747, which is also United’s last 747 flight. The flight is a recreation of the first 747 flight operated by the airline on July 23, 1970 from San Francisco to Honolulu. United plans to go all out with a 1970s-inspired menu, retro United uniforms for flight attendants, to inflight entertainment it says will befit the occasion. The first 747 carried the name Friend Ship and the 747 making the final flight will be rechristened Friend Ship as well.
For at least a few weeks thereafter, Delta Air Lines will be the sole U.S. operator of the 747 until it retires the four remaining jumbos by the end of 2017. Other carriers, including British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic, will continue to fly their 747s to multiple U.S. cities. In addition, the very first 747 will remain in the Museum of Flight, in Seattle.
Generations will continue to marvel over the majesty of the 747 for years to come and 747s will continue to fly off the assembly line as Boeing has given no indication that it will end production of the Queen of the Skies any time soon.
(Photos: Accura Media Group)
