The last domestic airline passenger flight of the Boeing 747 will take place Tuesday. Delta is the last American flagged airline flying the original jumbo jet. The flight will depart from Seoul, South Korea and fly nonstop to Detroit.

Several foreign carriers will continue to use the plane, as well as numerous cargo carriers. Since 1990, it is also in service as Air Force One, flying the president worldwide.

The 747 was introduced into service in 1969 and has become symbolic of airline travel. With it's distinctive hump, the plane is unmistakeable for any other.

[www.yahoo.com]

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All things must pass, but this one is a little hard to believe for people of a certain age. For at least a couple of decades, there was a running joke that the 747 was the official bird of Hawaii.

Is it just that the 747 is too expensive to operate domestically in the US as a passenger plane?

Since foreign carriers are going to continue using it, we'll still see it for some time around major US internation hub airports for many years to come. But after that the only quad-engine configuration will be the Airbus A380... None of which are used domestically in the US unless I'm mistaken.

It does seem unreal; I know if I were flying over oceans I'd feel a lot safer in a plane with 4 engines. I know multiple engine failure is unlikely... but it just seems like a tragedy waiting to happen. Even something unlikely is bound to occur when the event happens often enough.

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gabester
Is it just that the 747 is too expensive to operate domestically in the US as a passenger plane?

Yeah, it is. Requires too much maintenance, too much MX infrastructure, and the 74 isn't nearly as fuel-efficient as more modern designs. Like the story says, there just isn't demand for that much seating in domestic air travel, that problem has been solved with multiple smaller jets instead of fewer humongous ones (remember the L-1011 and that gigantic row of seats?).

smaller fast turnaround full planes more frequently fits the domestic market

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gabester
Is it just that the 747 is too expensive to operate domestically in the US as a passenger plane?

If I recall correctly (which I may not) I don't think the 747 has been used domestically here in the U.S. for decades.

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Carnos Jax

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gabester
Is it just that the 747 is too expensive to operate domestically in the US as a passenger plane?

If I recall correctly (which I may not) I don't think the 747 has been used domestically here in the U.S. for decades.

The one and only time I ever flew on one was Chicago to LAX in 2002. I think Northwest and United flew them domestically at least into the 2010's and/or NWA's merger with Delta.

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Carnos Jax

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gabester
Is it just that the 747 is too expensive to operate domestically in the US as a passenger plane?

If I recall correctly (which I may not) I don't think the 747 has been used domestically here in the U.S. for decades.

This is my understanding as well. This is the last 747 flight by a US airline. But this flight in particular is international. I guess we will see international airline fly 747 for a while, and with multiple airlines sharing flights, you would probably still be able to buy a ticket from a US airline and end up flying a 747 operated by a foreign airline.

I remember when flying the Jumbo Jet was a new experience. I was amazed at the space - I could stretch out, and even walk to the magazine rack on the wall in front of me. It seemed as big as a large building. The pilot's cabin was gigantic.

When I flew again 2 years later, it was a lot more cramped that I'd remembered. I guess I'd grown a bit from age 2 to age 4.

Maybe the passengers will get lucky and Baby Buzz and Mrs. Buzz will be piloting and co-piloting the 747 on its bon voyage voyage...



Just kidding... pic is from fall 2016 flight on 747 to Japan that Mrs. Buzz talked flight crew into photo op.
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Buzz
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Just kidding... pic is from fall 2016 flight on 747 to Japan that Mrs. Buzz talked flight crew into photo op.
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wow, you can do that after 9/11? hard to believe.

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space-time

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Buzz
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Just kidding... pic is from fall 2016 flight on 747 to Japan that Mrs. Buzz talked flight crew into photo op.
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wow, you can do that after 9/11? hard to believe.

They must have taken the keys out of the ignition

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Hurts like a bastid...

I still see what I think are 747s on their way to Europe. Mostly Lufthansa, I think.

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Hurts like a bastid...

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Will Collier

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gabester
Is it just that the 747 is too expensive to operate domestically in the US as a passenger plane?

Yeah, it is. Requires too much maintenance, too much MX infrastructure, and the 74 isn't nearly as fuel-efficient as more modern designs. Like the story says, there just isn't demand for that much seating in domestic air travel, that problem has been solved with multiple smaller jets instead of fewer humongous ones (remember the L-1011 and that gigantic row of seats?).

Every time I flew one in the last couple years it was packed full to the gills....

Flight got cancelled due to lack of crew. Rescheduled for tomorrow.

[news.delta.com]

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Delta's expected last scheduled flight of the 747 was unfortunately cancelled Sunday due to an inability to fully staff the flight with its required four pilots. Customers have been given hotel rooms, meals and have been rebooked on an extra flight from Detroit to Seoul-Incheon for Monday morning. Delta exhausted all options to prevent the cancelation and apologizes to the customers delayed and inconvenienced.

While there was disappointment in today's cancelation, dozens of Delta customers and employees stopped by a 747 historical display near the McNamara Terminal's signature fountain to share stories and remembrances of the 747.

That few "current" 747 pilots floating around?

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Racer X
That few "current" 747 pilots floating around?

You would think that for the privilege of being on the final flight that there would have been staff volunteering well in advance to be on it.

But maybe their flights getting there got cancelled due to the power outage in Atlanta, a major Delta hub.

[news.delta.com]

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A power outage at the Atlanta airport Sunday affecting all airlines there resulted in approximately 900 Delta cancellations, with an additional 300 cancellations on the books for Monday.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2017 01:06AM by GGD.

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mrbigstuff

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space-time

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Buzz
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Just kidding... pic is from fall 2016 flight on 747 to Japan that Mrs. Buzz talked flight crew into photo op.
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wow, you can do that after 9/11? hard to believe.

They must have taken the keys out of the ignition

Mrs. Buzz has over 40 years service as a flight attendant, and that includes a whole bunch of mergers and acquisitions along the way, so she knows a lot of flight crew members. She rightly figured it would probably be Baby Buzz's last opportunity to scope out a 747... and pretty sure they pulled the keys. As to the L-1011's, the domestic version had a comfy front cabin for passengering, but the F/A's largely didn't like working that plane compared to other heavies.
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I recall flying in an L1011 to Mexico as a teen.an, that thing was huge surprising that it got off of the ground.

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Hurts like a bastid...

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Ombligo
The last domestic airline passenger flight of the Boeing 747 will take place Tuesday. Delta is the last American flagged airline flying the original jumbo jet. The flight will depart from Seoul, South Korea and fly nonstop to Detroit.

?