B747 production coming to an end?
10-28-2013 | 02:47 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: FAA ATSI VSRP ERC
And then put them in storage at Marana. I flew them out when they were purchased and put back into service with a different carrier.
Only two of them were in passenger configuration; the others were freighters. The two in passenger configuration had ended their service lives as troop transports, and when I picked up the airplanes from storage, troops had written notes to the company and the flight attendants on the seat backs and on all the pull down window shades. The airplane was autographed throughout by troops on their way home. Kind of neat.
I was given the flight manual to take home as a sort of souvineer, and I grabbed a pax briefing card and a blanket from the overhead bin, because it was all getting tossed. Schmaltzy stuff, but little momentos along the way.
Only two of them were in passenger configuration; the others were freighters. The two in passenger configuration had ended their service lives as troop transports, and when I picked up the airplanes from storage, troops had written notes to the company and the flight attendants on the seat backs and on all the pull down window shades. The airplane was autographed throughout by troops on their way home. Kind of neat.
I was given the flight manual to take home as a sort of souvineer, and I grabbed a pax briefing card and a blanket from the overhead bin, because it was all getting tossed. Schmaltzy stuff, but little momentos along the way.
I took a lot of (extra) pride readying those aircraft during those runs!
10-28-2013 | 04:40 PM
#22
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: 747
10-28-2013 | 06:30 PM
#23
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Curator at Static Display
I'm guessing a total market of about 150 747-800s, mostly freighters. As discussions on United threads have shown, the Marketing folks found that a 777 could fly long-haul (Australia to California; China to New York) more efficiently....on paper.
But reality often upsets the apple cart. Delays/weather/MELs affect Range/payload/fuel reserve issues, and often people or cargo must be left behind.
I flew the -100, 200, and 400, and enjoyed them all. But the 400 had some tremendous capabilities. When full, it was a big money-maker. On the other hand, it is a big gamble: if the jet is empty, you just lost a lot of money.
The 800 just refines that and makes it better. (But still a gamble each flight).
As to Jungle's A-380 comment: it is supposed to make more money per seat-mile than the 747-400 or 800. But the biggest limitation to the 380 is the limited number of airports than can support it.
I like the A-320, and would like to fly the A-350. But I think the 380 is just about done, and EADS will never break-even.
Long-live the 747.
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