It’s a shame that these plans are simply too upside down to refurbish, and they have few economically feasible routes today. The four engines are very expensive to operate/ maintain and just not as fuel-efficient. Still a fabulous feat of engineering, though.
It was the president of PANAM that talked Boeing into building it. At first it was going to be a combi; passengers on the second deck and cargo below.
It’s a shame that these plans are simply too upside down to refurbish, and they have few economically feasible routes today. The four engines are very expensive to operate/ maintain and just not as fuel-efficient. Still a fabulous feat of engineering, though.
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Some of them continue on as freighters, but it looks like they gutted this one and will make more money on the parts. A lot of used 747-400’s will be on the market. Some airlines like Qantas are replacing them with 787-9’s. Not quite as much capacity but much more economical.