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The Boeing 747 is heading for retirement
managementtoday ^ | 20 Aug 2015 | Stephen Bayley

Posted on 08/19/2015 9:09:56 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT

But now the 747 is a flying antique: people are astonished when they see the analogue instruments. And the flight controls are all defiantly dependent on old-fashioned mechanical linkages. A 747 captain once explained to me that, if hydraulic assistance on the control yoke is lost, you can still put your feet on the instrument panel, give a big tug and wrench the plane about the sky. You cannot do that on a solid-state Airbus.

(Excerpt) Read more at managementtoday.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Travel
KEYWORDS: 747; aerospace; boeing; boeing747; jumbojet
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1970, Chicago to Tokyo, we stopped at Boeing Field to pick up a couple of technicians to get the inflight movie working, never came on.
1 posted on 08/19/2015 9:09:56 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Sweetheart aircraft. I remember flying in one from LA to NYC or DC with a piano in the rear. Fun times before they gave up flying the 747 domestically.


2 posted on 08/19/2015 9:16:51 PM PDT by InterceptPoint
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Would a Boeing 747 keep flying if we had an electromagnetic attack?


3 posted on 08/19/2015 9:18:13 PM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

It would seem a competent experienced pilot would have more control and options flying a 747 than a 777.


4 posted on 08/19/2015 9:20:41 PM PDT by allendale
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To: stars & stripes forever

Only the E4B modification for the POTUS’ service, IINM.


5 posted on 08/19/2015 9:23:08 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: DUMBGRUNT
Many bumper stickers around the Seattle area in the 70's and 80's due to McDonnell-Douglas air tragedies:

If it ain't Boeing, I ain't Going

A remarkable aircraft company for which I worked.

6 posted on 08/19/2015 9:25:23 PM PDT by PROCON (FReeping on CRUZ Control)
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To: stars & stripes forever
Would a Boeing 747 keep flying if we had an electromagnetic attack?

Well, two of them should.

7 posted on 08/19/2015 9:26:24 PM PDT by Rodamala
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To: DUMBGRUNT

They still making 747s. No new orders except a replace Air Force One.


8 posted on 08/19/2015 9:28:27 PM PDT by ThomasThomas (Silence is golden , duct tape is silver. El silencio es oro, cinta del conducto es de plata.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

From a comment after the article:

I’m amazed at just how many have dismissed the 747 and claim she’s at her end, yet she still flies on. Here’s one fact that shows this: in 2014, there were more 747s sold than Airbus A380s. Let’s just count from the date of your article until the day the last 747 is retired. It’s going to be a long wait.


9 posted on 08/19/2015 9:28:59 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (BINGO!)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Arguably the finest airliner ever built.


10 posted on 08/19/2015 9:32:03 PM PDT by bk1000 (A clear conscience is a sure sign of a poor memory)
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To: Olog-hai

If the 747 is retired, has there ever been any indication of what the next AF 26000, or Air Force one would be?

I have never seen, or read anything that suggests it.


11 posted on 08/19/2015 9:32:41 PM PDT by rikkir (You can lead a horde to knowledge but you can't make them think. (TnkU ctdonath2))
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To: DUMBGRUNT
1970, Chicago to Tokyo, we stopped at Boeing Field to pick up a couple of technicians to get the inflight movie working, never came on.

On a totally packed flight from Nairobi to either Amsterdam or LHR back in the 80's, my in-flight audio was not working. Since no other seat was available and not wishing to sit in silence for the 9 hour flight, I asked the flight attendant if I could attempt to fix it. Given permission, I pulled out my trusty Swiss Army knife (remember those golden days before TSA?), disassembled the armrest/audio console and removed the offending broken tip of a headphone set. Voilà! I could now listen to the movie & the audio channels!

After about a half hour, the attendant appeared with a large bottle of wine (I was in Economy class), saying "This is from the crew. Thank you for fixing our airplane."

For many years I fought the temptation to enhance my resume' with "Boeing 747 Avionics Repairman", but decided that was really stretching it...

:-)

Great bird!

12 posted on 08/19/2015 9:36:45 PM PDT by BwanaNdege ("When the left wins, they're in power; when the right wins, they're in office." - Mark Steyn)
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To: BwanaNdege

The I.A.M. has just read your story and is preparing to file a timeclaim against you.


13 posted on 08/19/2015 9:41:41 PM PDT by Rodamala
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To: BwanaNdege

Great story. Well done.


14 posted on 08/19/2015 9:45:17 PM PDT by deadrock (I is someone else.)
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To: ThomasThomas

They have gotten a MOI from a Russian company for 20 , but have not firmed up the order yet.

This article is misleading, yes, it maybe talking about the older classic 747-100, but the new updated 747-800 is as modern as any other modern aircraft in the sky with new wings, engines, updated flight deck, avionics, and fly by wire alerons, including other tweeks on the plane as in aerodynamic improvements.

The 747-800 also had the fuselage extended.

The 747-800F can’t be beat for what is does.

New orders will come once the later ordered 747-400 reach retirement.

Boeing needs to bridge the gap in production until then.

The Boeing 747 still has pleanty of life left in it in freighter market indeed.

There is no other versatile plane like it in its size and capacity.

The Boeing 777 does not have the ability to front load large freight from the nose of the aircraft.


15 posted on 08/19/2015 9:48:11 PM PDT by American Constitutionalist
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To: BwanaNdege

The 747 is a very stable platform to fly.


16 posted on 08/19/2015 9:50:50 PM PDT by American Constitutionalist
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To: DUMBGRUNT

This was written by someone in Europe who are pro Airbus


17 posted on 08/19/2015 9:53:44 PM PDT by Java4Jay (The evils of government are directly proportional to the tolerance of the people.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

The best airliner ever made.


18 posted on 08/19/2015 10:01:00 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: ThomasThomas

BS The russkies have placed an order for 20 of the -800


19 posted on 08/19/2015 10:11:15 PM PDT by straps (Loyal Pats Fan)
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To: DUMBGRUNT
I think the 747 was the first commercial airline to feature a piano lounge on its upper deck.


20 posted on 08/19/2015 10:13:57 PM PDT by Flick Lives (One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast. -- Heinlein)
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