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747 end of an era in aviation history

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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby MAKG » Sat Mar 13, 2010 7:04 pm

The Airbus fiasco has little to do with the size of the aircraft, and absolutely everything to do with excessive schedule delays. That same problem will probably kill the 747-8 passenger edition ("intercontinental") as well. Airbus bit off a bigger technical challenge than they realized, and had multiple lengthy schedule slips. Airlines don't like it when their equipment is years late. This says nothing about the quality of the aircraft.

Boeing had a big schedule problem as well, related to their supply chain. Again, if you were an airliner needing a big intercontinental aircraft in 2007, and 2010 rolls along and your order hasn't been filled, wouldn't you go for a 747-400 or A350 as well?
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby Quadunit404 » Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:38 am

MAKG wrote:[...]Again, if you were an airliner needing a big intercontinental aircraft in 2007, and 2010 rolls along and your order hasn't been filled, wouldn't you go for a 747-400 or A350 as well?

The final 744 passenger delivery was in 2007. The freighter version was discontinued in '09, however. Maybe the airline would buy it from a different airline that's planning to retire their fleet of 744s by now (e.g. United, British Airways)
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby simbabeat » Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:41 am

Why would they retire them this early if they have glass cockpits and are almost brand new?
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby Quadunit404 » Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:26 am

Exactly. The 744 was introduced by Northwest in 1989 (all 16 of the 744s Northwest owned are now Delta's property). That was nearly 21 years ago. It's probably because of the CRT displays the 744 uses, and CRTs are being phased out in favor of LCD displays, but still. The 747 definitely is more economical now than it was back in the 1970s.
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby simbabeat » Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:28 am

Ya it's pretty much brand new. It's amazing how all the big airlines phase out their planes so fast!
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby Quadunit404 » Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:10 am

Yes, amazing innit, how they buy a new aircraft, and then retire it some time later, when they're still new. Such as American; they ordered a fleet of 741s in 1970, got them in 1971, and then retired them in 1979.
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby MAKG » Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:08 pm

I'm sure that depends on the airline.

The last flight I flew from KDEN to KSJC was on a 737-300. Last year. It was full of steam gauges, no winglets, etc. The flight crew called it the "trailing edge." American is full of ancient MD-80s and MD-81s, to the point where they are constantly breaking at KDFW. And so on.

The equipment has to match their needs or they lose money FAST. In particular, there is no point in flying a half empty 747-400 over the Pacific, burning hundreds of thousands of pounds of Jet-A with current fuel prices, as it will lose money. There could also be issues of noise abatement or fuel economy.
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby simbabeat » Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:12 pm

American is full of ancient MD-80s and MD-81s


Your right about that!! When my grandfather (who knows nothing about planes) and I flew on an MD80 this one time, I tried to convince him it was a brand new plane right off the assembly line. He believed me until we landed and he looked at me when he heard the ancient plane trying to slow down and simply said "liar"
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby Quadunit404 » Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:53 pm

American is retiring the MD-80... slowly. Their replacement is the 738 and later Boeing Y1. The 738 will cover a quarter of the fleet, and Y1 will cover the rest.

Speaking of retiring aircraft... I wonder what American's going to choose to replace the A300.
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby simbabeat » Sun Mar 14, 2010 7:18 pm

Quadunit404 wrote:Speaking of retiring aircraft... I wonder what American's going to choose to replace the A300.


I have heard of them buying old 767's or 767-400ER's until a new plane such as 787-3 or A350 comes along.
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby Delta5142 » Tue Feb 02, 2021 2:45 am

This aged well
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Re: 747 end of an era in aviation history

Postby I love flying » Sat Feb 12, 2022 2:14 pm

If it is the end for the old bird, shall it be, shall the plane retire from 52 long years of service and flight. :|
Flying is so magical, just hearing the hum of the engines as I plow through the blue yonder...
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