After A380 production ends, here are the last 747s
It is a time of changes and farewells, we have written many times about the retirements of iconic planes such as the A380, it has touched [...]
It is time for changes and farewells, we have written many times about the retirements of iconic aircraft such as the A380, has also touched many Jumbo Jet And now the officialdom: Boeing will deliver the latest Four 747s and will stop production.
In this article:
The last four Boeings will be delivered to Atlas Air and they will be airplanes cargo, No passengers then. With a payload capacity of more than 137 tons, the 747-8s are 20% more capacious than the regular 747 and also consume less fuel.
"The 747 will forever hold a special place in aviation history, and we are honored by Atlas Air's longstanding commitment to the aircraft. Atlas Air began operations 28 years ago with a single 747 and it is fitting that it will receive the latest 747s in production, ensuring that the "Queen of the Skies" will play a significant role in the global air cargo market for decades to come.
With the global cargo fleet expected to grow by more than 60% over the next 20 years, we look forward to delivering these airplanes and supporting Atlas Air's Boeing fleet well into the future."
Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Atlas Air has 53 Boeing 747, which makes it the most great operator of these historic aircraft.
50 years of Boeing 747 in the cargo world
Promotional image of Lufthansa's first 747-200 freighter, 1972 - Photo by Boeing.com
It was March 10, 1972, right 50 years ago, when Boeing delivered the first widebody freighter, namely the 747-200, to Lufthansa Cargo.
The tailgate front allowed exceptional loads, such as the Beetles we see in the promotional image of the launch of Lufthansa's cargo unit with Boeing.
"The ability to ship more goods by air changed global trade overnight. People around the world could receive goods in days instead of months.
Boeing freighters have played a significant role in this and continue to define the art of the possible today in e-commerce and global commerce because of their efficiency, versatility, and our continuous product innovation to support the market needs of tomorrow."
Darren Hulst, Boeing vice president of commercial marketing
Boeing has since become the leader in the market in the cargo aircraft sector, covering more than the 90% of the world's air transport capacity, with an output of 1,560 Jumbo Jet 747 in 50 years. In 2020 Boeing had announced that it would stop producing 747s by 2022, and so indeed it did.
In recent years, twin-engine aircraft have been evolved more and more and have managed to become more efficient than their 4-engine colleagues like the 747s. That's when airlines began to turn to planes that were already compact and efficient, retiring dated models.
What happens to the 747 retirees?
Most of it is obviously dismantled and recycled the pieces, some times, however, there are more interesting ways to dispose of old planes. There are examples that become restaurants, hotels or attractions of various kinds. But not onlyom the fuselage of a 747 has been used to become part of a new building complex under construction in the US, two skyscrapers will be connected by a 747 in Miami.
Then there are those who, like the new owners of some former British Airways 747s, have transformed their pieces in key chains, but a couple have been preserved becoming, for example, a reception hall, or Delta Airlines put one in pieces for sale on eBay!
