Community Stories

RIP Boeing 747

JwRosenthal
Posts
16,285
Likes
44,836
Nepomuceño Nepomuceño
The perks of being on the ramp is getting real close 😁
These things are sooo big! I remember boarding the 747’s in Hawaii as a kid (we did regular trips as it wasn’t unreasonable for a family vacation from LA back then) and having to walk across the tarmac and up the stairs. I was always awed by the sheer size of those engines as I walked up past them.
 
blufinz52
Posts
3,033
Likes
7,922
gbesq gbesq
I’d rather give a presentation on something more cheery, inspirational and uplifting. How about “Current Rolex Business Practices”? 😁😁😁😁😁

Is there any thread that you can’t find a way to take a shot about Rolex? 😕
Edited:
 
river rat
Posts
1,028
Likes
5,428
First time I flew on a 747 was in 1980 after us navy boot camp from SFO to Guam a very long flight. It was around a very long time. Remember another flight on a 747 when in the navy from Clark Air Force base in the Philippines back to the states the military use to contract civilian flights anyone remember the flying tigers was the company they used was around 1984.
 
josiahg52
Posts
1,126
Likes
2,079
river rat river rat
First time I flew on a 747 was in 1980 after us navy boot camp from SFO to Guam a very long flight. It was around a very long time.

Man, my flight from HNL to GUM on a Continental 767 felt nearly interminable.
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,285
Likes
44,836
river rat river rat
First time I flew on a 747 was in 1980 after us navy boot camp from SFO to Guam a very long flight. It was around a very long time. Remember another flight on a 747 when in the navy from Clark Air Force base in the Philippines back to the states the military use to contract civilian flights anyone remember the flying tigers was the company they used was around 1984.
Flying tigers was the freight/cargo carrier for American Airlines (they also transported for the military as well as I recall)- my grandfather worked for them as an auditor in his second career.

My grandmother who was investment savvy told him in 1974 that she was going to invest in a new freight carrier that was in competition with Flying Tigers. He absolutely forbade her from it- that company was Federal Express. She never let him live that down.
Edited:
 
gbesq
Posts
9,026
Likes
46,546
blufinz52 blufinz52
Is there any thread that you can’t find a way to take a shot about Rolex? 😕
Yes. Quite a few actually, but I have no oroblem with you expressing your opinion on anything that I post.
 
Faz
Posts
3,635
Likes
22,198
DA3E12DD-5B8D-462D-B673-242180A8691B.jpeg
I still get goosebumps when I see the 747. October 1971 on Air France, Montreal to Paris. I remember it as if it were yesterday. Me, my dad and my sister, all dressed up at the lounge sipping Shirley Temples while my dad had a Martini!. Movies on board! We got to visit the “hump” which was also a lounge. I’m still in awe at that aircraft. Last trip on a 747 was 2006, again Air France, again Montréal to Paris. The size of those wings. The grace of its flight. Simply dreamy. Ours was like this one. Notice how short the upper deck was compared to the later jets? I remember clearly our plane had the same 3 windows and very constrained space up deck. Enough room for a few seats and a bar!
Edited:
 
kgb
Posts
210
Likes
1,216
Yes @JwRosenthal , taking the airstairs to the 747 (vs. the boring jetway) was always breathtaking. Still common in Frankfurt and maybe Narita.

IMG_5104.JPG IMG_6756.JPG IMG_1393.jpg
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,285
Likes
44,836
Faz Faz
DA3E12DD-5B8D-462D-B673-242180A8691B.jpeg
I still get goosebumps when I see the 747. October 1971 on Air France, Montreal to Paris. I remember it as if it were yesterday. Me, my dad and my sister, all dressed up at the lounge sipping Shirley Temples while my dad had a Martini!. Movies on board! We got to visit the “hump” which was also a lounge. I’m still in awe at that aircraft. Last trip on a 747 was 2006, again Air France, again Montréal to Paris. The size of those wings. The grace of its flight. Simply dreamy. Ours was like this one. Notice how short the upper deck was compared to the later jets? I remember clearly our plane had the same 3 windows and very constrained space up deck. Enough room for a few seats and a bar!
The first one I flew on must have been this generation- I remember the upper lounge being smaller than I’ve seen of other upper decks in pictures- and darker (probably becuase 3 windows). A few low tables and curved couches that hugged the walls and a small bar.
 
gbesq
Posts
9,026
Likes
46,546
I never made it to the upper lounge. Could only afford coach at the time. I do remember when the 747 and other big jets were never completely full and on many transoceanic flights you could actually get a middle bank of seats, lie down and go to sleep and the cabin crew was fine with that. Those days are long gone.
 
BlackTalon
Posts
5,376
Likes
9,173
kgb kgb
Yes @JwRosenthal , taking the airstairs to the 747 (vs. the boring jetway) was always breathtaking. Still common in Frankfurt and maybe Narita.

IMG_5104.JPG IMG_6756.JPG IMG_1393.jpg
<sigh> that was me at Frankfurt a couple months ago. We taxied for quite a while after landing, no gate freed up, so we got out on the paving quite a distance from the terminal. Busses eventually brought us in. I cleared Immigration just in time to sprint to the far, far end of the terminal, and miss my connecting flight by 2 minutes. Good times. 😁
 
abrod520
Posts
11,681
Likes
37,639
JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
The first one I flew on must have been this generation- I remember the upper lounge being smaller than I’ve seen of other upper decks in pictures- and darker (probably becuase 3 windows). A few low tables and curved couches that hugged the walls and a small bar.

Original generation versus the 747-400 with the larger hump.
 
STANDY
Posts
16,697
Likes
47,224
Several long hauls on a 747 QANTAS, last one was retired from their fleet about a year ago.
Top deck was the goods. Remember the smoking section also 😁

I remember walking on a concord in the day and having to duck 😗
 
mydeafcat
Posts
1,334
Likes
6,318
gbesq gbesq
I never made it to the upper lounge. Could only afford coach at the time. I do remember when the 747 and other big jets were never completely full and on many transoceanic flights you could actually get a middle bank of seats, lie down and go to sleep and the cabin crew was fine with that. Those days are long gone.
Indeed. I had this good fortune in late 1999. After a two-day stay with friends near Frankfurt, I was still pretty knackered when I flew on to Mumbai. The flight was nowhere near full and I slept relatively comfortably across an empty row. Try that today? Not bloody likely.
 
Aroxx
Posts
2,721
Likes
11,991
kohster kohster
https://apple.news/A3tA2ln91R86GCzVxcemzog neat story about some fun the crew had on that last 747 delivery.
Very cool. Hopefully Rolex won’t come after them for copyright infringement over that crown.


JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
That’s badass! Now if they flew you to Geneve on a 747 to take delivery in person- that would have been class.
That may impact the watch price just a tad.
 
25 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

gbesq

Boeing 737 Max Aircraft - Would You Fly On One?

gbesq Open Discussion
JwRosenthal
JwRosenthal
Posts
278
Views
18K
jhross98

Stirling moss rip - enicar racing legend

jhross98 Other Watch Brands Forum
Kiwibloke
Kiwibloke
Posts
18
Views
3K
Spartcom5

Completely priceless find for my collection. Just wow!! Boeing Accutron.

Spartcom5 Open Discussion
Seaborg
Seaborg
Posts
7
Views
1K
Grahamsley

Bremont Boeing Model 1 - White - Optional Deployment Clasp

Grahamsley Private Watch Sales
Grahamsley
Grahamsley
Posts
3
Views
3K