Boeing rolls out last 747

As a special event tonight at Everett, 747-8 LN1574 (the 1,574th aircraft), bound for Atlas Air, operating for Koehne & Nagle, rolled off the assembly line. This marks the last 747 that will ever be built and the end of an era. The line has been in continuous operation since 1968. Once the aircraft goes through paint, a picture of Joe Sutter, who lead the design team will be applied to the right side. The aircraft will enter service for Atlas sometime next year.

twitter.com...
twitter.com...
twitter.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

End of an era, indeed.

Cheers

originally posted by: F2d5thCavv2
a reply to: Zaphod58

End of an era, indeed.

Cheers

Lemme guess, their moving to electric planes nowadays?

Sry couldnt help myself

a reply to: Zaphod58

It’s funny how machines make us emotional, though any 747 is special.

What a 747 did to enable the luxury of air travel to the masses, assisting in humanitarian causes, assisting with transferring food and emergency supplies after a disaster.

Granted it was designed as a freighter initially, though it turned out to be more.

I was riding to work yesterday morning I live about 60 kilometres from the airport, and I heard a jet and looked up it was a 747 on approach to Melbourne airport. It was a great sight to see.

Always loved the look of a 747sp.

Did my apprenticeship with the Red Rat on Jumbos..Lot of good memories.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Sad, I know there are many newer more efficient aircrafts now. Improved engines and materials.

Like seeing your favorite rockstar perform for one last show.

Zaph?
Off topic, but what is happening with Air Force One VC-25 #92-9000?

Saw it a couple times in flight down in San Antonio (Lackland AFB) just after it was used for George Bush's funeral.

It was supposed to have been replaced. Did they change their minds?

Thanks for posting this Zaph.👍
Quick slide of the British Airways 747
www.instagram.com...
Old reel...
Same with music.
www.instagram.com...

Behind the SR71 - my late Fathers favorite plane he was part of.

I remember going to the airport as a child just to see one land at DTX
Time Flys - thats for sure



Side Note
Airbus, CERN Researching Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft

SCALE will combine CERN’s experience in superconducting technologies with Airbus UpNext’s capabilities in aircraft design and manufacturing. First results are expected at the end of 2023. Airbus called it “a first step of a long term collaboration” that will seek to develop and test in laboratory conditions, an optimized generic superconductor cryogenic (~500 kW) powertrain by the end of 2025.

SCALE will be designed, constructed and tested by CERN using Airbus UpNext specifications and CERN technology. The demonstrator consists of a DC link (cable and cryostat) with two current leads. The cooling system is based on gaseous helium.

a reply to: Bigburgh

They're several years away from replacement. Boeing is over a year and a half behind schedule currently. They were supposed to deliver in 2024, but they're expecting that to be 2026-2027 now.

Those flights from San Antonio are post maintenance flights. San Antonio is where they undergo PDM, upgrade, and where the VC-25B modification work is going on.

originally posted by: robsmith
a reply to: Zaphod58

It’s funny how machines make us emotional, though any 747 is special.

What a 747 did to enable the luxury of air travel to the masses, assisting in humanitarian causes, assisting with transferring food and emergency supplies after a disaster.

Granted it was designed as a freighter initially, though it turned out to be more.

I was riding to work yesterday morning I live about 60 kilometres from the airport, and I heard a jet and looked up it was a 747 on approach to Melbourne airport. It was a great sight to see.

Always loved the look of a 747sp.

I love the 747sp. It looks powerful and driven even when parked. SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) was the one bought by NASA. Sadly, they retired her mission on September 29 of this year. They are currently looking for a permanent home for their 747sp observatory. I hope she is well taken care of.
The end of an era, yes.

a reply to: wavelength

SOFIA is going to Pima on the 13th.

a reply to: Zaphod58

One of the most beautiful aircraft ever built.

a reply to: Zaphod58

That is good to hear, couldn't imagine a much better home for SOFIA than Pima. I'll try to take a trip out there one day.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: wavelength

SOFIA is going to Pima on the 13th.

Thanks for answering my question and....Road Trip!

Thanks for posting the links Zaph.
Still a very beautiful aircraft.

What's the price tag on that last one? What do they sell for these days?

originally posted by: TheBadCabbie
What's the price tag on that last one? What do they sell for these days?

Seeing it’s a Atlas cargo hauler means some airline backed out a few years ago, and Altlas bought at a steal/deal. I won blame Covid cough cough.

a reply to: TheBadCabbie

List price is $418M. That's not what the airlines actually pay though.

a reply to: 38181

Nope. This is a dedicated freighter. If you look at the pics of them rolling it out of the building you can see the hinged nose. This was ordered by Atlas as part of a fleet replacement program.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Wow. That's quite a bit more than I thought. Do you remember what they were selling for at introduction? I want to say it was 20 or 30 million in 1968 dollars, can't remember for sure though. Maybe it was 40 million or more.

a reply to: TheBadCabbie

The 747-100 was introduced at $24M, or $160M in today dollars. The 747SP was $23M ($154M today), the 747-200 was $39M ($198M), the -300 was $83M ($232M), and the -400 was $156M ($350M). The 747-8 at introduction was $315M ($405M).