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FIFTY YEARS OF FLIGHT ON THE BOEING 747 ➜ CAPETONIANM

On January 22, 1970, the B747 completed its first commercial flight from New York to London. Since then the jumbo jet fleet has flown billions of kilometres and carried billions of passengers. It’s a beautiful aircraft deserving of the title “Queen of the Skies”. Sadly, they are being gradually phased out, but opportunities to fly B747s will still be around for a few years.

I remember my first B747 flights overnight between South Africa and Europe, parking up on the tarmac in the small hours with half-a-dozen other 747s in a row, gleaming ghostly yellow and white under the artificial lights. That aircraft changed the world – whether for better or worse gives rise to another discussion, but either way this is a 50th anniversary that deserves recognition.

➜ GREG GYR

I wholeheartedly agree. I tracked a British Airways B747 (G-CIVE) in from Vancouver that landed at 1410, four minutes shy of the time that the first B747 landed 50 years ago at 1414.

➜ MARTYN SINCLAIR

I agree with everything you say, Capetonianm. However, having flown both ways to the US on a B747 in December, the aircraft has certainly had its day. It may have been elegant, but it’s creaking at the edges (inside), it’s certainly anti-Greta [Thunberg] and it’s time for the aircraft to be retired gracefully, while it still can be.

Yesterday’s engineering elegance, sadly, becomes tomorrow’s derelict, rusting skeleton… except, of course, for the B747-8…

➜ K1NGSTON

I remember when they introduced the -400 variant, which had winglets. It was a fantastic aircraft to fly and opened up the world for many of us business travellers.

➜ W8STER

I have many wonderful memories of this Queen of the Skies – a beautiful piece of engineering. It’s sad to see the B747-8 didn’t really catch on. I hope to have an opportunity to fly on one before they go.

➜ CANUCKLAD

The difference between the A380 and the B747 is simple – the Queen of the Skies is engrained in our popular culture. Whether it be through music or movies, most of the western world, and certainly if you’re of a certain age, simply know it as the Jumbo Jet. It’s an icon that unfortunately is destined to the same fate as the only other true aviation icon of our time, Concorde.

But the real beauty of the B747 is that, unlike Concorde, it wasn’t an elitist icon. It’s sort of like our relationship with the Volkswagen Beetle or a Ferrari – we admire a Ferrari, but love Herbie.

My first experience of the B747 was at the viewing point at the end of the runway at Vancouver International. Gazing up at the dusk sky, impatiently seeking the emergence of the glow of the landing gear lights. And then, a glimmer, the lights grew brighter, the drone of the engines became louder, and then the crescendo of noise as the mighty beast filled the sky above.

Sometimes, sitting on my dad’s shoulder, I felt I could actually touch the rubber above, then with a twist of the head the huge puffs of smoke rose like a dragon breath as she came back to earth. As she disappeared along the length of the runway, the final deafening roar of the engines signalled it was time

I used to go monthly to Johannesburg in the early 2000s. BA had not long introduced flat beds and there was nothing better than upstairs on a B747. Great service in a fairly intimate environment. These days, the planes are tatty and, to be honest, there are better airlines and better aircraft. Everything in life moves on; can’t say it bothers me.

➜ SCOTS CREW

to go home. After all, it was a school night.

➜ SIMONS1

My first experience of the B747 was at the age of 17. I boarded the Transamerica B747 classic in Manchester bound for Miami and was directed up the spiral staircase to an all-economy upper deck. It was a magical experience. Little did I know that I would be working on the classic and -400 as crew for the last 20 years of my career. She will always have a special place in my heart.

➜ A FLYING DUTCHMAN

‘The real beauty of the B747 is that, unlike Concorde, it wasn’t an elitist icon’

My first experience was with Pan Am. My dad was VP at Intercontinental, which Pan Am had founded and owned at the time, so we always flew for free, and always in First. As kids, it was such a thrill. The upper deck turned into a restaurant during mealtimes, stewards changed into tuxedos to serve dinner; it was really a different time then.