Last SQ 747 flight(s) soon - anyone on them?

[Cruiser Elite]

Just read on FT that SQ238 dep MEL at 11:00 on Mar 24 is officially last commercial flt of SQ's fleet of 747s.

Just missed being part of history as I am in 238 on Mar 22.

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[TD="class: alt2, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"][FONT=Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif] Singapore Airlines' jumbo farewell for the Boeing 747

Carrier will operate its last Boeing 747 commercial flight on March 24

Four decades after it started flying the world's first jumbo, Singapore Airlines (SIA) is saying goodbye to the Boeing 747.

The carrier will operate its last B-747 commercial flight to Melbourne, Australia, and back on March 24, spokesman Nicholas Ionides told The Straits Times.

SIA introduced the aircraft to its fleet in 1973, and at one time had more B-747s than any other carrier worldwide.

In March 2003, the airline had 39 B-747 passenger aircraft in its fleet. Today, it has just three. [/FONT][/TD]

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[oz_mark]

Singapore Airlines' jumbo farewell for the Boeing 747

Four decades after it started flying the world's first jumbo, Singapore Airlines (SIA) is saying goodbye to the Boeing 747.


The carrier will operate its last B-747 commercial flight to Melbourne, Australia, and back on March 24, spokesman Nicholas Ionides told The Straits Times.

Singapore Airlines' jumbo farewell for the Boeing 747

 

[harvyk]

(sniff sniff) it begins...
The beginning of the end for the B747's... (Here's hoping the B748's become successful)

 

[Alanslegal]

Redemption seats in all classes are still available as of now. Very tempted to just book jump on board but this will be two weeks after I get back from freezing Europe .... decisions decisions!

My first ever flight, as an adult, was on a SQ 744 .... so this would definitely a good way to say see you SQ 744.

 

[harvyk]

Redemption seats in all classes are still available as of now. Very tempted to just book jump on board but this will be two weeks after I get back from freezing Europe .... decisions decisions!

My first ever flight, as an adult, was on a SQ 744 .... so this would definitely a good way to say see you SQ 744.

I don't know if I would want to go on such a flight. Knowing it was the last SQ B744 flight to grace the skies would leave me with incredible sadness on leaving the aircraft at the end.
I've done such a flight once before, and I didn't really want to get off the plane at the end.

 

[MarkD]

Have the 744s been sold, or are they to be parked up

 

[anat0l]

I managed to fly the SQ 747 last year. Well, it was the only way to fly F at the Saver level

Dated F product, some would say, but still comfortable and a nice way to fly long haul.

Say what you will about the 744, but I still think it has its place in the world, notwithstanding its incoming next generation "replacement", the 748.

At least with the SQ 744s' departures, the award bank will finally open up for more premium seats on other aircraft.


I still remember being a little kid (this is the old days of BNE I terminal at Lomandra Drive) and flying to KUL via SIN sometimes on the then SQ 744 which serviced BNE.

 

[albatross710]

Have the 744s been sold, or are they to be parked up

Many become SQ freighters.

 

[harvyk]

Many become SQ freighters.

View attachment 5916

That looks like it started life off as a freighter, not a freighter conversion.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Can't tell you how sad I am to see them go - over the years I had mastered the 'drunken stagger' from 17H to the toilets in upper cabin - seemed just like home to me.

 

[markis10]

That looks like it started life off as a freighter, not a freighter conversion.

Correct, a 200 body in 400F mode, SQ have two conversions SCA and SCB.

http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=1106703

 

[Drav]

(sniff sniff) it begins...
The beginning of the end for the B747's... (Here's hoping the B748's become successful)

I feel the same way.

If I may borrow from Mr Jeremy Clarkson

"‘Our scrap yard cars (had) inevitably become more than just metal. This whole thing now really sums up why I love cars: Take this ...car for example: the dash is more plastic than an american news reader, the engine’s got less power than Belgium, the suspension is softer than the journalism in an inflight magazine, and of course it reeks of... cow, but I adore it because you can just sense it wants to keep going ... I’d rather be in this now than an Enzo, and I’m not joking...”

An Airbus is modern, quiet and comfortable. But it lacks something that the 747 has. A soul.

 

[anat0l]

An Airbus is modern, quiet and comfortable. But it lacks something that the 747 has. A soul.

Is that a signal to keep older hardy aircraft for sentiment / romance or one to say "it's time to move on, but we won't forget you"?

 

[mosanator]

An Airbus is modern, quiet and comfortable. But it lacks something that the 747 has. A soul.

But it also has something the Jumbo didn't at this age - - - - - - CRACKS

They will be sorry. Maybe they will get some 748's. Does anyone know?

If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going!

 

[Nigelinoz]

Lufthansa is scheduled to take delivery of it's first 748 next month,I would love to be on the first commercial flight of that:!:.
Boeing brands the sky with 787 test flight - FlightBlogger - Aviation News, Commentary and Analysis
Cheers
N'oz

 

[mosanator]

Lufthansa is scheduled to take delivery of it's first 748 next month,I would love to be on the first commercial flight of that:!:.
Boeing brands the sky with 787 test flight - FlightBlogger - Aviation News, Commentary and Analysis
Cheers
N'oz

Yep, now we're talking. Thanks for the link. Pity Lufthansa isn't OW.

 

[markis10]

Yep, now we're talking. Thanks for the link. Pity Lufthansa isn't OW.

Neither is SQ,maybe one of the 9 bizjet orders for the 748 might become a member of OW!

 

[Sprucegoose]

(sniff sniff) it begins...
The beginning of the end for the B747's... (Here's hoping the B748's become successful)

Agree!!

If it ain't broke don't fix it!

Would love to see the 747-8 live on for helluva long time.

 

[straitman]

But it also has something the Jumbo didn't at this age - - - - - - CRACKS

They will be sorry. Maybe they will get some 748's. Does anyone know?

If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going!

I'm willing to bet that the 747 has had a few ADs for cracks over the years.

 

[oz_mark]

I'm willing to bet that the 747 has had a few ADs for cracks over the years.

I'm willing to bet that most of the FF folk on this board have flown in planes that have cracks in them :shock: