> "[...] the 747 is the only commercial jet that deserves to be called beautiful."
Pathetic drivel. There's legion of commercial airliners that are more beautiful than the 747.
The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
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Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
#42I realize this might be an unpopular opinion but I never liked the look of the "hump" created by the upper deck of the 747.
Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah economy class on a 747 sucks as much as it does on any other airliner.
One time I got an entire center row of 5 seats going from Seattle->Heathrow overnight.
I had that SF to Heathrow once, though I recollect four seats? Only time I’ve ever had a lie-flat bed on an aircraft.
Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is such an absurd statement. What US aerospace has created post 1969 is nothing short of remarkable in comparison. (And we can be proud of the Apollo era too.)
> This is such an absurd statement. Oh come on, it's hardly "absurd." > What US aerospace has created post 1969 is nothing short of remarkable in comparison. (And we can be proud of the Apollo era too.) What are you referring to? If you want to chart progress over time, consider this: In 1919, people were still flying biplanes and civilian aviation barely existed. Fifty years later, in 1969, you've got the 747 -- con…
The efficiency and the safety. Modern planes are disgustingly safe to the point that hull loss is almost unheard of. For 50 years the industry has optimized for safety and fuel efficiency. And the modern machines are marvels in that.
Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is such an absurd statement. What US aerospace has created post 1969 is nothing short of remarkable in comparison. (And we can be proud of the Apollo era too.)
> This is such an absurd statement. Oh come on, it's hardly "absurd." > What US aerospace has created post 1969 is nothing short of remarkable in comparison. (And we can be proud of the Apollo era too.) What are you referring to? If you want to chart progress over time, consider this: In 1919, people were still flying biplanes and civilian aviation barely existed. Fifty years later, in 1969, you've got the 747 -- con…
The onboard WiFi was terrible prior to 1970.
Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
Lufthansa still has a number of 747-8 and 747-400 in active operation - while there's evidence that the routes are scaling back, there's at least a few more years to fly one. They're even refurbishing the interiors to have a more competitive long-haul business class offering. Korean Airlines has a handful of 747-8 in active operation but they're making moves to retire them especially post Asiana merger. Air China als…
Oh nice, that makes finding a flight on a 747 so much easier! Sounds like I have an excuse to visit Germany next year.
A good excuse:
Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
One time I got an entire center row of 5 seats going from Seattle->Heathrow overnight.
I had that SF to Heathrow once, though I recollect four seats? Only time I’ve ever had a lie-flat bed on an aircraft.
3-4-3 and 3-5-3 are relatively common on 747 and 777 IIRC.
Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
#48> "[...] the 747 is the only commercial jet that deserves to be called beautiful." Pathetic drivel. There's legion of commercial airliners that are more beautiful than the 747.
At least it’s not an up/down scaled 737… I’d say it looks nicer than the 777 replacing it, or the 380 that tried it.
Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
#49I realize this might be an unpopular opinion but I never liked the look of the "hump" created by the upper deck of the 747.
At least it’s distinctive. Most planes look like scaled versions of the 737 - similar shape, similar proportions…
Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent
#50Didn’t read the full article but it starts with > The jet was perhaps the pinnacle of American engineering excellence. Its retirement signals an end to an era of American culture—and ambition. End of American ambition? SpaceX landing is rockets… today! That’s apples to apples also, both aerospace. In other fields we have literally taught computers how to talk.
The Atlantic writes for its owners as well as its readership, both of whom consider it unsavoury to compliment their homeland without adding multiple caveats.