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The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

theatlantic.com

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Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#121

Post by wolvoleo »

sidewndr46 wrote: post #95
GMoromisato wrote: post #67

Anyone interested should read Joe Sutter's book, 747. Sutter was the lead engineer for the development of the 747 and he has some awesome stories. One interesting story is that Juan Trippe (CEO of PanAm) wanted Boeing to create a double-decker airplane. He was enamored with the idea of "ocean liners" cruising the sky. But Sutter (and other engineers) knew that it would be impossible to create what he wanted, so inste…

This seems like an odd version of the story. My understanding is Boeing designed lots of military aircraft, not all reached production. The 747 is the result of some of that design work.

That makes sense because a high cockpit also combines well with nose loading which some military freighters have.

Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#122

Post by dcrazy »

rayiner wrote: post #89
mrcwinn wrote: post #26

Earlier 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.)

Today’s airliners cruise slower than a 747.

For very rational economic reasons, underpinned by the same fundamental physical principle that makes my car more fuel-efficient doing 60 instead of 85.

Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#123

Post by dcrazy »

himata4113 wrote: post #86
aurareturn wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Flying is much cheaper today. People want low prices over more comfort. They vote with their wallets.

I don't know, having more color doesn't seem that much more expensive? I guess the fabrics are expensive and stain relatively easily, but if public transport can keep them clean so can airlines IMO. Some fabric seats are over 3 decades old and they're still in a really good shape.

Public transport can’t keep them clean. BART famously had disgusting carpets until the 2010s.

Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#124

Post by GMoromisato »

sidewndr46 wrote: post #95
GMoromisato wrote: post #67

Anyone interested should read Joe Sutter's book, 747. Sutter was the lead engineer for the development of the 747 and he has some awesome stories. One interesting story is that Juan Trippe (CEO of PanAm) wanted Boeing to create a double-decker airplane. He was enamored with the idea of "ocean liners" cruising the sky. But Sutter (and other engineers) knew that it would be impossible to create what he wanted, so inste…

This seems like an odd version of the story. My understanding is Boeing designed lots of military aircraft, not all reached production. The 747 is the result of some of that design work.

You should read the book, if you're interested. From the book (p.84):

"Time and time again there appears in print the logical but false assumption that Boeing took its losing military C-5 bid and revamped it as the commercial 747. In fact, the 747 would be an entirely original design that owes nothing to the C-5."

That said, in the same chapter he talks about how GE developed a high-bypass turbofan engine for the C-5 and it was only because they had such an engine that the 747 became possible.

But really my only point is that you should read the book if you're interested.

Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#125

Post by mathgeek »

dcrazy wrote: post #120
jquery wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering who the current face of the country is and how we are acting on the world stage, it’s the least they can do.

This is why the right gets away with saying liberals hate America. Because as long as there is anything to criticize about America (which there always will be), some people simply cannot make a single truly positive statement about America, or even things that happened in or came from America. Slate is even worse than The Atlantic in this regard.

> This is why the right gets away with saying liberals hate America.

This is a form of victim blaming. The right side of American politics gets away with it not because the left complains, but because the right doesn’t get punished at the polls for doing it.

Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#126

Post by cma »

dcrazy wrote: post #120
jquery wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering who the current face of the country is and how we are acting on the world stage, it’s the least they can do.

This is why the right gets away with saying liberals hate America. Because as long as there is anything to criticize about America (which there always will be), some people simply cannot make a single truly positive statement about America, or even things that happened in or came from America. Slate is even worse than The Atlantic in this regard.

Finally the explanation for why the Trump campaign slogan "Keep America Great" resonated so well against that kind of opposition backdrop.

Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#127

Post by wolvoleo »

rootusrootus wrote: post #94
Rover222 wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Glad to see your sentiment. I’m so tired of the reflexive self flagellation of a lot of Americans. It’s often based in ignorance.

It is very tiring. I get why Europeans might enjoy taking shots at us (though at one point I'd have said it was more of a good natured ribbing, given that Europe's history is also many Americans' history), and I fully understand the armies of bots spreading invective ... but the constant dogging on America by our own citizens is sad. I'm sure a lot of this outcome is intentional, but nobody fights back. America is ma…

Not American but I feel the sentiment. I'm planning to change nationality soon as 'my' own country is also on the same right-wing conservative track. I'm not interested in making things better anymore. I just want to break with them forever. They deserve no more admiration or loyalty.

I don't believe in national pride or even of sports teams. My loyalty is always conditional, as long as my ethics align.

I can imagine some Americans feel that way too.

Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#128

Post by GMoromisato »

grosswait wrote: post #117
jquery wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most interesting thing about SpaceX is how it convinced a lot of otherwise sober people that data centers in space was a $50 septillion addressable market. You might laugh and think I’m joking but a lot of people seriously fell for the nonsense in the public filing, which should’ve been a one way ticket to SEC jail.

Let’s revisit this comment in 5 years. I’m not convinced HN critics know more about this than SpaceX does.

What I find silly is the certainty that critics have that SpaceX will fail.

No one can predict the future, and it's absolutely possible that orbital datacenters will fail (either for technology or business reasons).

But:

1. Without a time machine, we cannot be certain.

2. If forced to choose, I would rather root for their success and be wrong than root for their failure and be right.

Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#129

Post by zabzonk »

kkylin wrote: post #116
zabzonk wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hated the top deck when flying east from NY to London. The rising sun poured in every time a crew member opened the cockpit door, waking me up. Best seat for me was the single one in the lower deck at the very nose of the aircraft. The 747 was a great aircraft to fly in though. The tower of power effect on take-off really reassured you that you were going to get where you were going.

We got front lower deck seats once when I was a kid. My sister and I had extra open floor space for playing. It was great.

Oh no - you were THOSE kids.

Re: The Boeing 747 begins its final descent

#130

Post by wolvoleo »

MattRogish wrote: post #64
robotnikman wrote: post #4

Guess I probably wont get a chance to fly on one, flying on the 747 was on my bucket list.

Back in the olden days (2015-ish?) KLM was having a really, really cheap business fare sale JFK-AMS; I snagged it with Delta miles (if I recall correctly) - and flew there and back in their 747 in the upper deck (just to take the flight; didn't have anything to do in AMS). It was really quite nice; it was the first and apparently last time I've taken the 744. I'm really glad I was able to do it.

Lol imagine sitting through 8 hours of agony for no reason. Do you actually enjoy flying? I'm sure I would find it agony even if I had the Emirates suite with the bedroom and shower (which is still more cramped than a 50 euro hotel room)

I would at least explore the city for a few days to have a break.

The only flying I enjoy is when I'm the one in the front left hand seat holding the yoke :)

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