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V41K4R13 t1_izbhkqv wrote

Great plane that’s very comfy, sad to see it go.

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AllAmericanSeaweed t1_izbzoqu wrote

I mean this means that the 747 still has another 10-30 years of life left.

The last plane was just built. 747s have a fairly long life, with the average operational age being 27 years.

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Adderbane t1_izcgcri wrote

The last B-52 was built before the first 747 and they're projected to be in service for another 20-30 years.

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2SP00KY4ME t1_izdev5l wrote

But 747s are also 100ft+ longer and have no interest from military buffs

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Vault-71 t1_izeg5hc wrote

Wait, can you legally buy a B-52?

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djkuhl t1_izeva2m wrote

Been a few projects up on Barnstormers. You can probably make an offer at a boneyard in the desert. You’ll most likely have to find a lot of alternative parts that were stripped out.

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boringhistoryfan t1_izcvj3i wrote

I gather they've largely been phased out of passenger carrying though. The new one, and most of the last produced set are all being used in Freight I think? The newer long haul planes like Dreamliners give much better fuel economy v passenger load than the old 747s from what I gather.

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ivytea t1_izcyzgf wrote

Even freighters are starting to use converted twin jets now as ETOPS becomes a reality and the reason why 747 still stays is because 1.higher MTOW and high attitude airport operation due to additional engines 2. Oversized and odd shaped cargo which calls for a dedicated front loading door which is only available on factory new 747 and not even the on converted freighters

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mccoyn t1_izdxmox wrote

ETOPS -Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards

MTOW - Maximum Takeoff Weight

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boringhistoryfan t1_izcz8f9 wrote

I wonder what will happen as the 747 is phased out for freight though. Because I gather that the bit about operation and the front door make it a pretty valuable carrier in lots of cases.

Will someone develop a freight specific jet? With features emulating what the outgoing 747 can do? Or would they move those things onto slower transports like shipping?

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qwerty12qwerty t1_izd9oj7 wrote

Unfortunately though the vast majority of that is going to be cargo. If I remember right, the US has no airline that currently flies a 747

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[deleted] t1_izbp887 wrote

The use of the word "comfy" to describe an aircraft makes me chuckle for some reason xD

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DJ_Moore_2 t1_izc8t25 wrote

I literally just took my first flight this past Friday, and took my second one today to get home. It was absolutely not comfy at all lmao. But I’m glad I finally got to fly after 37 years of never doing so.

Also, fuck airports.

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bigwebs t1_izc9al1 wrote

They can be pretty disorienting and chaotic until you get a natural sense of how they work.

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DJ_Moore_2 t1_izc9ok8 wrote

I think I did alright for my first time, especially having layovers in decently sized airports and having to check a bag.

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bigwebs t1_izc9w9g wrote

If you got to your gate on time, then you did good. Honestly, they’re so much better than they used to be.

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DJ_Moore_2 t1_izcalou wrote

I had enough time to wait in a long ass Chick-Fil-A line in Dallas Forth Worth!

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bigwebs t1_izcaqjx wrote

Yeah - going to the airport hungry is not a good time. Especially if you’re stuck buying from the food courts.

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DJ_Moore_2 t1_izcb2sb wrote

Yeah I had some terrible chicken tenders in Wilmington before I left on my flight out to Arizona. And they were wicked expensive. But the Chick-Fil-A was only about a dollar more expensive than normal ones.

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z500 t1_izcvuua wrote

I love getting to check out different airports. Even better when you have time to get a few drinks in. Those seats make my ass hurt though lol

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SideburnSundays t1_izbvy2t wrote

He’s probably a pilot. They’re the only ones with decent seats.

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BeautifulType t1_izcl91e wrote

Or remembered the 90s when some 747s weren’t retrofitted for packing humans into a can of sardines

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ericchen t1_izclxk2 wrote

The 90s were awful. They had middle seats that didn’t go flat, even in first class.

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Skellum t1_izd9q69 wrote

Plus the ashtrays were still there but full of gum.

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