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The world's first Boeing 747 gets a much-needed makeover
SEATTLE -- After years of falling into disrepair, the world's first Boeing 747 has finally received some much-needed tender love and care. (www.usatoday.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I remember when Pan Am flew the first 747 into KORD!! I worked in Elk Grove Village and all the TV stations showed it coming in!!!! Gorgeous bird!!! Definitely one of the 10 best planes of the 20th century!!!!!!!!
I was in the Army stationed at Fort Hood Texas in late 1971. I was on leave and bought a ticket on Delta to go home to San Diego. I drove to Dallas and tried to catch a Delta flight home, but since I was traveling on a military space-available ticket (was a whole $97/roundtrip) AND this was the 4th of July weekend, I never was able to get on a flight.. Finally about 10pm, I go to the Delta counter and ask if they have any more flights before tommorow, as I really didn't want to sleep in the terminal.. Agent said they had one more, at 1am, coming from Atlanta, with a stop in Dallas and on to LA.. He said he guaranteed I'd get on it.. Come 12:30am, they announce the flight to LA and it turns out to be a brand spanking new 747.. Yes, I got on the flight.. I'd certainly HOPE I would since there was ... wait for it.. Only 20 passengers on the damn flight.. 10 cabin crew and 20 passengers.. We were all bumped up to 1st class, and I kinda flowed off the plane in LA.. First AND last time I ever managed to catch a 747..
We were allowed on the aircraft last year before interior/exterior restoration. As a member of the museum we were called to a members only tour. Real neat to see the test interior of the aircraft with all the test equipment AND a bungee tied down coffee pot on a hotplate! After all, they did have to keep the test engineers awake somehow. This aircraft was also used as the test bed for the KC tanker program flying boom. I have photos from the aircraft parked years ago with the concrete counter weights hanging where the engines used to be. Very sad to see at the time and congratulation to the staff at the museum for restoring this historic aircraft.
Can I just ask, are most of the planes at the museum just for viewing from afar, or are they able to be boarded? Thanks :)
Another memorable flight I did with this fabulous plane was with Wardair between London Gatwick to Vancouver, the jumbo was superb and so was the service! Also with Air New Zealand from Gatwick to Auckland via Los Angeles and Honolulu --wasn't that the longest worldwide 747 route? Does anyone know?
Love it ! Have to make a trip back to see it finished - just beautiful ;)