Farewell to the Boeing 747

Watching the UK news this week, I shed a tear watching British Airways saying farewell to the Boeing 747 aircraft.

In a dramatic swan song, on a dull and miserable day at London’s Heathrow airport, two of these majestic and magnificent pieces of aviation engineering did a dual take off, soaring into the London skies for their final commercial flight.
The event was made more poignant as the two aircraft featured different British Airways livery. One with the original ‘Negus’ livery which ran from 1974 and 1984, and the other with the current ‘Chatham Dockyard’ livery.

Watch the British Airways ‘Queen of the Skies’ final commercial take-off here

British Airways 747s and me

In the mid-1990s after a long career in overseas tourism, I embarked on a new adventure in my dream job, as a flight attendant or cabin crew for Britain’s flag carrier, British Airways.

Nervous and excited, on the first day of my training course, I was so excited to learn I was to be placed on the long-haul fleet, working on the Boeing 747, 767 and 777 aircraft. All my dreams had come true!

I’ll never forget stepping onboard the Boeing 747 to learn how everything worked, where everything was stowed and how to open those huge doors. As part of our training we also had to jump down the emergency evacuation slides, from what seemed like miles up in the air!

Up and away

My first two flights after passing the five-week training course were actually on the newer Boeing 777 aircraft with three-day layovers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, followed by a three-day trip to Tel Aviv, Israel. I had to wait a few weeks before my first working flight on the 747.

Three weeks into my new career I was finally rostered a trip on what was to become my favourite aircraft. A 14-day Singapore and Brisbane, Australia awaited me and I couldn’t wait! Not only was I to fly on this fabulous aircraft, the type of trip meant I would actually get to fly four sectors over the course of two weeks away.

I will always remember sitting in my crew seat for that first take off, the enormous jet rumbling along the runway and finally lifting off as though it was just a feather in the wind. Such an incredible feeling that stayed with me for my ten-year flying career.

What was the Boeing 747 like to work on

I adored working on the 747 for many reasons. The first one was that for little, 5’2″ me, the overhead lockers were the perfect height for me to reach and close them! Unlike the 777 where I often found myself almost crawling on the lap of a passenger to reach up to close them!

I loved working on the upper deck of the 747, it felt like a small private jet. On the older 747s the upper deck was actually an economy cabin and on the newer versions it was home to Club World (business class).

The 747 galleys (four of them) were quite spacious, plenty of room for the 16 crew members that worked on the aircraft at any one time.
Walking the length of the 747 was quite a trek, especially pushing a loaded drinks or meal cart!

Another great thing about the 747 was travelling with such a large crew, 16 cabin crew and up to four flight crew. On long layovers, sometimes as long as two weeks, it always meant there was someone around who wanted to go sightseeing, shopping or enjoying the local restaurants.

(Read my cabin crew tips for flying that may just save your life, here.)

Time for a break

Ever wondered where the crew get to take a break on long flights? Most long haul aircraft have special crew rest areas, the rest area for cabin crew on the 747 was all the way at the back of the aircraft, with a small seating area and up a flight of stairs a bunk area with eight beds where we could get up to three or four hours sleep (turbulence allowing!)
Between the two meal and bar services at the beginning and end of the flights, the crew would split in two and take it in turns to have a break.
The flight crew had their own bunk area near the flight deck.

The first farewell to the Boeing 747

This week actually wasn’t the first time British Airways said farewell to the Boeing 747.
In the years prior to the 911 terrorist attacks, the Boeing 747-200 series (the one with the shorter upper deck) only had a thick curtain separating the flight deck from the upper-deck passenger cabin. Passengers were frequently invited to go up and take a look at the flight deck and meet the crew.
Access to the upper deck was a spiral staircase. This was replaced on later models with a straight staircase.

After 911, safety and security measures were increased, reinforced locked flight deck doors were mandatory, making this set up totally unfeasible and the airline took the decision to retire the 747-200 series rather than do a costly refit. The beginning of an end of an era.

The Boeing 747 glory days

There was always something exciting and romantic about the Boeing 747. I remember as a (very) small child in the 1970s seeing them featured on television and in movies, and being fascinated by the sheer size and power – a young aircraft geek was born!!

In its heyday, anyone who was anyone, travelled in the First Class cabin of the Boeing 747.

I had the pleasure (mostly) of serving famous names including, Keanu Reeves, David Schwimmer, George Michael, Sir David Frost, Joan Collins, Take That, Noel Gallagher, the heads of the British Government and Michael Jackson, to name but a few.
I was also delighted to travel with the Irish Paralympic team to Sydney in 2000.

Some fun facts about the Boeing 747

The upper deck of a 747-400 is about the same size as the interior of a 737.

There is a lift between the main deck and upper deck, not for human use, but for moving food carts between decks (although I have heard stories of crew trying out the lift for fun!)

In 1970 Pan Am was the first airline to bring the 747 into service in and the aircraft was christened by then First Lady, Pat Nixon.

There are two Airforce One aircraft in the USA and both are modified versions of the aircraft.

More than 3.5 billion passengers have travelled in the 747.

Depending on the gross weight, a 747 can take off using only two (symmetrical) engines.

The original 747-200s had a flight engineer onboard as well as the main flight crew, this position was phased out with the aircraft.

In 1989 Australian carrier, Qantas, flew a 747 non-stop from London to Sydney carrying 23 people.

Are there any 747s still flying?

Despite a number of major airlines grounding their 747 fleet, it’s not quite over for the Queen of the Skies just yet.

You still have the chance to fly on one of these fabulous aircraft. Airlines still using the 747 include:

Lufthansa
Air China
Korean Air
Air India
Thai Airways

Before it’s too late

Although global travel is somewhat restricted right now, if you get the opportunity to fly on the 747 before the inevitable phasing out happens, do it!

I for one am already looking at Lufthansa as an option for my next trip from Europe to the US. My chance to re-live some great memories and raise a glass of something fizzy to that beautiful, majestic old lady that safely carried me around the world for 10 years. In business class of course!

Photo credits. Main article images – British Airways archive.
Featured image – Josh Hallet