jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

When I was doing a lot of flying, I always preferred the 747. Now they are few and far between. If Boeing doesn't get more orders for them, they might shut down that line forever.

http://jalopnik.com/this-could-be-the-end-of-the-boeing-747-1784512920

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

Big comfortable aircraft.
Hard to believe that they would hand that business over to airbus.
Their big jets are very comfortable also.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I guess the problem for Boeing is that these things are built so well that they last a LONG time! They are a favorite of shipping companies. A year ago I took the tour of the Boeing plant in Everett, Washington (outside of Seattle). It is amazing to see how they build these giants! 6 million parts! Imagine the inventory control required!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I prefer Boeing to Airbus - no contest. One complaint I have heard about Airbus is the use of the twin sidesticks, rather than the tradition yokes in front of each pilot. In the crash of the French Airbus that went down in the Pacific, one pilot was pushing up, and the other was pushing down, but neither could see the other's sidestick.

The big difference is that the 747 went into service in 1970, while the Airbus is more modern. In an effort to prevent crashes caused by pilot error, the Airbus has computers fly the plane, with pilots entering adjustments into the system to tell the plane where to go. This has led to serious problems - like crashes - when the plane refuses to let the pilots fly it because of a misunderstanding between them.

Did you know that the 747 uses 622 pounds of depleted uranium in the tail as ballast?

MTG44 Loc: Corryton, Tennessee

Where did you get your information on the depleted uranium in the tail section?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I heard about it several times while watching air crash investigations on TV. Then I read it in an article. I don't know how long this practice continued or if it even ended, but it was mentioned in reporting on crashes of the 747. Let me see if I can find it.

Here it is.

"However, a particularly severe high-speed flutter problem was solved only by inserting depleted uranium counterweights as ballast in the outboard engine nacelles of the early 747s.[52] This measure caused anxiety when these aircraft crashed, as did China Airlines Flight 358 at Wanli in 1991 and El Al Flight 1862 at Amsterdam in 1992 which had 282 kilograms (622 lb) of uranium in the tailplane.[53][54]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747

tenbanshee Loc: Woodstock, IL

I don't totally understand the meaning of it, but some of my friends the are pilots say "if it isn't Boeing we ain't going" So I guess if it isn't made by Boeing that are not going to fly. Before anyone says anything, yes, I have friends, maybe not many but some. lol

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

As Johnny Carson would have said,

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

OK OK Jerry. Put me in for one.

DaveMM Loc: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

What market? The demand for large, four engine, aircraft is dying. Airbus are having to cut back on A380 production as they are just not selling. Large twins are that much more Fuel efficient.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Well, one thing is certain, Air Force One will remain 747. When the 747 is out of production, it will still have plenty of parts to sell. For profits.

imntrt1 Loc: St. Louis

Airbus has designed their planes to be mostly computer flown and it has caused a loss of skill in pilots that fly them...When an emergency takes place the pilots are often at a loss on what to do. The French Airbus you referred to stalled and fell out of the sky. One of the pilots was trying to over ride the stall and the configuration made by airbus for "safety" would not let him to that. Another thing about 747 aircraft. They are loaded with enough fuel to be over 3000 pounds above maxium allowable take off weight and they burn that three thousand pounds of fuel when they taxi to the runway for take off. Years ago, when my dad was alive, I was driving with him in my car near Lambert International Airport in St Louis. The road we were on was at the West end of the runway and the winds that day had aircraft landing in that direction, right above us. My dad spent thousands of hours in a B-24 in the war and when he saw the 747 fill our windshield view he was awestruck...as was I. I also was driving in the same area one evening and saw an L1011 on a take off roll on a short runway, coming right at the roadway I was on. It used every bit of runway and got darned close to the fence when it lifted off. Wish I had a camera with me that day.

drivered Loc: Capital District, NY

Interesting

Caldian Loc: Crystal Lake, Michigan & traveling

Really don't like the Airbus aircraft. No individual air ports so you are stuck with the cabin temperatures that the crew sets and typically they set the temps too high. Especially on long overnight trips. Give me a 747 every time.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

We have over 64,000 UHH members. If we each chipped in a little bit...