End of an era - the Boeing 747 is retiring

[dapaterson]

Boeing's classic design made the 747 Queen of the Skies for decades. But as engineering and airline economics have moved on, this 70s superstar has become a thing of the past.

http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/1360694/

 

[George Wallace]

What are golfers going to do?

A 747-8 freighter can carry 19 million golf balls.  Is this a foreboding sign of a golf ball shortage to come?

 

[cavalryman]

What are golfers going to do?

A 747-8 freighter can carry 19 million golf balls.  Is this a foreboding sign of a golf ball shortage to come?

If they're short of golf balls, they can come to my course.  I figure I've lost enough to equip the entire PGA and LPGA tours several times over this year alone. 

 

[CougarKing]

Won't there be a lot of 3rd-tier airlines, namely the ones with as little as one aircraft in their fleet operating in backwaters like over Africa or South America, still using older model 747s?

 

[KJK]

I think the author of that article is a little premature in calling the 747 dead. Lufthansa has 19 747-8I in their fleet, Korean Air will be taking delivery of their 1st of 9 -8Is next month and Volga Dnepnr is in the process of ordering 20 new -8F. It is true they are not selling as well as the A380 but if you consider that the 747F has no competition I think Boeing will be building them at a low rate for a long time yet.

KJK

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

Retiring a plane that is still in production ?

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2015-06-24/boeing-cut-747-8-production-one-month

Granted the production rate is slowing but that doesn't equal retirement.

 

[Brasidas]

Retiring a plane that is still in production ?

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2015-06-24/boeing-cut-747-8-production-one-month

Granted the production rate is slowing but that doesn't equal retirement.

Its been in service for almost half a century. Current production is the 747-8. 747-400's are being retired.

Quick comparison:
http://planes.axlegeeks.com/compare/278-282/Boeing-747-400-Domestic-vs-Boeing-747-8

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

Yes, I get it  :