Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

AllAmericanSeaweed t1_izbzoqu wrote

Reply to comment by V41K4R13 in End of an era as final Boeing 747 rolls off assembly line by maxxspeed

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.

138

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.

65

2SP00KY4ME t1_izdev5l wrote

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

18

Vault-71 t1_izeg5hc wrote

Wait, can you legally buy a B-52?

6

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.

8

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.

18

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

16

mccoyn t1_izdxmox wrote

ETOPS -Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards

MTOW - Maximum Takeoff Weight

13

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?

4

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

1