Vale, Queen of the Skies

Farewell to an icon.

After spending what sometimes felt like every other week on a 747, it seemed fitting to offer a small tribute to the Queen of the Skies as she ends her almost 50-year reign. For most airlines, the combination of newer, more fuel efficient jets and a global pandemic meant the 747 math no longer worked. Both Qantas and British Airways announced the retirement of their fleet of 747-400's in 2020 so having spent a great deal of time in both, I'm sharing a few highlights of my times on the Queen.

Photo by Isaac Struna on Unsplash

My flying days started on Air New Zealand Fokker Friendships in the 1970s mainly with being told not to play with the in-seat ashtrays and handing out boiled sweets for landing. In the 1980s I grew up with the sun-faded posters of Singapore Airlines 747 Bigtops and Megatops in travel agent windows and TV news articles about exotic animals being delivered on the Mega Ark. These early experiences set an enduring theme for the rest of my life that would see long-haul airliners become almost a second home - none more so than the 747.

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Ironically the 747 represented the start and the end of my pre-pandemic travel era. In 1992 I boarded my first international flight from Auckland to Sydney on a Qantas 747 on the way to Japan and in January 2020, I took what was probably my last 747 flight on a BA 747-400 from JFK-LHR. I've travelled in every part of that plane over the last 28 years including the smoking section on Japan Airlines (which doesn't make the highlights reel).

While most of my trans-Pacific flying years were on Qantas A380 flights between MEL-LAX, the 747 connecting flight from LAX-JFK was often the highlight. Leaving in the morning LA time after 14 hours in the air, the dramatic landscapes from desert to snow as we traversed across the states on a clear day were worth skipping some jet lagged sleep for. If you were lucky, the flight path took you on a low sweep around Manhattan before the descent across Jamaica Bay to JFK. Heading up the steep stairs to the upper deck to a window seat added the special 747 sauce to the experience.

The overnight flight from SYD-NRT was also a frequent route. A late afternoon glass of Shiraz in the lounge in Melbourne followed by a quick supper (and a bit more Shiraz) in the stunning QF first lounge in Sydney set the scene for the Qantas, or occasionally JAL, 747 flight to Narita arriving on a clear, frosty morning.

In more recent years, the milk-run between LHR and JFK was by far my most traveled 747 route courtesy of British Airways. 64A/K on the upper deck was my preferred position with the clear aisle access and rear facing seat affording the best view of an early morning glide path across central London.

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to "fly" a 747-400 at Qantas' Jet Base in Sydney in the simulator. The $30M of technology that goes into a flight simulator creates an incredibly authentic experience of actually piloting the jet from within a fully kitted out cockpit. Truly awesome to be behind the controls of a machine I had admired and travelled in for so long.

A tribute to the 747 wouldn't be complete without a nod to the revolution the 747 brought to flying in the 1970's. This epic nautical themed first class upper deck lounge is from one of Qantas' first 747-200's received in 1971. Visit it in person at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach.

Photo: Qantas Founders Museum

So, 747 - we'll miss you but thanks for the good times and enjoy your well-deserved retirement!