40 years of the 747

I havn't been on one before, and i would love to before it becomes decommissioned.

[ogden]

Originally Posted by Magnum

I havn't been on one before, and i would love to before it becomes decommissioned.

Unless you're in first class, and have access to the upper deck, its' no different to flying on any other airliner.

Originally Posted by ogden

Unless you're in first class, and have access to the upper deck, its' no different to flying on any other airliner.

Surely it would be better than the cramped a319 i was on last week. I felt like a sardine.

[ogden]

Originally Posted by Magnum

Surely it would be better than the cramped a319 i was on last week. I felt like a sardine.

Why would it?

It's wider, so they squeeze in an extra seat per row (typical 3-4-3). It's longer, so they squeeze in more rows.

I've flown in glorious comfort on a BA flight on a smallish jet, and cramped discomfort on an Easyjet plane of the same size. It's all down to how the airline specs the seating arrangements. The smaller and more densely packed the seats, the more bums you can accommodate, regardless of the size of the plane itself.

The real difference is the front and the upper deck but, as I mentioned above, to benefit from that you need to turn left after boarding, not right.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by ogden

Why would it?

It's wider, so they squeeze in an extra seat per row (typical 3-4-3). It's longer, so they squeeze in more rows.

I've flown in glorious comfort on a BA flight on a smallish jet, and cramped discomfort on an Easyjet plane of the same size. It's all down to how the airline specs the seating arrangements. The smaller and more densely packed the seats, the more bums you can accommodate, regardless of the size of the plane itself.

The real difference is the front and the upper deck but, as I mentioned above, to benefit from that you need to turn left after boarding, not right.

On the way back from NZ one trip (flying from Osaka) we got bumped up from Economy to the Top Deck of a 747 - still Economy with regards to food/drink etc, but in the better seating.

Was a really cool game you could play - can I touch the seat in front with my foot without falling off mine - never did manage it

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

You could argue that with Concorde out of service, its effectively gone backwards...

True, its a shame it is no longer flying.

Always like the 747 as it had four engines, more always feels safer when coming to important bits like an engine

Originally Posted by Magnum

I havn't been on one before, and i would love to before it becomes decommissioned.

Boeing are bringing out the new 800 series soon, and old 200 series still fly. It's going to be some time before they're phased out completely.

[ogden]

When the major airlines have stopped using them they'll go where all knackered barely-airworthy airliners go: tinpot third world airlines. Wikipedia tells me there are still more than 50 707s in commercial service, and they've been around a decade longer than the 747.

only problem with concorde was that it was banned in most countries because of the sonic boom it created. and aircraft manufactures are now creating quieter and more fuel efficient aircraft, thats the main reason the A380 will beat the 747 because in the cruise the A380 can connect any 2 points on the globe

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

The Japs are building a super-sonic plane though

Will the Americans try and put the kibosh on that one too?