In this #FlashbackFriday post, I did a series on old school aircraft I have posted on my shared Retro Av8ion Pinterest board. After it was posted, my dear friend Henry gently chided me because I hadn't included any Boeing 747 photos -- my favorite aircraft. So Henry, this one's for you, from my shared Flying Boeing 747 and Boeing 747 Pinterest boards!
1. The First One
The first 747 ever built - serial number 001 -- first flew on February 9, 1969, over Western Washington. Later, this aircraft served as a testbed for 747 systems improvements and new engine developments for other Boeing commercial jets, including the state-of-the-art Boeing 777 engine program. It is now at its permanent home at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. More »
2. Braniff
This one was known as The Great Pumpkin because of its iconic orange color. A 747 that flew from Dallas/Fort Worth to Honolulu and back was the last flight of this airline, which shut down abruptly on May 12, 1982. More »
4. A Flock of 747s
Pinterest user Foreigner posted this great shot of five 747 tails -- Canada's CP Air, Pan Am, American Airlines, British Calcedonia and Cathay Pacific. More »
5. TWA
This is a Boeing 747SP-31 in the TWA livery. This type first joined the fleet in 1979 -- with three total -- and was retired in 1998. The carrier had two 747-200Bs in its fleet when it merged with American Airlines in 2001. More »
6. Continental Airlines
This photo of a Boeing 747-200 was taken in 1987. It was delivered to Alitalia in 1972, skipped through some operators including PeoplExpress and ended up in the Continental fleet in January 1992. It was eventually scrapped in the Mojave Desert in 2002. More »
7. Tower Air
This Tower Air 747 was scrapped in the desert in pieces when it was bought by Francie Rehwal for $35,000. According to Architectural Record, Los Angeles–based architect David Hertz used the jet's wings to build Rehwal a new house. The project was completed in October 2011. More »
8. Japan Air Lines
Here's a fleet of Japan Air Lines 747s parked at Boeing Field. A BOAC 747 can be seen in the background. More »
9. Cathay Pacific
This 1991 ad touted the Hong Kong flag carrier's new 747-400 service to Los Angeles and leaving its San Francisco gateway, according to AirwaysNews.com. The last 747 left the carrier's fleet on August 31, 2014. More »
10. Air France
This is a 747 of France's flag carrier, from the San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives. More »
11. American Airlines
This ad for American's 747 was designed by artist Peter Gee in 1968, according to the Museum of Modern Art. More »
12. South African Airways
This 747 from 1974 was parked at Jan Smuts Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. More »
13. British Airways
This Boeing 747-136, found on Flickr, shows a livery as BOAC was transforming into British Airways. The photo was taken at Montreal's Mirabel Airport in 1974. More »
14. El Al
According to Flickr user Aero Icarus, this photo of Israel's flag carrier 747-200 was taken in November 1978. Its last flight was at the end of 2001, and it was eventually scrapped. More »
15. Sabena
A 747 flown by Belgium's now-defunct flag carrier. Note the F-16s flanking the aircraft. More »
There was a time when airlines regularly aired television commercials back in the day when there was no cable and only three networks -- ABC, CBS and NBC. These commercials used different methods -- from humor to glamour -- to get butts in seats. I've always been a fan of good airline commercials that make me laugh, give me a sense of place and show the wonderment of air travel. Below are links to 10 of my favorites, in no particular order.
2. Eastern Airlines
Disney: This is a charmer from back in the day when Eastern was the official airline of Walt Disney World. The quality is a bit fuzzy, but it's still a great commercial! More »
3. Delta Air Lines
Do you remember the classic Delta tagline "We love to fly and it shows?" Here's a 1987 commercial using that line. And check out that Lockheed L-1011 tri-jet! More »
5. United Airlines
Enjoy this 1975 commercial that features Sorrell Brooks, the actor who portrayed Boss Hogg in the television show "The Dukes of Hazard." It's all about paying it forward. More »
6. Western Airlines
The only way to fly: this 10-second gem features the iconic airline bird. More »
7. Piedmont Airlines
McLean Stevenson, Fishing Hole: the former M*A*S*H star was tapped in the 1980s to do commercials for the carrier. More »
9. Southwest Airlines
This commercial, from 1972, features a flight attendant in the classic hot pants -- along with a pre-CGI surprise. More »
10. AirTran
Babysitters: grandparents get their own surprise when they make a visit to see their twin baby grandchildren. It's not "classic" per se, but it made me laugh, so here it is. More »
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