BusTalk

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From: BIG JETS" (Norman Pealing):

"......when the first 747 entered service in 1970, it changed the shape of air travel, and opened up new horizons to people around the world. Today (1987) the 747 is more than just an airliner------it is the icon of American culture, and a flying advertisement for the American Way......."

"NYO"

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From: "JETLINERS" (Clinton H. Groves).........

"........prior to the introduction of wide-body jets, aircraft fuselages had remained basically the same since the early days of piston airliners. the speed or sound, or Mach, was still a barrier, and when trying to add capacity to existing airliners, the answer had been to simply make the fuselages longer........."

"........aircraft manufacturers in the United States in the early 1960's had believed that most air passenger travel by the 1970's would be by supersonic airliners. The original plan for the 747 were for a freighter to able to handle side-by-side containers from nose to tail, thus the cockpit was located above the main deck......."

"......once it was realized that the SST would not become available, those plans were adapted for a passenger aircraft. Now, in rapid succession, supersonic jets and wide-bodies began to appear....."

"NYO"

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From "AIRLINER TECH: VOLUME 6: BOEING 747 (Dennis R. Jenkins)

"........without question, the Boeing 747 marked a turning point in commercial aviation. It was conceived in general terms by Juan Trippe, the founder of Pan American World Airways, and it was intended to boost the tourist trade......."

".........the goal was simple: reduce the price of a ticket far below what would have been charged to fly on a 707 or a DC-8. If you got the price low enough, the 'common man' could suddenly afford to fly to destinations he previously only had dreamed of......."

".......while it was being designed, the 747 was considered an interim aircraft, something to replace the 707's and the DC-8's until the promised supersonic transports came along. They are still waiting....."

"........in the meantime, over 1,400 747's have been built (2000) in five distinct models......."

"......... Pan Am's Trippe kept stressing that the 707 did not provide enough seats to meet future travel demands, and he talked creating a double-deck subsonic airliner that would meet demands until the anticipated SST's were ready in the mid-1970's........"

"NYO"

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See also:

www.historynet.com/jumbo-boeing-747.htm

(courtesy: Historynet.com)

www.boeing.com/history/products/747.page

(courtesy: Boeing.com)

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Operators of the 747........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boeing_747_operators

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This page on the history of BRANIFF* (gone nearly 40 years now!) features some classic jet photos, including an outstanding tarmac shot of a 747; the stylized "BI" insignia on the tails of the planes recalls the "TGA" insignia seen in "AIRPORT" (1970), which was very "mod" for that era, and, also, very much in style!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braniff_International

*there is also a section here on the SST, including "interchange" operations which we have previously discussed here.

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PAN AM's infamous 747 N747PA (Flight #845), after repairs were made (following the 1971 incident), was leased to AIR ZAIRE between 1973 and 1975.

A flight crew of five was aboard when the accident occurred in 1971; thankfully, there were no fatalities.

After returning to PAN AM, the craft flew with the carrier until the iconic company folded in 1991.

Parts of the plane were shipped to South Korea, where it was used as a restaurant (see link in following post)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_845

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"FINDING THE CLIPPER-IN 2017"*........

https://airwaysmag.com/avgeek/finding-the-clipper-juan-trippe/

*EXCELLENT "search mission" (w/great photos!)

[traildriver]

Here's another interesting subject...retired airliner's that have been converted into bars, restaurants, even homes. I have dined in this one.....
https://chrisbaer.net/mp/2008/10/20/lost-restaurants-bj-strawberrys-on-the-convair/

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traildriver;

Yes, my friend, you have INDEED done it all!!!!!!!!

It is funny that we got on this subject; in the early 1980's softcover Stephen Piercey books ("SKY TRUCK" and "SKY TRUCK 2") there are photos of old propliners converted into such "watering holes".

At Porto Christio (Balearic Islands) a DC-4 had been converted into a bar/restaurant known as "BAR D-3"; she was, sadly, destroyed by fire when a deranged customer set himself alight.

Outside of New Orleans, an L-049 Connie (on plinths) was part of the "CRASH LANDING" disco for some years; after the establishment closed, the Connie was taken down and scrapped.

In the Portuguese Algavare, an 1049 Connie was converted into the "SUPER G BAR & RESTUARANT" (this plane last flew during the Biafran Airlift), and featured a "drinking terrace" on her starboard wing, in landscaped surroundings!

The most bizarre use of a retired propliner was a cafeteria at Santo Domingo (adjacent to the Hotel Embarjador); this was the fuselage of a CARVAIR, with its engine cowlings mounted atop the fuselage, and her outer wing sections sticking up (vertically) from the ground; an Old Look body (sans engine compartment) was grafted into the fuselage!!!!!!

"NYO"

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Televangelist Kenneth Copeland, I've read, will not fly aboard a commercial airliner, because: "you are riding in a long tube filled with demons"(!!) (To be honest, I thought he was talking about the SUBWAY!)

Flying aboard his own lavish private "GULFSTREAM V" ("G-5"), I guess Mr. Copeland has now "vanquished" the "demons" and thinks he now "soars with the angels".......

(all kidding aside, this page gives us an interesting look at this sleek corporate/private craft)......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulfstream_V

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Also, recall ELVIS' "LISA MARIE", which was an ex-DELTA Convair 880....and John Travolta's 707 (I guess it DOES pay to have a few bucks in the bank!)

'NYO"

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Travolta's ex-QANTAS 707........

www.simpleflying.com/john-travolta-boeing-707-delayed

[traildriver]

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