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The prototype of the Boeing 747-100
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The Boeing 747 entered
service in the evening of January 21, 1970, N733PA (named Clipper Young
America) became the first Boeing 747 to enter service with Pan American World
Airways. It operated its very first passenger flight from New York to London.
Unfortunately, it suffered engine overheating before the departure, so Pan
American World Airways delayed the first ever passenger flight of the Boeing
747 for six hours. On January 22, 1970, in the next morning N736PA (named
Clipper Victor) flew the first ever Boeing 747's passenger flight from New York
to London. It was the beginning of the era of the Boeing 747 in the world.
Unfortunately, N736PA or Clipper Victor collided with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines'
Boeing 747-200B at Los Rodeos Airport, killing 583 people on both aircraft.
Until now, the collision at Los Rodeos Airport, Tenerife is called as 'Tenerife
Airport Disaster' and remains as the deadliest aviation accident in the world.
From the 1970s until 2000s, the Boeing 747 Classic is a major sighting at many
major airports in the world.
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EP-IAC, the last Boeing 747 Classic to operate
passenger service
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But now, many Boeing 747
Classic had been retired by many airlines in the world. Today, many aviation
enthusiasts still trying to fly on the Boeing 747 Classic series. The question
is, how many Boeing 747 Classic remains in passenger service in the world? Now,
only one airline in the world that still operating the Boeing 747 Classic as
passenger aircraft, the airline is Iran Air. Iran Air is the last airline in
the world to operate the Boeing 747-100B, Boeing 747-200B(M), and the Boeing
747SP-86 in the world. The last Boeing 747-100B had been retired in 2014, while
the Boeing 747-200B had been retired in 2016, leaving the Boeing 747SP-86 in
service. Initially, Iran Air has up to three Boeing 747SP-86 in its fleet, but
currently, Iran Air has sold its two Boeing 747SP-86, leaving EP-IAC (named
Persian Gulf) in passenger service. It means, there's only ONE Boeing 747
Classic remains in passenger service in the world. But how long EP-IAC will
operate passenger service in Iran Air? The answer is, EP-IAC, the last Boeing
747 Classic in the world will still operating passenger service for TWO DAYS
AGAIN as Iran Air will operate the last ever flight of its Boeing 747SP-86 on
June 11, 2016, if the airline doesn't delay the retirement flight. It means
people will no longer fly on Boeing 747 Classic in the world. After 46 years in
service, maybe the Boeing 747 Classic will leave passenger service forever.
Goodbye Boeing 747 Classic, thank you for fond memories in the good old days!
