Did Iran Air Extended Its Boeing 747SP-86 Life?

EP-IAC, the last Boeing 747SP remaining in passenger service in the world

 

Iran Air, the flag carrier airline of Iran has retired its last and also the last passenger version of the Boeing 747SP, with the last flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tehran on the last Saturday. The last Boeing 747SP flight was flown by EP-IAC (nose name: Persian Gulf), the last Boeing 747SP in service as passenger aircraft in the world. But, the aircraft is still listed as active according to https://www.planespotters.net/, even though the last flight operated by EP-IAC is listed on June 11, 2016, the scheduled Boeing 747SP-86 retirement date, from Kuala Lumpur to Tehran. Sam Chui, an aviation enthusiast based in Hong Kong also announced the another Iran Aviation Tour that will be held in this November, the tour is including a flight with Iran Air's Boeing 747SP-86. Did Iran Air delay the retirement of its Boeing 747SP-86 so the Boeing 747SP-86 again? Until now, the airline has yet to confirm its Boeing 747SP-86 retirement. Iran Air initially would retire its last Boeing 747SP-86 in November 2014, but it was canceled and the life of the Boeing 747SP-86 being extended after EP-IAC completed its C-Check few weeks before it scheduled farewell sightseeing flight on November 23, 2014, according to samchui.com. Will the last Boeing 747SP-86 go from passenger service forever? Or its life would be extended?

How Many Boeing 747 Classic Remains In Passenger Service In The World?

The prototype of the Boeing 747-100

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.

EP-IAC, the last Boeing 747 Classic to operate passenger service

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!

The Last Remaining Boeing 747SP-86 Will Leave Passenger Services Forever

EP-IAC, the last remaining Boeing 747SP-86 in passenger services on a final approach to Beijing-Capital International Airport

Iran Air, the flag carrier airline of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced the last passenger flight of the last remaining Boeing 747SP-86 in passenger services in the world. In the next three days, EP-IAC (name: Persian Gulf), the last remaining Boeing 747SP-86 in passenger services in the world will go forever from the world. The event would occur on Saturday, June 11, 2016. It was a sad news for the world of aviation since EP-IAC is the last Boeing 747 Classic in the world. A month before, Iran Air retired EP-IAI, the last Boeing 747-200B(M) in the world. Iran Air becomes the last operator of the Boeing 747-100B, Boeing 747-200B(M), and the Boeing 747SP-86 in the world. The last Boeing 747-100B and Boeing 747-100B(M) had been retired, but the Boeing 747SP-86 is still flying, and it will fly into the history forever.