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The end of an era for the four-engined planes?

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

British Airways have announced they will be retiring the iconic Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747 with immediate effect. They were originally due to be retired in 2024, but have been retired earlier due to the pandemic. Even the Airbus A380, the world’s biggest passenger plane, which has been in service since 2007, has been retired by Air France, along with Australia’s Qantas Airways. They say these large four-engined planes just aren’t economically viable, and that would remain the case in a post-pandemic world, where the aviation industry will struggle to recover.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I hate flying and not just the actual up in the sky bit

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By *ex HolesMan
over a year ago

Up North

The A380 and 747 was/is a fantastic piece of aeronautical engineering. It would be a shame if we never saw these in the skies again. Unfortunately they’re heading the same way as concord as they don’t make enough profit for the major airlines. Will be interesting to see what Emirates do seeing as though the A380 is their major source of income

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead


"British Airways have announced they will be retiring the iconic Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747 with immediate effect. They were originally due to be retired in 2024, but have been retired earlier due to the pandemic. Even the Airbus A380, the world’s biggest passenger plane, which has been in service since 2007, has been retired by Air France, along with Australia’s Qantas Airways. They say these large four-engined planes just aren’t economically viable, and that would remain the case in a post-pandemic world, where the aviation industry will struggle to recover."

747’s were coming to the end of their lives anyway so not surprised they are being retired early... and a lot of European airlines only bought a couple of a380’s each so again not surprising

The one airline that will keep flying a380’s are emirates. They bought tons of them so they have the repairs and maintenance down to a minimum under economies of scale ..

I wonder if emirates will buy other airlines 380’s either to retrofit them.. or strip them for spare parts as and when they need them

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By *ercuryMan
over a year ago

Grantham

Plenty of 747s hauling frieght around the skies.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

the A380 was always going to to have a short life span.

I dont know how many A380's airbus have sold but i remember that they needed to sell 300 ish to cover the development.

Airlines were already starting to look at smaller more fuel efficient planes when it was first being sold. Boeing had spotted this need and the 777/787 dreamliners were developed with this in mind.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I used to love flying on the ol 747s as you always knew you were flying long haul.My mates ex girlfriend used to work for BA she said it was the most safest aircraft ever..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I was a massive fan of the A380. I loved flying in it with Emirates. I became an even bigger fan when I flew back from China two years ago as t was the only plane that wasn’t grounded by an incoming monsoon and took off in the monsoon with hardly a wobble. The feeling of safety and luxury on that plane was second to none that I had experienced. It will be sad to see both planes go but I seriously doubt I’ll ever be trekking the world again like I did before the Pandemic.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A Big thing is how we want to fly.

we dont want to take 3 flights to get to where we are going (local- hub, hub-hub, hub-destination) as its time out of our lifes. the big plains are good on the hub to hub routes but not the smaller local-hub or hub to destination routes as they wouldnt be full.

the upshot of that is more smaller more efficcient airplanes on direct routes (even longer range routes) works better for us and the airlines.

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By *tephanjMan
over a year ago

Kettering

Bring back Concorde

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

This is truly a sad time for us aviation enthusiasts. I know Emirates started their bringing their A380s back into LHR from Wednesday then you have China southern who fly in once a week. It’s going to be a sad time for young ones growing up who will never experience flying on giants like 747s, A380s and also A340s

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead


"Plenty of 747s hauling frieght around the skies. "

Those will stay and are still actually being built... the passenger version will go

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead


"the A380 was always going to to have a short life span.

I dont know how many A380's airbus have sold but i remember that they needed to sell 300 ish to cover the development.

Airlines were already starting to look at smaller more fuel efficient planes when it was first being sold. Boeing had spotted this need and the 777/787 dreamliners were developed with this in mind."

I’m a nerd and I can answer that....

About 250 sold.... roughly Emirates have 140 of them

Have to say I love the 787 Dreamliner though

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By *hrisUB3Man
over a year ago

Heathrow

I think it was the designer of the 747, who when asked why it had 4 engines, replied:

"There wasn't room for more!"

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By *ust RachelTV/TS
over a year ago

Horsham

Surely there are a few RJ100's flying about.

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By *hrisUB3Man
over a year ago

Heathrow


"Surely there are a few RJ100's flying about."

Yes, but they are 'toy' planes!

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

It's so sad about BA doing this. My favourite seats were upstairs on them, better than 1st class imo.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"the A380 was always going to to have a short life span.

I dont know how many A380's airbus have sold but i remember that they needed to sell 300 ish to cover the development.

Airlines were already starting to look at smaller more fuel efficient planes when it was first being sold. Boeing had spotted this need and the 777/787 dreamliners were developed with this in mind.

I’m a nerd and I can answer that....

About 250 sold.... roughly Emirates have 140 of them

Have to say I love the 787 Dreamliner though "

Buy yourself a copy of Lockheed Martin Prepar3d V5 and then go over to pmdg.com and buy their ultra-realistic 747 add on, if you have a good PC that is

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Surely a four-engined plane is safer than one with just two engines?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Surely a four-engined plane is safer than one with just two engines?"

No, the approval process for twin engines planes to fly on longer routes is very thorough.

ETOPS Extended Twin Operations is based on an aircraft being more than 1 hour away from an airport with only one engine operative over the route where only 3 ir 4 engine aircraft had been authorised to fly. Takes into account engine reliability and the number of in flight shut downs to give a rating as to how long the route can be fir that aircraft

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By *hrisUB3Man
over a year ago

Heathrow


"Surely a four-engined plane is safer than one with just two engines?

No, the approval process for twin engines planes to fly on longer routes is very thorough.

ETOPS Extended Twin Operations is based on an aircraft being more than 1 hour away from an airport with only one engine operative over the route where only 3 ir 4 engine aircraft had been authorised to fly. Takes into account engine reliability and the number of in flight shut downs to give a rating as to how long the route can be fir that aircraft

"

Isn't it is easier to control a 4 engine plane with 3 engines than a 2 engine plane with only 1 engine working?

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By *ob Carpe DiemMan
over a year ago

Torquay

Yes safety I think was always the concern but they are so reliable these days

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By *ust RachelTV/TS
over a year ago

Horsham


"Surely there are a few RJ100's flying about.

Yes, but they are 'toy' planes! "

But they do have 4 engines though?

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