June 10, 20206 yr In my earlier B747-200 post, I'd indicated that the 747 Classic includes "747 (-100/-200) Pax and (-200) Cargo", but, here, below, please find a selection of (my) 20 favorites from all three "early" 747 variants (-100/-200/-300). Within the trio, 747-300 was, so to speak, the "unsung" hero: "Unlike previous 747 variants, the -300 was unable to sell. While airlines appreciated the improvements, they didn’t justify the higher purchase price for many. Just two years after it entered service, in 1985, after only ~80 units, Boeing suspended orders for the type (first one having gone to Swissair and the last one to Sabena) as it opened the order book for its newer 747-400 (~700 units would be built), which included a modernized glass cockpit, winglets for added fuel efficiency and newer engines. The 747-300 would, then, inconspicuously, sail into the history books as just a middle-man between the older -200 and the more modern -400." - while the (younger sibling) 747-400 (dubbed Queen of the Skies) would also go into the history books, but, in a much more prestigious (and memorable) manner... However, 747-300's legacy persists to this day! The iconic "stretched upper deck" was the most visible difference between the -300 and previous models (e.g. here, we may simply count the number of (upper-deck) windows on -100/-200 (typically 10 on each side) vs. (nearly twice as many) on -300). [Side Note: The first 747-100s were built with 3 upper deck windows (per side), but, later, as airlines began to use the upper deck for premium passenger seating instead of lounge space, Boeing offered a 10-window upper deck as an option. Additionally, and optionally, if you're not a RW Pilot, which I'm not, you "may" also wish to count (and compare) the number of upper-deck windows on the (on-line images of) 747-400 and 747-8I/8F (Caution: it could be an eye test, though...🙂...or, maybe, just Google it....for 747-8, they are, respectively, "26/3" per side, if I'm not mistaken..!)] Anyway, the (subsequent) 747-400 Passenger versions had retained the same upper deck as the -300. In fact, the 747-300’s stretched upper deck is (probably) the only innovation from the type that remains popular, to this day, having been included on the 747-400, and, most recently, a modified (and lengthened) version, of the same timeless design, being included also on the 747-8i Intercontinental. So, when we fly our (most) modern B747-8 (SIM or RW), with its advanced avionics, advanced FMC/EFB etc., and highly accurate LNAV/VNAV guidance systems, maybe, we should reminisce, once in a while, about these (humble) older siblings (-100/-200/-300), that had started it all, and, most of all, how their pilots, of the day, must have navigated around the world (I remind you, here, e.g. of CP Air's (pioneering) Polar Routes) with their much less sophisticated systems...! All the pictures, below, are taken at Orbx (Brisbane). Hope you enjoy the images of these endearing planes, rarely seen, around here, and, of course, many of the associated airlines, are, now, long gone and forgotten....! [Side Note: Currently, there seem to be just five 747-300 aircraft remain in service, located in Belarus, Nigeria and Iran. Mainly, these aircraft operate non-scheduled charter services, including Hajj charter flights to Jeddah and Madinah.] Thanks for reading and viewing (and for any comments and thoughts, too)!! Good rest of the week! [CLS/JF(747)/Orbx(YBBN)/REX] Livery images, shown, below, are in random order. [-100] British Airways Boeing 747-136 (G-BDPV) [Note: I've only this one (somehow, marked as -100 variant) in my -200 directory, but, don't know how....maybe, a painter just used the -200 (CLS) Model to paint/adapt a -100 for the SIM....and, if you wish, you can view some beautiful (RW) pictures (in-flight ones really look good...!) of this early variant 747, in the BA colors, by searching for "G-BDPV B747-100 images".] [-200] Lufthansa, SAS, Condor, Air India, TWA, Olympic, PAL (Philippines), Eastern, Air Canada, South African, NWA, IBERIA, THAI, Argentinas, Martinair (Holland), VIASA (Venezuela) [-300] JAL(Japan), Qantas, Cathay Pacific Edited June 10, 20206 yr by P_7878
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