Atlas Air - Last stop of the (legendary) 747 Queen ...

[P_7878 6,767]

Since, I flew recently, here, the Cargolux 747-8 Freighter, via a post, I have been thinking about Atlas Air. Just as Cargolux was the first carrier (was also the launch customer) to take delivery of the first 748 back in 2011, 12 years later, Atlas Air was the last carrier to take delivery of the last 748 last year in 2023, and btw, which also meant that the final curtain of the (entire) legendary 747 line, spanning more than half-century (1970-2023), came down with that delivery of Atlas Air 747-8F (Reg. No. N863GT, Line No. 1574)..."1574" implying that a total of 1574 747s of all types were built, from the 747-100 prototype (Line Number 001), through government and military modifications, all the way to the final 747-8 (for which there was a total of 155 units, 48 747-8I and 107 747-8F). 

With A380 production been stopped in 2021 (Note: There has not been an A380F Freighter variant so far, though been evaluated and proposed by the maker), that Atlas Air delivery also marked the final production of the "4-engined" large commercial series a/c, that we have come to love in our aviation hobby...(including the historic ones such as the VC10, IL-96, DC-8, DH Comet, CV 880/990, B707 etc., and, of course, the Concorde...). The 4-engined jet variants had to eventually (and respectfully) bow out of the arena in deference to the twinjets of today boasting "humongous" turbofans...I invite you to see on-line the pictures (and videos) of those engines on e.g., the A350-1000 and the B777-9X, and judge for yourself...It's mind-boggling and unbelievable that the 777X (GE 9X) engine is actually wider than a 737-800 fuselage... (bigger engines are better, seemingly, but not sure, if "aesthetic"...🙂...) ...And the (respective) makers are already talking "stretched" A350-1000 and B777-"10"X... Oh well...We don't think the B748 (or the A380) stand a chance against these types...

Anyway, the (stock) B747-8 that MSFS/Asobo has given us surely looks good (see below), but by no means, matches the fidelity of the earlier SIM (747) outputs from the premier developers (PMDG and iFly come to mind). It does not have a Freighter variant, such as the ones (for Cargolux and Atlas) I'm flying here, so, these are an artist's (not PMDG's...🙂...) imagination of how they might look in the SIM...still it feels great to fly these liveries, nonetheless...if you're fond of them...

So, please find, below, 11 images of the Atlas Air 747-8F freighter, lifting off from one of its primary Hubs, PANC (Anchorage), on its way to Seattle (WA), just getting its feet wet, over the majestic Chugach (range) of mountains, east of Anchorage... [Please note: You'll notice the Reg. of the a/c here being "N852GT", not the "N863GT" that was actually the last 748F built by Boeing for this airline.]

Thanks for viewing...!

[pmplayer 9,653]

Beautiful set - again !

cheers 😉

[Alaska738 8,524]

Great shots! 😉 

[phmcr 94]

I always enjoy your entertaining posts! Thanks!

[bernd1151 6,019]

Another fine set, many thanks P_7878 !!

[P_7878 6,767]

pmplayer, Will, Menno, bernd et al.:

Many thanks for the comments and responses...🙂...