After 48 years of active service with the Boeing’s iconic jumbo jet, Israel’s national airline El Al said goodbye to its 747 fleet with a special event.
On November 3 2019, an El Al Boeing 747 took off from Rome at 1000 local time and flew a special route over the Mediterranean Sea.
The aircraft drew on the sky a Boeing 747 commemorating the airline’s final flight with the 747s.
There were two 747-400s in the El Al’s fleet. Including the last two jets, the airline historically operated 17 Boeing 747 in total (two 747-100s, eight 747-200s and seven 747-400s).
After two hours from takeoff, Flight LY1747 descended to 10,000 feet over Cyprus to begin the artwork.
Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 documented the trip with a series of images posted on its Twitter account.
The whole flight took almost four hours and the aircraft landed at the Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport.
There are about 500 Boeing 747 in service around the world today. However, airlines are replacing them with more-efficient wide-body, twin-engine jets such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Airbus A350XWB.
El Al says goodbye to its 747 fleet with a sky art tribute. https://t.co/yIfWWTF1I6 #ELAL747 pic.twitter.com/KvhpMgcjwK
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 3, 2019
This article first appeared on Airlinerwatch.com.
Roy Fordham
says:Very sad to see, and hear of the Boeing withdrawal of the “747”, a superb safe and reliable Boeing product, however it proved its reliability from its first entry into service with many Airlines around the world, I am here to state that in my honest opinion, it was the very best and safest passenger airplane ever produced, my air travelling days will be few now 88yrs young, but the ‘747’ will always be remembered by me as the the air travellers best choice of long distance travel.
Peter Tsilioris
says:The Queen of the Skies very sad indeed not seeing the 747. My favourite the classic-200 many trips and memories and sometimes take offs and landings in the cockpit.
Dominant aircraft for many years from first flight 09-Feb-1969, serial number 001.
Farewell Boeing 747.
SATHEESAN NAIR
says:I am also saddened by withdrawal of B747 fro Israli Air line. I AM A FAN OF 747