#jumbojet

[aviaposter]

Boeing 747-400 Air France

Registration: F-GITH Type: 747-428 Engines: 4 × GE CF6-80C2B1F Serial Number: 32868 First flight: Mar 5, 2003

On March 20, 1970, Air France took delivery of its first Boeing 747-100. The aircraft was so unprecedented in scale that cameras from all French television channels followed its arrival in Paris as if it were a matter of national importance. It was their first truly mass-market tool for long-haul aviation.

On June 3, 1970, the first commercial flight was performed on the company's most prestigious route—Paris–New York. Symbolically, this is also the line where the Concorde would fly several years later: two poles of the same era, supersonic luxury for the chosen few and mass accessibility for everyone else.

If the Atlantic served as the program's showcase—the televised flight written about in the press—the real work of the "Jumbo" unfolded across a far more extensive network, one that largely inherited the contours of the French colonial and post-colonial world.

Here, an important clarification regarding the geography of the 747s at Air France is necessary. In 1963, the French government issued a directive dividing long-haul routes between Air France and the private carrier UTA (Union de Transports Aériens). For nearly 30 years, a significant part of the post-colonial world remained simply closed to Air France's "Jumbo"—those lines were served by UTA aircraft. Air France could only reclaim this geography in 1992, following its merger with UTA.

By its 50th anniversary in 1983, Air France had become the fourth largest passenger airline in the world, and the 747 was the machine without which such an operational scale would have been impossible.

The first clouds over the 747 program at Air France appeared in the 1990s when the Boeing 777 began entering the fleet, offering comparable economics with significantly lower fuel consumption. This efficiency became the main criterion of the new era of air travel. And in the 2000s, the Airbus A380 began playing its role—a super-capacity successor that Air France viewed as the natural replacement for the retiring "Jumbo."

Air France's last commercial flight on the Boeing 747 took place on January 11, 2016, on the Paris–Mexico City route. A few days later, on January 14, 2016, the company held a farewell tour of France: a special flight over the country's iconic landscapes accompanied by the Patrouille de France military aerobatic team.

Airliner Profile Scenic Posters aviaposter.com

[aviaposter]

Boeing 747-200 Alitalia

Registration: I-DEMB Named: Carlo Del Prete Type: 747-243B Engines: 4 × PW JT9D-7A Serial Number: 20520 First flight: May 11, 1972

Earlier this year, we covered the story of the Boeing 747-100 in service with the Italian national carrier, as well as two distinctive -200s in special liveries – the candy-themed "Baci" and the elegant "Bulgari Aluminium watch." Now it is time to turn to a far more prosaic, yet no less significant protagonist – the standard Boeing 747-200, which for many years formed the backbone of Alitalia's long-haul fleet.

The Italian carrier began receiving the Boeing 747-200 in the first half of the 1970s, gradually expanding its fleet as passenger traffic grew. Unlike its predecessor – the -100 series – the -200 offered greater range and more powerful engines, giving Alitalia the ability to operate long-haul routes with confidence and without technical stops. The aircraft connected Rome and Milan with New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Tokyo – in short, with all the key points on the globe that the Italian diaspora and business travellers frequented on a regular basis.

In Alitalia's standard configuration, the 747-200 carried three classes of service: First Class occupied the upper deck and the forward section of the main cabin, Business Class took the middle zone, and Economy filled the rear. The interiors embodied a distinctly Italian charm – warm tones throughout the cabin, elegant graphics on the headrests, and the airline's signature white-and-green colour scheme, completed by the red triangle on the tail fin and the proud "Alitalia" lettering along the fuselage.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it was these aircraft that shaped the company's image as a leading European carrier. They carried holidaymakers, emigrants visiting family, diplomats and business executives – the full, varied flow of passengers that moves ceaselessly between the Old World and the New. By the late 1990s, the Jumbos began to give way to more economical wide-body aircraft of the new generation, and Alitalia, like most European airlines, parted with them without particular ceremony – simply as machinery that had done its job faithfully and well.

And yet it was precisely these aircraft that laid the very foundation upon which Alitalia's reputation was built during the golden age of jet aviation.

Airliner Profile Scenic Posters aviaposter.com

[aviaposter]

Boeing 747-400 British Airways

Registration: G-CIVG Type: 747-436 Engines: 4 × RR RB211-524G Serial Number: 25813 First flight: Apr 6, 1995

For decades, the Boeing 747-400 was a true symbol of British civil aviation. The airline operated one of the largest fleets of these aircraft in the world and for many years remained the leading operator of the "Queen of the Skies."

British Airways began receiving the 747-400 in the late 1980s, and these aircraft quickly became the backbone of its long-haul route network. The plane connected London Heathrow with dozens of cities around the globe — from New York and Los Angeles to Tokyo, Sydney and Johannesburg. At its peak, the fleet numbered more than 50 aircraft of this type.

On board, the British Airways 747-400 was typically configured in a four-class layout: First, Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy). The upper deck was traditionally reserved for the First or business class cabin, lending it an intimate and refined atmosphere. Depending on the configuration, the aircraft could accommodate between 274 and 337 passengers.

With the arrival of more fuel-efficient wide-body aircraft — the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 — the fate of the 747-400 in British Airways' fleet was sealed. The airline steadily phased them out, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 sharply accelerated that process. In July 2020, British Airways announced the complete retirement of its entire remaining 747-400 fleet, without waiting for the industry to recover.

The departure of the "Jumbo" from British Airways marked the end of an era. For many passengers and aviation enthusiasts, this aircraft will forever remain the embodiment of the golden age of long-haul travel.

Airliner Profile Scenic Posters aviaposter.com

[aviaposter]

Boeing 747-400 Delta Air Lines

Registration: N673US Type: 747-451 Engines: 4 × PW PW4056 Serial Number: 30268 First flight: Aug 13, 1999

The world has seen many airlines for which the «Jumbo» became a symbol and backbone of their long‑haul fleets. Unlike others, Delta encountered this legendary aircraft twice. When Delta received its first 747 in October 1970, the aviation world was experiencing a boom in wide‑body aircraft.

But the euphoria of owning the giant didn’t last long. Four years after launching operations, Delta realized a harsh truth: the Jumbo was too large for its route network. At that time, Delta focused on domestic U.S. routes. The enormous aircraft, designed to cross oceans, was about as suitable for Delta’s operations as an elephant in a china shop. The company was forced to replace it with the more cost‑efficient Lockheed L‑1011.

More than thirty years passed, and in 2008 an event occurred that dramatically changed the situation. Delta completed its merger with Northwest Airlines, which, unlike Delta, had been a true enthusiast of the Boeing 747. Thanks to this merger, Delta successfully established itself as a major player in the global aviation market, especially on the Pacific routes, where the Jumbos proved to be the ideal tool. Now Delta had a fleet of sixteen modern Boeing 747‑400s at its disposal. And unlike in the 1970s, the airline now had a suitable route network for these aircraft.

For ten years, the Jumbo continued to support Delta’s profits. But time is relentless, and the aging 747s began to leave the fleet. By 2017, the golden era of four‑engine aircraft had come to an end. The new generation of twin‑engine long‑haul airliners, the Airbus A350XWB, offered significantly lower operating costs with comparable range.

Despite the complex relationship between the airline and this aircraft, Delta became the last American carrier to retire the passenger Boeing 747. Thus ended the 47‑year period of operating this type across Northwest and Delta combined.

Airliner Profile Scenic Posters aviaposter.com

[aviaposter]

Boeing 747-8f Nippon Cargo Airlines

Registration: JA18KZ Type: 747-8KZF Engines: 4 × GE GEnx-2B67 Serial Number: 37393 First flight: Aug 8, 2014

The history of NCA's aviation fleet precisely reflects the evolution of cargo aviation over the past four decades. The company deliberately committed to a single aircraft type—the Boeing 747—which allowed it to maximize efficiency in crew training, maintenance, and spare parts logistics.

During the first decade, NCA operated the Boeing 747-200F—the cargo version of the legendary "Jumbo Jet" that revolutionized passenger air travel in the 1970s. As the business grew, the fleet expanded, but the basic philosophy remained unchanged: reliability, capacity, and range.

A major step forward came in 2005, when NCA took delivery of its first Boeing 747-400F in Everett, Washington—the first of four aircraft of this type on order. In June 2006, the company ordered two more 747-400Fs in addition to the eight already on order, confirming its expansion ambitions.

However, the true milestone in NCA's fleet history was the order for the Boeing 747-8F—the latest and most advanced version of the legendary Jumbo. In 2007, the company ordered 14 aircraft of the new type. Interestingly, two of NCA's aircraft participated in the 747-8F certification testing program.

The first 747-8F for NCA was delivered on July 25, 2012, receiving registration number JA13KZ, and by 2015 the company had received eight of the fourteen ordered 747-8Fs. Then, following a downturn in cargo volumes in the Asia-Pacific region, the company canceled orders for four aircraft while retaining options on the remaining two.

Today, Nippon Cargo Airlines' fleet consists of eight Boeing 747-8Fs with an average age of about ten years—a relatively young fleet by cargo aviation standards. The aircraft carry registration numbers from JA11KZ to JA18KZ and are painted in the company's signature blue-and-white livery with the distinctive NCA logo on the tail.

Airliner Profile Scenic Posters aviaposter.com

[aviaposter]

Boeing 747-200 Alitalia

Registration: I-DEMS Named: Monte Argentario Paint: Bulgari Aluminium watch special colours Type: 747-243B Engines: 4 × GE CF6-50E2 Serial Number: 22969 First flight: Feb 11, 1983

We’re wrapping up our brief history of «The Adventures of the Jumbo in Italy». I’ve previously told the story of the first Boeing 747‑100 that joined Alitalia’s fleet in 1970. There was also the tale of the «Chocolate Jumbo», painted in the colours of iconic chocolate candies and serving the airline from 1980 onward. So, what happened next?

In 1998, another Alitalia Jumbo donned a stylish new livery — and, most notably, sported expensive Bvlgari watches from the renowned luxury brand. This was aircraft I‑DEMS, named «Monte Argentario», which carried advertising for the Italian luxury company Bulgari, producer of high‑end goods and owner of luxury hotels. The brand name is stylised as BVLGARI, drawing on the traditional Latin alphabet where the letters «V» and «U» are equivalent in writing.

Imagine it: a hundreds‑of‑tons aircraft adorn packed with the jeweller’s logo and expensive watches displayed on its fuselage — like a dandy’s wrist! Every time this aircraft landed in New York or Tokyo, it wasn’t just a mode of transport — it was an ambassador of Italian luxury style. «Mamma mia, how beautiful!» passengers would exclaim, and in that exclamation lay the very essence of Alitalia: passion, beauty, and Italian temperament — even at 11,000 metres altitude.

Alitalia is now gone — in 2021, it was replaced by ITA Airways. Nearly all the 747s that once bore the Alitalia livery have permanently retired from service. But one old-timer still remains airworthy. This is the aircraft that once carried the name Titano, registered as I‑DEMR. Today, at the age of 45, it continues its «titanic» work with the Moldovan cargo charter company Fly Pro, now registered as ER‑BAR. And if you ever spot it in the sky, remember its glorious past.

Airliner Profile Scenic Posters aviaposter.com

[aviaposter]

Boeing 747-200 Alitalia

Registration: I-DEMF Named: Portofino Paint: Baci special colours Type: 747-243B Engines: 4 × GE CF6-50E2 Serial Number: 22508 First flight: Dec 11, 1980

Continuing the theme I'd call "Adventures of the Jumbo in Italy." Last time, I told you about the first Boeing 747-100 that joined Alitalia in 1970. Today's story is about another Italian Jumbo.

1971 brought Alitalia a new airliner model—the Boeing 747-200. If the first Jumbos were a trial run, the "two-hundreds" became a true masterpiece. More powerful General Electric engines, increased range and takeoff weight. Now Alitalia's fleet operated five passenger 747s of both models. And although by the end of 1981, both "firstborn" 747-100s had left the Alitalia fleet, deliveries of the 747-200 resumed by that time, and the fleet size began to grow.

Among those "two-hundreds" of the early '80s was today's star of our poster. From its first days of existence, this aircraft was no different from its six siblings working at the company at the time. Only seventeen years later did it radically change its image.

The Boeing 747-200 with registration I-DEMF and the name "Portofino" one morning "woke up"… different. Instead of Alitalia's standard green-red-white livery, its almost entirely blue fuselage was adorned with the inscription "Baci Perugina" and images of the famous Italian chocolates with love notes in different languages. Now it was a flying advertisement for the iconic Italian chocolate.

Imagine the reaction of spotters at Heathrow Airport! In 1997, mass internet didn't yet exist, the word "smartphone" was a meaningless collection of sounds, and Flightradar was unthinkable science fiction. In that era, catching such a rarity in your lens was like capturing a shooting star in the night sky. Cameras clicked incessantly, people looked up: "Look, a chocolate airplane!"

Not an airplane—a sweet treat!

Airliner Profile Scenic Posters aviaposter.com

[aviaposter]

Boeing 747-100 Alitalia

Registration: I-DEMA Named: Neil Armstrong Type: 747-143 Engines: 4 × PW JT9D-7 Serial Number: 19729 First flight: Apr 14, 1970

On May 13, 1970, Alitalia took delivery of its first Boeing 747-100 with registration number I-DEMA. This became a landmark event for Italian aviation. The newcomer was the 36th Boeing 747 aircraft produced at the company's factory in Seattle. The aircraft was named Neil Armstrong, after the American astronaut who made his first Moon landing just one year before this aircraft's arrival in Italy.

The aircraft was used primarily on transatlantic routes, including flights to New York and Los Angeles. This allowed Alitalia to significantly expand its presence in the North American market and strengthen its position in the long-haul segment.

The introduction of the Boeing 747-100 marked Alitalia's transition to using wide-body aircraft with increased capacity and became an important milestone in the airline's fleet modernization.

Aircraft I-DEMA remained in operation with Alitalia until 1981, after which it was retired from the fleet and replaced by more advanced and efficient 747-200 variants.

Airliner Profile Scenic Posters aviaposter.com