Farewell Tribute to the Queen of the Skies

For many, it would seem improbable that there are no Boeing 747s in the Singapore Airlines fleet - or perhaps more accurately, no more BIGTOPs and MEGATOPs. For these brandings for the B747-300s and B747-400s respectively have become household names even to those disinclined towards aviation. Yet, in less than 24 hours, SIA would have sent its last B747-400 - 9V-SPQ (the 1,289th B747 off the production line) into retirement ... but not before operating a pair of commemorative flights to Hong Kong and back.

On the upper deck of the first two B747-200Bs was the Raffles Lounge, the exclusive domain of well-heeled First Class passengers.

More than 38 years ago on 1 October 1973, SIA's first B747-200B appropriately registered 9V-SIA operated the airline's first Jumbo Jet service to Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo. The Singapore Airlines Farewell B747 flights - appropriately numbered SQ747 (Singapore to Hong Kong) and SQ748 (Hong Kong to Singapore) partially re-enacts that first commercial service. That SIA decided to pump in some pomp and pageantry into the retirement of the B747 - the first time it has ever done when retiring an aircraft type - speaks volume of the Jumbo Jet's contribution to the development of SIA from a new brand in 1973 to the highly decorated and recognised airline that it is today.

A Boeing 747-400 in former livery touches down at Singapore Changi Airport after a long overnight flight from Paris-CDG.

Aviation enthusiasts from around the world have once again found the perfect excuse to get themselves to either Singapore or Hong Kong - to join SIA in celebrating more than 38 years of sterling service by the B747. Many will have personal stories of great flying experiences on the SIA B747 and wanted to have one final hurrah on it ... and most would feel more than a tinge of sadness as the reality sets in that the B747 chapter is truly closed at SIA.

The 1000th Boeing 747 off the Boeing production line - registered 9V-SMU - was delivered to Singapore Airlines with appropriate markings alluding to its pedigree.

I too would be on both flights - nothing could have stopped me from being there - and besides recording the celebrations and sentiments of others on the flight, I will have my own personal reflection ... and I will remember that day in September 1981 when I flew for the first time ever (OK, I was a late starter) on a commercial plane (an SIA B747-200B 9V-SQH) to Zurich via Colombo and Dubai. I fell in love with the B747 then and that feeling has intensified and grown richer in the last three decades.

During the Asian Financial Crisis of 1998, SIA took the bold step to roll out new First, Raffles and Economy Class products, and painted a pair of B747-400s in this stunning "Tropical Megatop" livery.

To the people at Boeing, thank you for producing such a beautiful airplane and for convincing SIA's then Chairman J.Y. Pillay and Managing Director Lim Chin Beng that the B747 was the better choice vis-a-vis the DC-10. Thank you to both gentlemen and to SIA's Board for the foresight to place your trust in this mammoth (it was then, compared to the B707). And last but not least, thank you to Joe F. Sutter and "The Incredibles" at Boeing for designing this aviation icon - the one and only Queen of the Skies.

To mark its membership at Star Alliance, SIA painted this B747-400 (9V-SPP) in a modified Star Alliance livery.

SIA deployed the final B747-400 (9V-SPQ) to the SIngapore Airshow 2012 on 16 February where it announced the Thank You B747 Commemorative Flights the following day.

I will not bid the B747 goodbye - as I still believe that someday, SIA will see the sense in the B747-8 Intercontinental and order it. Boeing - if you could do it in 1972 when you convinced SIA to order its first two B747-200Bs, you could do it again.