Air New Zealand 747 - LAX - Retired the next day!

[cezza57]

wish airnz was getting the 747-8!!!!!

[jetfreak4]

Doesn't surprise me that they are getting rid of the 744s. It's too bad more people don't want the 747-800.

[JALAirNZQantas]

I heard you say "wow he sure slammed on the brakes" or something like that, the aircraft had been completly stripped before departing, the takeoff was extremely short too, i was watching but didnt manage to get it on film

[IADaveMark]

@JALAirNZQantas Yeah, makes sense. I didn't know what was up at the time, though. Someone pointed it out later.

[cyrium]

i love the 747s. just wish they would extend wellington NZ airport to accomodate them and many other large aircraft.

[16051957]

Sad...not to see the koru flying 

[Hikairoawetere]

they shoulda keep`d the 747 going. . and replace it with a 747-800

[randall6627]

Also, 737-900ER is more cost effective and fuel efficient than the A320. It also has a longer range. There’s a reason why there are more 737’s in operation today than any other commercial aircraft, and it’s not because they’ve been around for a long time. They’re consistently able to grow with the needs of commercial aviation and be re-engineered to out perform their competition, no matter who the manufacturer is at the time.

[randall6627]

Your statement is true for 747-300, but the 747-800 is more fuel efficient and more cost effective than the 777-300. The 747-800 (8,000 nautical miles) also has longer range than the 777-300(7,930 nautical miles). The reason Air New Zealand is getting rid of their 747’s is to have a uniformed fleet of 777’s. This cuts costs for the airline with regards to operations, pilot training, and maintenance.

[Airbusvsboeing]

Air New Zealand is dumping the 747's for the 777-300s because the 747 are old and cost way more to run, Aswel as that we are dumping the 737-300's from the end of the year with the A320 because the 737 are so old

[IADaveMark]

@Airbusvsboeing That's good info, thanks!

[Pullisto]

@IADaveMark It's a strange one to see one of our 20 year old 747-400 of ours go to the scrapyard, she has since been parted out. But one of the earlier generation of ex Air New Zealand 747s, a -200, bought in 1981, still soldiers on. Aside that, the very first 737 bought by Air NZ, (not counting the ones purchased by our one time National Airways Corp) in 1978, is still at work... great stuff.

[Pullisto]

@Airbusvsboeing The Air NZ 737-300s are not that old, the oldest being around 13 years old, youngest ZK-NGJ is 11. Most of the 737-200s had done over 16 years. Bad move we are getting underpowered (by comparison) Scarebus A320 junk, they won’t handle Wellington circuit so well, (especially in an engine failure event + high winds) which was the reason the 737 was chosen by NAC originally. The 737 holds a fatality free record in NZ, since 1968. If it ain’t Boeing, reconsider going...

[Airbusvsboeing]

@Pullisto yea i know i work for Air new Zealand in wellington, i think we should have got the 737-800s as i dislike airbus and i really don't like A320s nor do i trust them. as it was last year there were at least day were only the boeing could land and take off and the airbus couldn't because of the wind, Plus when they put the A320 on the busy flight (Bag busy) they will not get a 30min turnaround as we are under staffed in the bagroom, and year if it aint boeing i aint going

[Pullisto]

@Airbusvsboeing Ha, that’s exactly what my dispatcher mate said, simply cannot turn them around as quick as a 737, plus the smallest fault with A320 and they have to come out of service, where as a 73 it can usually be fixed. In Asia I saw a A320, head off, followed by a 737-200 (even better short field than a 733) going to the same place, with a similar amount of fuel on board. The A320 was almost out of sight of the waiting room before roation, the 737 was straight across when it rotated.

[milehighhostie]

Why do American's always refer to Air New Zealand as "New Zealand AIr"? Are they all dyslexic? It says right on the fuselage in big letters (well, not this one, but all of the rest of the fleet) AIR NEW ZEALAND! If we were to refer to American Airlines as Air America, or United Airlines as Air United, would they correct us?

[ansettnz100]

@milehighhostie I noticed that too, but not to be annoying or anything, they refer to American Airlines as AA or simply American and United Airlines as United.

[cam9408]

@Rakim8 the a380 would be good on LA routes and London from Auckland!!!!!!

[mohshehri]

isn't it too early to retire a 744?

[Airbusvsboeing]

@mohshehri  No not really but they cost way more to run than the newer planes, And after all airlines about making money

[mohshehri]

@Airbusvsboeing yes I forgot about that thanx so much

[cam9408]

so sad they are retiring these planes! that 747-400 is air new zealands best plane! they should keep there 747s for as long as they can and then get somthing like the a380 or the new 747-8! but the best planes out there are the 747-400s! :)

[Rakim8]

@cam9408 - The 744's in NZs fleet have served the airline well but they are not built to fly forever, especially when there are far more efficient and less fuel-thirsty aircraft available which can do the same mission.

NZ have no plans for the A380, that particular aircraft is too big for any of their routes and would prove horribly un-economical.

They've done the right thing by going with the 77W to replace the good old 744s.

[andyboeing747]

why would they scrap a 400 series already ? is it that old already ?

[kiwipilot84]

@andyboeing747 yup its an 89 build and i wouldnt mind betting this ship crossed the pacific more than any other 747, or aircraft full stop. NBS was nz's first 400, sad to see her go. the 777's just not the same

[ansettnz100]

@andyboeing747 This one is 1989

[Brac1]

Great video - lucky to catch this bird on her last pacific crossing into the U.S to clear customs before her final leg to Roswell for scrapping. She was completely empty of any seating, or passengers - hence the reason she probably pulled up so quickly. Great vid!

[JALAirNZQantas]

i saw this plane at AIA not so long ago without paint on the tail or on the body i had no idea it was being retired until i read it in the newspaper

[garlex134]

Why would it be on the news?

[JALAirNZQantas]

i duno it was just there it was air new zealand first 747

[ansettnz100]

@garlex134 I saw somthing on the news about retiring the 747-400 fleet on tv in NZ. Its quite a major thing for NZ, Air NZ is 82% owned by the Government. The 747 is a special aeroplane and has been the flagship of the fleet for many years.

[kojack23]

Thanks for the vid. ZK-NBT is currently at Auckland airport being striped as well followed by ZK-NBU.

[nzpartyboy]

Hey bit of info form the AIrnz Hanger ,NBT not getting striped just yet, spent all thursday ripping up the floor in it, were doing an Canted Bulkhead Inspections on cracks that were found only allowed 6 flights before it has to be rectified, but it will be awhile before they go

[cam9408]

so fricken sad! =[ i wish they kept their 747s instead of those 773s i will miss them alot now their fleet will be boring! =[

[ansettnz100]

@cam9408 I agree, the 747 is a special aircraft with its distinctive second story and 4 rumbling jet engines. The 777-300 will be simply bigger than the 777-200's already in the fleet.

[AFP557]

Nice video. ZK-NBS was the first aircraft aircraft to fly using Jatropha Bio-Fuel. Apparently it hasn't been scrapped yet, but it will be very soon. Very sad

[theKing4720]

cool video

[wgtnnz]

RIP ZK-NBS, for ever a major part of New Zealand aviation history