[Lexy]

Ahhh yes. That great response from Boeing to the DC-10/Lockheed L-1011 craze in the 80's. A short wide body that offers better fuel economy, same amenities as a regular 747, and equal range. The Boeing 747SP was a special plane with a unique purpose. Able to fit into a domestic US route system with considerable ease, this plane filled a void left when Boeing introduced the full size 747. Of the carriers in the US that had 747SP's in their fleet, the most notable ones were TWA and American. American actually flew theirs up until the mid 90's before storing them, and subsequently, selling them right after storage started in the desert southwest. One of the former TWA/AA 747SP's continues to fly to this day. With around 50,000 hours logged on its airframe, this bird will contiune to operate for a while. Lucky for all of us that are a part of the Nashville Aviation Photographers Group, it winters here at the General Aviation airport in Smyrna, TN (KMQY). This is the second year it has wintered here. Coming to us from it's base in Akron, Ohio. It is leased to an evagelical ministry (ironically) and has just finished up a large trip to Africa prior to its winter storage here. It started service in 1980 with TWA and was later sold to American Airlines. It also served as a royal transport for the United Arab Emirates Air Wing Division before being sold off to a leasing company in Aruba. I was able to get some pictures of the historic beast yesterday thanks to a connection at the Smyrna Airport.

These are becoming harder to find in today's world, so when you see one take a picture of it.

Enjoy.

Boeing 747SP-31
Registration: P4-FSH
Date Delivered: 1980
Lease: Ernest Angley Ministries

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/71084379/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/71084196/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/71083856/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/71083204/original.jpg

[urbanflyer]

What an immaculate bird. Good to see the old girl still flying even if the former TWA cheatlines and her new name are really cheesy...

Interesting to note in the first and third pictures the obvious rehabilitation work that has been done in heavy maintenance to prevent airframe fatigue. Where the fuselage would normally be flush you can see several protruding rivet lines where doublers have been installed to combat metal fatigue. Great shots :tup:

[Lexy]

What an immaculate bird. Good to see the old girl still flying even if the former TWA cheatlines and her new name are really cheesy...

Interesting to note in the first and third pictures the obvious rehabilitation work that has been done in heavy maintenance to prevent airframe fatigue. Where the fuselage would normally be flush you can see several protruding rivet lines where doublers have been installed to combat metal fatigue. Great shots :tup:


Thank you very much. I noticed that as well once I got the pics uploaded and did some editing work on them. It is quite obvious that she has been retrofitted with extra "metal" to prevent fatigue and extend it's life a bit longer. This is a strange bird in that the crew was VERY adament that we, our BNA Photog Group, take pictures of the outside only. That's fine of course, it's their plane and we certainly respect their wishes. But it's a preacher's toy, what's to hide? You know what I mean? LOL!!!

Either way, it is great to see her still flying to this day. Heck, most planes like that come to Smyrna to get scrapped. So anytime one comes to just "park" is great to see! LOL!!

KEEP THE TORCHES AWAY!!!!! LOL!!!

[staff]

She's fat!

And I love the summers at CPH when some of the Middle Eastern carriers fly their SP's into the airport. :)
http://eu.airliners.net/photos/photos/8/8/3/0647388.jpg

http://eu.airliners.net/photos/photos/3/4/3/1083343.jpg

http://eu.airliners.net/photos/photos/2/9/5/0809592.jpg

[twoNeurons]

So, basically it's only shorter than a regular 747?

[WonderlandPark]

What "extra metal" are you referring to? The leading edges?

[urbanflyer]

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/71083856/original.jpg

Look between the cabin entry doors and you can clearly see the protruding fuselage rivet lines. Normally they are flush but here they aren't because their thickness has been doubled.

tintinium,

there were a few other changes as well. the vertical tail was extended to compensate for changes in lateral stability with the shorter fuselage. to save weight and add to range performance, the wing flaps were greatly simplified from the triple-slotted configuration to a single-slot design known as a Fowler flap.

compare...

http://uploaded.fresh.co.il/2005/08/21/46090698.jpg

http://www.atr56.it/images/747%20Corsair%20b%20-%20St.Maarten.jpg

[WonderlandPark]

Oh yeah, thanks.

[Lexy]

Yeah, when side by side, the two are strikingly similar and not so similar. It really seems to be a unique model of aircraft.

[mikeelm]

I read once somebody called the boing 747 a blow up of Boing's 707 the 1st commercial jet. But these looked sort of like the 707's with the piot cockpit on top.

[Lexy]

There were some designs that were "applied" to the original 747 that were successful with the 707, but overall it is a totally different aircraft all together.

[DallasTexan]

That bird's at Smyrna?! Why, get me in there!

[Lexy]

It's still sitting there. Just drive past it next time you are around that area and you will see it. They park it here to keep it out of the more harsh winters in Cleveland, Ohio.

[Daquan13]

Yeah, I remember that plane.

The "777-200LR Worldliner" of yesteryear, sort of. Itg was made to be more fuel-efficient and fly farther than the regular 747-200 or the -200B.

In March 1976, a South African Airways 747 flew about 10-1/2 hours on a nonstop delivery flight from Seattle to Capetown South Africa. The instrument gauges had shown that the craft still had about 2 hours worth of fuel left over.

[urbanflyer]

Seattle to Cape Town was 20 1/2 hours. 10 1/2 hours was nothing even for a 747-200.

The SP was originally conceived to outlast the 747-200 but its usefulness was soon negated by the availability of better engines. By 1980 the PW JT9D-7Q and 7R4G2 were available, giving the 747-200 improved performance without the SP's payload and capacity penalties.

[Daquan13]

This was really the "baby" of the 747s because it was made shorter to save weight, fuel and be more energy-efficient in the air - just when the energy crisis was coming along.

It retained the same cross width both interior and exterior, as the -100 and -200. Boeing had begun to look for new and improved ways to make their airliners lighter and more fuel-efficient beginning with this plane.

[Lexy]

As of this date, there are only 14 remaining 747SP's flying IN THE WORLD! That's including this one of course.

[DallasTexan]

plus the one in my private hangar.

[Lexy]

Really? LOL!!!!

[Daquan13]

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/71083856/original.jpg

Look between the cabin entry doors and you can clearly see the protruding fuselage rivet lines. Normally they are flush but here they aren't because their thickness has been doubled.

tintinium,

there were a few other changes as well. the vertical tail was extended to compensate for changes in lateral stability with the shorter fuselage. to save weight and add to range performance, the wing flaps were greatly simplified from the triple-slotted configuration to a single-slot design known as a Fowler flap.

compare...

http://uploaded.fresh.co.il/2005/08/21/46090698.jpg

http://www.atr56.it/images/747%20Corsair%20b%20-%20St.Maarten.jpg



I wouldn't want to be on THAT beach where this plane comes in to land!! I think that would scare me to death!!!

[urbanflyer]

Yet you worked on the ramp...one of the most dangerous places one can possibly be around an airplane. Fascinating psychology. :rolleyes:

[Daquan13]

So far, you've yet to have been able to make a post without starting trouble.

Mr. Einstien, this plane is shown flying low over the beach. A beach where people are seen basking in the sun.

Planes don't fly in low over the ramp.

[urbanflyer]

Yes, Maho Beach, at Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten.

It's one of the most popular locations in the world for spotters.

http://www.angelfire.com/funky/lightnfunky/mysnaps/302651_-_Philipsburg__St._Maarten_-_Princess_Juliana.jpg

http://www.luketravels.com/saintmartin/graphics/luketravels-sxm-airliners02.jpg

[alejandro15]

Being in that beach when an airplane is about to land must be exciting :D

[DallasTexan]

...and sandy, too!

[twoNeurons]

That's a great shot... the 747SP is my new fave plane. Short and stubby... not long and ugly.

[boden]

I wouldn't want to be on THAT beach where this plane comes in to land!! I think that would scare me to death!!!

I've spent quite a lot of time on that beach in St. Marteen.....the jets are low, but actually look lower when photographed....especially with a zoom.
The little airport in St. Barts, about ten miles away, is far more interesting. I once saw a Twin-Otter's landing gear hit a truck as it was preparing to land. Here's a pic of the field.
http://burke.joybuzzer.com/Windjammer/images/Polly/st-barts-airport.jpg

[urbanflyer]

^
what an awesome little airport. no wonder the celebrities like bombing in and out of there :tup:

[Lexy]

^Seriously! LOL!!!

[RockMont]

As of this date, there are only 14 remaining 747SP's flying IN THE WORLD! That's including this one of course.



There were only 45 of these ever built. It either was a major bust, or only built to perform unique and special duties. Personally I think it is the ugliest airliner ever built, but it is definitely unique.

[Lexy]

There were only 45 of these ever built. It either was a major bust, or only built to perform unique and special duties. Personally I think it is the ugliest airliner ever built, but it is definitely unique.

It was built for a reason that didn't pan out for Boeing. Kind of like the 767-200 or the MD-11.

[RockMont]

I think there were a little more of the latter built than the SP, but probably right. Reminds me more of those old Convair 4-engine jets, the -880 and -990 that just couldn't supercede the 707 and DC-8.