Today, 22nd April 2024, is a bittersweet day in Indian aviation. An ex-Air India B747, registered VT-EVA, departed Mumbai for the last time bound for Seattle Paine Field where it will be disassembled for parts and scraped thereafter. The aircraft is currently enroute. This is an account of the Air India B747s and my personal experience of flying on one of these.
VT-EVA Enroute to Seattle Paine Field
An Air India’s B747-400, registered VT-EVA (now re-registered as N940AS), is enroute Seattle Paine Field. The aircraft, which is 27 years old, departed from Mumbai at 1046 hours for one last time. Nomadic Aviation Group, which provides aircraft delivery service, is flying her to the United States.
Many AvGeeks were present this morning at Mumbai Airport to spot her one last time. Here’s a video of its take-off taken by Keerat Virk:
I love that the pilots gave a wing wave. Three more B747-400s are parked in Mumbai, out of which one more will be scrapped while two of them will be converted to freighters. United States-based aftermarket aircraft broker AerSale is acquiring these four Air India B747-400s.
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End of an Era!
Air India once thrived under the leadership of Mr. JRD Tata, also known as the Father of Indian Aviation. It was under his leadership that Air India gained so much fame and respect worldwide. In the 1970s, the B747s were the face of Air India. These aircraft attracted people from around the world. In fact, people used to come to India just to fly these aircraft.
The airline took delivery of its first B747 on 22nd March 1971, which entered service on 21st May 1971 with four-weekly flights from India to London. In fact, the B747 was the first aircraft on which Air India introduced its iconic Jharokha-window livery, which we all have loved over the past several years.
The B747 was the flagship aircraft of the airline until the 2000s when the B777s came in. The B747s were one of the most important aircraft, both for Air India as well as India. During war-like situations in Kuwait, Yemen, UAE, Jordan etc as well as the Gulf war, the B747s were used to evacuate lakhs of people.
Air India used to operate B747 flights until March 2020. They were never used after the pandemic. If you want to have a closer look at the history of Air India B747s, visit this website called “Air India Collector”.
My experience of flying on Air India B747
In May 2019, my family and I went on a trip to Hyderabad. On the way out from Mumbai, we took Vistara as I had never flown with them. However, as much as I was excited to fly Vistara, I was looking forward to the return flight.
Back then, Air India used to operate flights from Jeddah to Mumbai via Hyderabad using these B747-400s. When I was looking for flights from Hyderabad to Gujarat via Mumbai, I realised there’s a connection available which will include a flight on Air India’s B747. The only problem, the connection time in Mumbai was much longer than the other option available. However, I realised that this is the best chance to fly the Queen of the Skies.
I insisted my dad to take the earlier flight out of Hyderabad just so we could fly on the B747, to which he happily agreed. The only regret I have is that I didn’t click any pictures of myself in the aircraft. However, I am grateful for the fact that I was able to fly on the B747. Here’s a trip report I made of the journey (yes, the thumbnail has got the route wrong 😅):
I remember my dad telling me that this aircraft is unlike anything he had flown before and that it was the smoothest landing he had ever witnessed in his life.
After the landing, I asked the crew if I could take a look at the upper deck, to which they happily agreed on the condition that I do not sit anywhere. That was the best flight for the 17-year old me back then (well, besides the one on the Airbus A380 of course 😉).
As they say, change is the only constant. While these Air India B747s are now replaced by the B777s, B787s and A350s, I am sure they will always have a special place in the hearts of many Indians and B747 fans worldwide.
You will be dearly missed by us and the Maharaja, Queen of the skies!
Long live the Queen! Blue skies and tail winds, always.
Featured image by JetLine Marvel
Have you flown on Air India B747s? If so, how was your experience? Let me know in the comments section below.
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