The Boeing 747SP is a modified version of the Boeing 747 jet airliner which was designed for ultra-long-range flights. The SP stands for "Special Performance". The 747SP is similar to the 747-100 except for the shortened fuselage, larger tailplane, and simplified trailing edge flaps. The weight saved by the shorter fuselage permits longer range and increased speed relative to other 747 configurations.
Known during development as the short-body 747SB, the 747SP was designed to meet a 1973 joint request from Pan American World Airways and Iran Air, who were looking for a high-capacity airliner with sufficient range to cover Pan Am's New York–Middle Eastern routes and Iran Air's planned Tehran–New York route. The aircraft also was intended to provide Boeing with a mid-size wide-body airliner to compete with existing trijet airliners.
The 747SP first entered service with Pan Am in 1976. The aircraft was later acquired by VIP and government customers. While in service, the 747SP set several aeronautical performance records, but sales did not meet the expected 200 units, and production ultimately totaled 45 aircraft.
Iran air boeing 747sp business class takeoff landing cockpit airclips full flight series
Development
The idea for the 747SP came from a request by Pan Am for a 747 variant capable of carrying a full payload non-stop on its longest route between New York and Tehran. Joined with Pan Am's request was Iran Air; their joint interest was for a high capacity airliner capable of covering Pan Am's New York–Middle Eastern routes and Iran Air's planned New York-Tehran route. (New York to Tehran may have been the longest non-stop commercial flight in the world for a short time, until Pan Am started Tehran to New York in mid-1976.) The aircraft was launched with Pan Am's first order in 1973 and the first example delivered in 1976.
A shorter derivative of the 747-100, the SP was developed to target two market requirements. The first was a need to compete with the DC-10 and L-1011 while maintaining commonality with the 747, which in its standard form was too large for many routes. Until the arrival of the 767, Boeing lacked a mid-sized wide-body to compete in this segment. The second market requirement was an aircraft suitable for the ultra-long-range routes emerging in the mid-1970s following the joint request. These routes needed not only longer range, but also higher cruising speeds. Boeing could not afford to develop an all-new design, instead opting to shorten the 747 and optimize it for speed and range, at the expense of capacity.
Originally designated 747SB for "short body", it later was nicknamed "Sutter's balloon" by employees after 747 chief engineer Joe Sutter. Boeing later changed the production designation to 747SP for "special performance", reflecting the aircraft's greater range and higher cruising speed. Production of the 747SP ran from 1976 to 1983. However a VIP order for the Royal Flight of Abu Dhabi led Boeing to produce one last SP in 1987. Pan Am was the launch customer for the 747SP, taking the first delivery, Clipper Freedom, on March 5, 1976.
The 747SP was the longest-range airliner available until the 747-400 entered service in 1989. Despite its technical achievements, the SP never sold as well as Boeing hoped. Increased fuel prices in the mid-1970s to early 1980s, the SP's heavy wings, expensive cost, reduced capacity, and the increased ranges of forthcoming airliners were some of the many factors that contributed to its low sales. Only 45 were built and of those remaining, most are used by operators in the Middle East. However, some of the engineering work on the 747SP was reused with the development of the 747-300 and 747-400. In the 747SP, the upper deck begins over the section of fuselage that contains the wingbox, not ahead of the wingbox as is the case with the 747-100 and 747-200. This same design was used in the 747-300 and 747-400 resulting in a stretched upper deck.
A special 747SP is the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) astronomical observatory, which had its airframe modified to carry a 2.5-meter-diameter reflecting telescope to high altitude, above 99.9% of the light-absorbing water vapor in the atmosphere. The telescope and its detectors cover a wide wavelength range from the near infrared to the sub-milimeter region; no window material is transparent over this whole range, so the observations are made through a 13 ft (3.96 m) square hole in the port upper quarter of the rear fuselage, aft of a new pressure bulkhead. A sliding door covers the aperture when the telescope is not in use. Astronomers take data and control the instrument from within the normally pressurised cabin. Originally delivered to Pan Am and titled "Clipper Lindbergh", NASA has the name displayed in Pan Am script on the plane.
Design
Apart from having a significantly shorter fuselage and one fewer cabin door per side, the 747SP differs from other 747 variants in having simplified flaps and a taller vertical tail to counteract the decrease in yaw moment-arm from the shortened fuselage. The 747SP uses single-piece flaps on the trailing edges, rather than the smaller triple-slotted flaps of standard 747s.
The SP could accommodate 230 passengers in a 3-class cabin or 331 in a (303 economy, 28 business) 2-class cabin, and a maximum of 400 passengers in one class.
Deliveries
Forty-five 747SP aircraft were built between 1974 and 1989 with two more planned but never constructed.
Current operators
As of December 2016, there were 10 Boeing 747SP still in active service with 9 more stored and 1 preserved. The remaining 23 were either scrapped, otherwise destroyed or abandoned. In 2016, the last 747SP in commercial service was withdrawn from service by Iran Air.
2 Government of Saudi Arabia (painted in Saudia livery)
1 Pratt & Whitney Canada (used as an engine testbed)
1 Ernest Angley Ministries
1 NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
1 Government of Bahrain
1 Government of Oman
1 Government of Qatar
2 Las Vegas Sands
1 NASA/DLR (used as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA)
Aircraft on display
An ex-South African Airways 747SP nicknamed "Maluti" is on static display at Rand Airport in South Africa, where it is maintained by the South African Airways Museum Society.
Former operators
This list also includes organizations that used the aircraft temporarily, besides main operators.
Aerolineas Argentinas operated a single aircraft.
Air Atlanta Icelandic operated airframe MSN 21962 from 03/Aug/1997-23/May/1999. It was used on charter and adhoc flights.
Air China used the type for Pacific routes, including to open its first route to USA: Beijing – Seattle. Later, the type was also used for service to Vancouver and New York from Beijing, the aircraft continued flying with Air China throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Air Malawi flew one for a month on lease from South African Airways.
Air Mauritius using former South African Airways aircraft for nonstop long-haul routes such as Mauritius to Hong Kong and Mauritius to Paris, with onward sector to London Heathrow.
Air Namibia operated two former South African Airways aircraft during the 1990s, one each in their former Namib Air and current liveries.
Alliance Air a joint venture airline set up by South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda operated a single South African Airways aircraft during the 1990s.
American Airlines purchased two used airframes from TWA (N601AA and N602AA) in the late 1980s to begin their Dallas-Fort Worth to Tokyo service. The aircraft had a premium configuration with 29 first class, 79 business class and 79 economy class seats, with two stand-up bars in the business class cabin. These aircraft were later moved to serve New York to London and New York to Brussels routes while AA awaited the deliveries of additional MD-11s. One of the aircraft was sold to Kazakhstan Airlines and later scrapped, while the other was sold to the government of United Arab Emirates and then to evangelist Ernest Angley.
Australia Asia Airlines a Qantas subsidiary created to serve Taiwan, operated both Qantas aircraft during the mid-1990s.
Avia Airlines the short lived South African carrier operated a single leased SAA aircraft on the Johannesburg-London Gatwick route during the mid 1990s.
Braniff took delivery of 3 747SPs for their ultra-long haul routes in the Pacific and South America. They were fitted with 300 seats in a luxurious cabin and an all-orange exterior. Of the three planes, as of August 2006, one has been scrapped and one is in VIP service with Yemen government. The third was formerly in VIP service with the Oman government, but was sold to the owners of Fry's Electronics, sometimes used to carry tours of Ballet San Jose.
Brunei Government Sultan's Flight operated three aircraft during the 1990s.
Cameroon Airlines operated one aircraft on lease from South African Airways in 1996.
Civil Aviation Administration of China, CAAC operating as China's airline disbanded in 1987 to form Air China who gained all the 747SP fleet.
China Airlines used the type on its non-stop routes from Taipei to Tokyo, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and to Australia via Melbourne and Sydney. In 1983, CI started its first European route: Taipei-Dubai-Amsterdam with B747SP.
Corsair International using former South African Airways aircraft. The 747SP F-GTOM retired from Corsair on September 16, 2002, with a total 78,148h34 flight time; 80,1367h41 block/block in 14,983 cycles.
Global Peace Ambassadors of Christian Minister K.A Paul's Organisation Gospel to the Unreached Millions operated a 747SP also nicknamed "Global Peace One", it is now stored in Tijuana, Mexico.
Iran Air was the only remaining public airline operator of the type worldwide and retired its last 747SP in June 2016 after 39 years of service.
Iraqi Airways operated a single aircraft for the Government from 1982 until 1990.
Kazakhstan Airlines operated a single aircraft commercially and for the Government.
Kinshasa Airways a defunct cargo airline, acquired a single aircraft from Sharjah based charter outfit Gulf Falcon in early 2000s, the aircraft remains stored in Sharjah and has never flown despite being painted in the airlines livery and undergone occasional engine runs.
Korean Air operated the type on routes from Seoul to various destinations in USA and Europe.
LAM Mozambique Airlines operated a single South African Airways Boeing 747SP-44 (ZS-SPF) for a while.
Luxair in cooperation with Trek Airways, on the Luxembourg-Nairobi-Johannesburg route.
Mandarin Airlines operated the 747SP aircraft on routes from Taipei to Australia in the mid-1990s.
Pan American World Airways the launch customer, took delivery of ten 747SP-21 aircraft between 1976 and 1979, operating them on trans-Pacific routes to Asia (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore) and Oceania (Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland), Johannesburg as well as nonstop New York-Bahrain service, the aircraft were later sold off to United Airlines.
Qantas operated two 747SP-38 aircraft from 1980 to 2004. These aircraft were originally ordered by Iran Air but export was banned following the Iranian Revolution and purchased by Qantas while still on the production line. They were used for flights between Australia and Wellington, due to Wellington's short runway but still able to meet passenger number requirements, as well as service from Sydney to Johannesburg and Harare, Nagoya, stopping in Cairns, and transpacific service between Sydney and Los Angeles, during the mid 1990s they flew for subsidiary Australia Asia Airlines on flights to Taipei. They were equipped with Rolls-Royce engines, unlike most other 747SPs. Both aircraft have been scrapped.
Qatar Airways operated one aircraft during 1996.
Royal Air Maroc had one ex-SAA 747-SP in use, namely the CN-RMS.
Saudia received the first of two 747SP in 1981. One year later the airline received its second 747SP. On July 1, 1981, the first nonstop service was inaugurated from Jeddah to New York with its 747SP aircraft. This service, along with the Riyadh-New York service introduced later. The aircraft now fly with Saudia Royal Flight division for the govt.
South African Airways operated six 747SP-44 aircraft on flights from Johannesburg to London and other European destinations during the apartheid years, when that airline's aircraft were not allowed to fly over African countries and were required to fly around the Bulge of Africa. The extra range allowed the aircraft to cover the additional distance nonstop. On April 1, 1977, South African Airways inaugurated the first direct 747SP flight between London and Cape Town (flight SA 867), the return northbound flight SA 866 only stopping over at Ilha do Sal in Cape Verde. This route became a weekly service on Fridays and Saturdays. The sole remaining SAA 747SP – the "Maluti" – was decommissioned on September 30, 2006 with a final flight to Rand Airport where it remains on show to this day as a static display/museum aircraft. (This final transport flight was the aircraft's first flight in three years.)
Syrian Air had two aircraft, they were phased out of service in 2007 but were brought back and overhauled in 2010, they are now stored in Riyadh due to the Syrian Civil War.
Tajik Air operated a single aircraft for a short while.
Trans World Airlines operated three 747SP-31 aircraft from 1979 to 1986. These aircraft were intended for long distance routes to the Middle East which never materialized. Instead, they flew on regular red-eye flights between Los Angeles and Boston, as well as international flights to Paris. Two of these were purchased by American Airlines (see below); the third was purchased by the government of United Arab Emirates and later by Las Vegas Sands.
Trek Airways leased from South African Airways. Aircraft were re-registered in Luxembourg and rebranded as Luxavia for flights to be operated there
Union de Transports Aeriens operated one on a temporary basis for a month, sub-leased from Luxair.
United Airlines acquired the 747SP from Pan Am in 1986, and remained in operation until 1994, where they were used on United flights to London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
United Arab Emirates Government the state operated a total of six 747SP VIP/Government aircraft, mainly belonging to Dubai Air Wing and Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight.
Yemen Government operated a single airframe (SN: 21786) purchased from Braniff in 2000 and was used as a VIP transport with Yemenia . The aircraft was damaged by gunfire in March 2015 and was destroyed by fire in April.
Records
There were three significant commercial around-the-world record-setting flights flown by 747SP: two operated by Pan Am and the other operated by United Airlines with the aircraft being "loaned" to Friendship Foundation, in order to raise money for the foundation. Those flights are:
Liberty Bell Express—Flown from New York/JFK May 1–3, 1976. 2 stopovers at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and Tokyo-Haneda Airport. The round-the-world flight took 46 hours and 26 minutes over 23,137 miles.
Pan Am Flight 50—to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pan Am. Flown October 28–30, 1977 from San Francisco/SFO, with a time duration of 54 hours, 7 minutes, 12 seconds. 3 stopovers at London-Heathrow Airport, Cape Town International Airport and Auckland Airport. Flight 50 flew over both the North Pole and the South Pole.
Friendship One—Flown January 29–31, 1988 from Seattle/SEA, to raise funds for Friendship Foundation. Two stopovers were made, at Athens Airport and Taipei-Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (formerly the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport). The record lasted less than a month, as it was beaten by a Gulfstream IV piloted in part by Gulfstream Aerospace CEO Al Paulson. The round-the-world flight took 35 hours and 54 minutes over 23,125 miles.
Incidents and accidents
On February 19, 1985, China Airlines Flight 006, a 747SP-09 (aircraft registration N4522V) with 274 passengers and crew on board on a flight from Chiang Kai-shek Airport to Los Angeles International Airport suffered an inflight failure on engine number four. While the flight crew attempted to restore power the aircraft rolled to the right and started a steep descent from the cruising altitude of 41,000 feet, pulling 4.8 G and 5.1 G on two occasions. The captain managed to stabilize the aircraft at 9,500 feet and the aircraft diverted to San Francisco International Airport which was 550 km (343.8 mi.) away. Two passengers were injured and the aircraft suffered major structural damage.
On October 5, 1998 a South African Airways Boeing 747SP-44 (ZS-SPF) operated by LAM Mozambique Airlines suffered an engine failure shortly after take-off from Maputo International Airport, Mozambique. The no. 3 engine suffered an uncontained failure – flying debris caused damage to the no. 4 engine and the wing. A fire broke out that couldn’t be extinguished immediately, forcing an emergency landing. All 66 people on board survived. As a result the aircraft was withdrawn from service and scrapped.
During the Yemeni Civil War (2015-Present), a 747SP owned by the President of Yemen, 7O-YMN, was struck by gunfire on Thursday 19 March 2015. Subsequent photographs show that the aircraft was then completely destroyed by fire afterwards.
