The last Boeing 747 has left the production line; the iconic plane holds a close place in South African hearts too, having been a part of our 1995 Rugby World Cup celebrations!
Global (07 December 2022) – Boeing has announced that the last 747 has rolled off its production line. They are now retiring the build to make way for new innovations.
Why is this important news? Well, the Boeing 747 changed air travel globally – it made it possible for more people to get to their desired destinations at a better cost. The Boeing 747 was launched 50 years ago, celebrating that milestone in January 2022, the team worked tirelessly to close the chapter before the end of the year. The final plane has been named the “Queen of the Skies”.
In South Africa, the 747 fleet is iconic with one of the planes making that famous flight over the stadium in 1995 when South Africa won its first Rugby World Cup.
Captain Laurie Kay and a skeleton flew the South African Airways 747 over Ellis Park just minutes before South Africa and New Zealand ran out onto the field. The moment is one etched into the memories and hearts of every person at the stadium and those watching from around the world. The same flight was then done a few months later when Bafana Bafana played in the Africa Cup of Nations.
South Africa’s love of the Boeing 747 runs deep! You can watch a mini-documentary about the history of the flight below.
Do you remember this iconic moment?
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