4 ms·

So the SP is for "Special Performance". It has a shortened body and allows the plane to travel further and faster than the regular 747. Apparently only about 45

So the SP is for "Special Performance". It has a shortened body and allows the plane to travel further and faster than the regular 747. Apparently only about 45 were ever made.

savoytruffle 11y ago
Taller vertical stabilizer too, to compensate for the shorter axis between it and the wings (moment arm).
- bmir-alum-007 11y ago
  For some reason, that brings back fond memories of Flight Simulator Aircraft and Scenery Designer... turning the jet aircraft into a "U-2" with a massive, thin wing w/ winglets and a ridiculously big vertical stabilizer. Oh and 80,000 lbs. of thrust. Btw, a ZIP of it for emulators: http://fshistory.simflight.com/fsvault/downloads/msfs4b-asd.zip http://fshistory.simflight.com/fsvault/downloads/msfs4b-asd....
userbinator 11y ago
The SP has a very stubby look to it; you can see just how much shorter it is (~15m), comparing the shortest and longest 747 variants: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Luxavia_747SP_Wallner.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Luxavia_747SP_Wallner.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lufthansa_Boeing_747-8_(16278574162).jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lufthansa_Boeing_747-8_(1...
rodgerd 11y ago
Also to use shorter runways - they were the only 747s ever allowed to use Wellington Airport, for example (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_International_Airport#Boeing_747SP_era https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_International_Airpo...).
po 11y ago
Las Vegas Sands also operates two and their page has better photos of the stubby body and huge tail of the SP: http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/747/21649,VQ-BMS-Las-Vegas-Sands-Corporation.php http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/747/2164... http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/747/21961,VP-BLK-Las-Vegas-Sands-Corporation.php http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/747/2196...
- downandout 11y ago
  I've seen one of these LVS 747's in person. It may be "smaller" than the regular one, but it is truly massive. If you ever stay at Mandalay Bay and face the airport, you are basically looking almost directly over the LVS hangar. The only thing that would concern me if I were a super-whale that earned a trip on this plane is its age...nearly 40 years is a very long time in airplane years.
  - markbnj 11y ago
    >> nearly 40 years is a very long time in airplane years The reason it isn't, in fact, a very long time is that airplanes, unlike most other vehicles, are subject to highly rigorous regular maintenance and part replacement programs. The airframes themselves can last essentially forever (well beyond the decades time frame that we're discussing) if specified maintenance continues to be performed. Witness the many WWII and earlier aircraft still flying at seven or more decades of life.
  - dingaling 11y ago
    I'm regularly overflown by USAF KC-135 tankers with FY 57 serials. There isn't much left in them that was actually built in 1957
smegel 11y ago
Kind of the opposite of the SR (short range) that packs more people in for less range. Popular in Japan where they regularly carry North of 500 people on short routes like Tokyo to Osaka.
- sbarre 11y ago
  I've been on the Pokemon variant[0] of that flight! 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Jet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Jet
- akhilcacharya 11y ago
  The Japanese air industry is really strange - I've never understood why using large widebodies on short hops is so popular there.
akhilcacharya 11y ago
Yup, one of the few still in operation is actually used by IranAir.

So the SP is for "Special Performance". It has a shortened body and allows the plane to travel further and faster than the regular 747. Apparently only about 45 were ever made.

savoytruffle 11y ago

Taller vertical stabilizer too, to compensate for the shorter axis between it and the wings (moment arm).

bmir-alum-007 11y ago
For some reason, that brings back fond memories of Flight Simulator Aircraft and Scenery Designer... turning the jet aircraft into a "U-2" with a massive, thin wing w/ winglets and a ridiculously big vertical stabilizer. Oh and 80,000 lbs. of thrust. Btw, a ZIP of it for emulators: http://fshistory.simflight.com/fsvault/downloads/msfs4b-asd.zip http://fshistory.simflight.com/fsvault/downloads/msfs4b-asd....

userbinator 11y ago

The SP has a very stubby look to it; you can see just how much shorter it is (~15m), comparing the shortest and longest 747 variants: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Luxavia_747SP_Wallner.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Luxavia_747SP_Wallner.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lufthansa_Boeing_747-8_(16278574162).jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lufthansa_Boeing_747-8_(1...

rodgerd 11y ago

Also to use shorter runways - they were the only 747s ever allowed to use Wellington Airport, for example (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_International_Airport#Boeing_747SP_era https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_International_Airpo...).

po 11y ago

Las Vegas Sands also operates two and their page has better photos of the stubby body and huge tail of the SP: http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/747/21649,VQ-BMS-Las-Vegas-Sands-Corporation.php http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/747/2164... http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/747/21961,VP-BLK-Las-Vegas-Sands-Corporation.php http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Boeing/747/2196...

downandout 11y ago
I've seen one of these LVS 747's in person. It may be "smaller" than the regular one, but it is truly massive. If you ever stay at Mandalay Bay and face the airport, you are basically looking almost directly over the LVS hangar. The only thing that would concern me if I were a super-whale that earned a trip on this plane is its age...nearly 40 years is a very long time in airplane years.
- markbnj 11y ago
  >> nearly 40 years is a very long time in airplane years The reason it isn't, in fact, a very long time is that airplanes, unlike most other vehicles, are subject to highly rigorous regular maintenance and part replacement programs. The airframes themselves can last essentially forever (well beyond the decades time frame that we're discussing) if specified maintenance continues to be performed. Witness the many WWII and earlier aircraft still flying at seven or more decades of life.
- dingaling 11y ago
  I'm regularly overflown by USAF KC-135 tankers with FY 57 serials. There isn't much left in them that was actually built in 1957

smegel 11y ago

Kind of the opposite of the SR (short range) that packs more people in for less range. Popular in Japan where they regularly carry North of 500 people on short routes like Tokyo to Osaka.

sbarre 11y ago
I've been on the Pokemon variant[0] of that flight! 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Jet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Jet
akhilcacharya 11y ago
The Japanese air industry is really strange - I've never understood why using large widebodies on short hops is so popular there.

akhilcacharya 11y ago

Yup, one of the few still in operation is actually used by IranAir.