Just before New Year's Eve in 2017, Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was honored to host a Delta 747 one final time. This rare charter flight arrived on Saturday carrying the Buffalo Bills for their game against the Miami Dolphins. After the Bills defeated our Dolphins (again!), it was time for them to head home. But more significant than the loss of our home football team was the loss of a legend...
N674US, ship 6314, wears a special sticker to bid farewell to the legacy held by the Queen of the Skies. She is covered in signatures from Delta employees, flight attendants, pilots, and 747 lovers from all over the United States. 6314 is the last of her kind, the very last passenger 747 operated by an American carrier. And this was one of her last charter flights. Just four days after ship 6314 left FLL, she completed her very last flight to the Pinal Airpark graveyard. For the first time in 48 years, there are zero passenger 747's serving commercial airlines in the United States.
For this historic occasion, BJG was able to get airside with Mike Farr from Broward County Aviation Department (BCAD). Personal words from BJG: "Of course I'm a trijet fan, but the 747 is worthy of all the respect it receives, and more. Walking around underneath the beast, stepping inside the cabin, and feeling the earth shake on takeoff were extremely impressive. But my favorite part by far was getting jetblasted by four powerful PW4000 engines! It was incredible and a bit terrifying to see the wingtip almost right over me for the taxi shot, 30 feet (9 meters) away, and see the outboard #1 engine pass by right before my eyes 60 feet (18 meters) away knowing that I'd be inside the exhaust in a few seconds. The jetblast from the portside engines were a breeze (pun intended), and the momentary calm after (because of the distance between engine #2 and #3) was eerie. But since they were making that sharp turn onto taxiway A, the Queen needed a bit more thrust. I heard the engines spool up and felt an incredible change in the jetblast as the hot winds suddenly increased to 40-50 mph (64-80 km/h). You can hear TrueSound hit the ground after going airborne while I get pushed back a few feet and try to brace myself! This was an experience I will never forget, and I'll always find myself re-watching this footage. Thanks again Mr. Mike Farr for airside access!"
The estimated measurements can be checked with Google Earth and the 747-400 Airport Planning document from Boeing. A distance of roughly 60 feet (18 meters) from the aft fuselage will result in exhaust velocity of 35-50 mph (56-80 km/h).
The taxi footage hits 78.15 on the Horizon Sound Scale, and the takeoff hits an eardrum-rattling 88.49. This is one of the loudest takeoffs on our channel!
~
"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
- Dylan Thomas
~
Filmed from the old runway 13, the service road, and taxiway A4. BJG 12/31/17
Pictures by MVP, DAH, FBB, and BJG.
Music: Horizons EPCOT Center Tribute
Equipment:
Canon T3i
Canon T5
Canon T6
iPhone 5
18-55mm standard lens
55-250mm telephoto lens
70-300mm telephoto lens
Zoom H1 microphone
Uniden BC75XLT
Aircraft Featured:
N674US
Boeing 747-451 (ex Northwest Airlines 1999-2008, stored at MZJ 06/01/11, returned to service 07/09/12, stored at MZJ 01/03/18)
cn 30269
built September 30, 1999
4x PW PW4056
DAL / DL 8865 to Buffalo BUF
6 сен 2024
