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Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter Since 1995

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Since 1995

Continuing our series on The Boeing 747 aircraft after life!

While most retired B-747's are daytime tourist attractions, there is one parked in Sweden that hosts overnight stays.

Jumbo Stay Hotel is a retired Queen of the Skies that opened in 2009 and is parked next to a busy taxiway at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport, giving guests panoramic views of the airfield.

This aircraft was originally delivered to Singapore Airlines in March of 1976 and has flown for several airlines before being withdrawn from service in May 2007.

It flew for Singapore Airlines, Pan Am, Canadian carrier Nationair (as registration C-FNXP), US charter company Tower Air, and Swedish airline Transjet Airways.

See full history at: www.planespotters.net

It has been preserved at Stockholm Arlanda Airport since January 2008.

There are several onboard guest accommodations, including 33 rooms that can be either private or shared.

Source:  www.businessinsider.com

Website: www.jumbostay.com

tmb 747 sweden cockpit tmb 747 sweden wheelhouse
Single-person pods in the engines. A private room in the wheelhouse.

tmb 747 sweden cockpit tmb 747 sweden confroom
A double bed in the cockpit. A conference room/lounge area
with eight original seats from 1976.

Charter carrier Nationair Canada Ltd, headquartered at Mirabel International Airport (YMX), was founded in December 1984 and ceased operations on April 1, 1993.

The fleet had consisted of (5) B747-100, (4) B747-200, (8) 757-200, (9) DC-8-50/60 and a Fokker F100.

Source: planespotters.net


Britain's 'Jumbo' airliner - years ahead of its time.

With UK aircraft production solely concentrated of military requirements during World War II, the provision for the production of transport aircraft was the province of the American allies, who produced such notable designs as the DC-3, DC-4 and C-69 Constellation.

With the coming of peace, this left Britain with no modern commercial aircraft either in production or at the design stage other than the simple conversion of military transport aircraft.

Nevertheless, a committee (under Lord Brabazon of Tara) set out the specifications for a number of civil transport types and delivered a report now known as the 'Brabazon Report' calling for the production of aircraft in 4 design configurations.

  • Type 1 - a very large trans-Atlantic airliner
  • Type 2 - a short haul airliner
  • Type 3 - a medium size airliner for European routes
  • Type 4 - a jet-powered 500 mph airliner

Bristol Aeroplane Company had already gained experience in the design of heavy bombers during the 1930's although the war had diverted its attention into the production of military aircraft such as the Beaufort torpedo bomber.

Following the publication of the report it embarked on the most ambitious of the categories (Type 1) calling for a trans-Atlantic airliner – the design that was to emerge was the Bristol Type 167 Brabazon I.

Nowadays it is difficult to appreciate the sheer size of the Bristol 167 Brabazon - a tailplane span of 75 feet perhaps speaks volumes, as much as the 230 feet wingspan (19 feet greater than a Boeing 747-400).

The undercarriage track was 55 feet (the undercarriage development requiring the assistance of its own Avro Lincoln test aircraft!). The sole prototype (G-AGPW) was flown for the first time by A.J. (Bill) Pegg at Filton on 2nd September 1949, fitted out with test equipment rather than passenger seats.

To the surprise of some sceptics, the Brabazon proved easy to fly, and to maneuver on the ground.

Capacity: 12 crew and 100 passengers.

Editors' Note: The Brabazon attracted no orders and the single prototype that flew was scrapped in 1953, and a second prototype intended to use turboprop engines was scrapped before completion.

Source: baesystems.com

tmb 550 brabazon 1

tmb 550 brabazon 2

tmb 550 brabazon 3
 

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