40 Hours Inside a B747! Cargo Mission Over the Himalayas (US - Pakistan - Nepal)
I was on a humanitarian mission inside a National Airlines B747-400BCF, delivering medical cargo aids. I flew from Frankfurt Hahn to Islamabad, Pakistan and over the Himalayas to Kathmandu, Nepal. The flight originated from the USA carrying nearly 80 tons of USAid, destined for Pakistan and Nepal.
Our B747 landing into Kathmandu was a thriller! After passing through the last clouds, the entire Kathmandu valley came into sight. Our descent was much steeper than the usual 3 degrees glideslope; it required all the breaks we had to come to a full stop at the end of the runway in Kathmandu, due to high altitude.
What a great privilege to be part of the team to send these much-needed supplies around the world, also to be able to document behind the scenes of such a mission! I felt like “an airplane man” staying inside the B747 for 40 hours, from dark to light to dark again! That’s just 2 days in the life of a charter cargo crew! Certainly very different to the passenger airlines.
External landing/takeoff into Kathmandu footage:
Himalaya Adventure - Flying Nepal Airlines A330 to Kathmandu
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I flew on Nepal Airlines A330 from Dubai to Kathmandu as the beginning of my flying adventure in the Himalayas.
I met Captain Vijay Lama onboard, he is a local celebrity and YouTuber in Nepal. The flight time to Kathmandu was 4 hours across the Indian subcontinent. Shortly after takeoff, a beautiful sunrise appeared as we fly to the East. Nepal Airlines crew showed me their uniform and food offering on the flight.
The weather was good enroute. Before landing, many tall mountains appeared on the horizon. 8 of the world’s top 10 highest peaks are in Nepal. We can see Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Fishtail, Manaslu, and many tall mountain peaks. The landing into Kathmandu is very exciting with mountains and high terrain around. Watch the final approach from the cockpit.
Next week, I will share my experience flying to Mount Everest by helicopter. This is a once-a-lifetime experience.
How a B747 Returns to the Skies After Years in Desert Storage?
2 Boeing 747’s have been given a second life and have returned to the skies after years of storage in the desert. It is quite unbelievable! In this video, I have documented the work behind the scenes.
An ex-Eva Air Cargo B747-400BCF has been re-activated out of its desert storage recently. Find out the work undertaken in order to return the B747 to flying condition. In the video, I interview Ferry Pilot Gloyd Robinson. He has shared with me details about the test’s undertaken, such as engine runs, high speed taxi and rejected take-off. It has taken almost 6 months for the B747 to be returned to an airworthy condition, under the FAA’s Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DAR) supervision.
This B747, Reg N27063, flew out of Mohave for San Bernardino on 30th July. It flew gear down. When it arrived at San Bernardino, it was put on jacks and performed a “gear swing” to ensure the landing gear was working. The new owner of this B747 is SkyOne FZE, based in the UAE. This B747 is expected to depart in a few weeks for heavy maintenance check overseas.
This was not the first B747 to be recently re-activated out of storage, an ex-Korean Air B747-400BCF, registration N570B, recently flew out of Pinal Air Park in Marana, AZ. Instead of ferrying empty to heavy maintenance overseas, it carried 80 tons of medical aid cargo to New Delhi from the US. This humanitarian mission was organized by many partners, including Another Joy Foundation.
Long live the Queen of the Sky!
For more information:
Jet Test International:
Another Joy Foundation:
Cover Image:
An Epic Air Adventure in Pakistan by PIA B747, B777, A310, ATR-42
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I travelled to Pakistan in December 2012. During that 3-day trip, I flew 8 sectors across the whole country on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). It was an epic adventure to see Pakistan by air.
This is a trip report of flying on PIA A310, B777, ATR-42 and B747-300 in Pakistan. Every flight has a story to tell.
Not just aviation, I also got to visit Karachi, Islamabad, Gilgit and Lahore. I saw the country first hand, which has often been negatively portrayed in the media. I saw the vast beauty of the Northern region of Pakistan, the great hospitality of the people to foreigners along with the amazing food and culture. I had a great time in Pakistan and I am hoping to go back soon.
Incredible Flight on Antonov AN-124 Cargo Transporter
I went on an INCREDIBLE ride inside the Volga Dnepr An-124 Ruslan Cargo Transporter from the East Midlands, UK to Toulouse, France.
There is nothing quite like the An-124! Designed in the late 1970s and capable of carrying 120 tons of oversized cargo. The An-124 is one of the biggest cargo aircraft in the world. It was an important means of national transport and a prestige object for the Soviet Union. Forty years later, it is still highly sought after in the transport sector.
6 cockpit crew and 7 cargo loadmasters accompanied me on my AN-124 flight. There are built in cranes and equipment inside the aircraft for the An-124 to operate in any remote airfield, without ground support. Watch the complex loading exercise before a flight inside the “hidden” passenger compartment of the An-124. I mounted a GoPro camera to capture the 6 men cockpit action during the flight. Loadmaster Vladimir explains all the characteristics and operations of the An-124.
Flying on the Antonov 124 is unlike any other flight experience I have had in the past. It is RAW Aviation and really brings the “AvGeekness” out in me.
For more info on Volga Dnepr Group, please visit their site
Nepal's Thrilling Mountain Flight - STOL Aircraft Let-410 to Jomsom
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I flew on Summit Air Let L-410 from Pokhara to Jomsom to discover what makes this flight one of the most challenging in the world. The flight took just 20 minutes at 10,500 feet and flew through a narrow valley passage around two 8,000m mountains (Annapurna and Dhaulagiri) en route. The video highlights flying in Nepal’s rugged and challenging Himalayan terrain.
Jomsom lies on the arid north side of the Himalaya and has operations only in the mornings because of high winds and cloud build-up during the course of the day. The route has seen many fatal accidents, and nearly all due to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) during bad weather. The elevation of Jomsom Airport is 8,976 feet (2,736m) above sea level.
The weather was excellent in the dry season but soon the wind picked up and flight operations between Pokhara and Jomsom were temporarily halted. I managed to explore Jomsom and finally took the last flight back to Pokhara. It was a beautiful mountain flight with the wings flying close to the high mountain terrain.
The Last Qantas Boeing 747 - An Emotional Farewell
A grand farewell to the Qantas Boeing 747, flying from Australia to Los Angeles and to her final resting place at the Mojave airplane graveyard.
Qantas’s B747 is the most iconic plane and has served the Australian airline for nearly 5 decades. I was in Los Angeles and Mojave to witness her final arrival before retirement. It was a bittersweet day to see her final landing on July 24th 2020 in the Mojave Desert, California (Landing by Captain Ewen Cameron, 11:50 local time).
After her landing I was able to board the 747, I got the chance to interview the pilots and joined them for a final walk around. There were just so many emotions running through everyone while bidding farewell to the most iconic airplane of all time.
A lot of my love towards aviation was inspired from the Qantas B747, in the video I share my stories growing up with her. Not only will I miss the 747, I will also miss the human stories from this plane; sharing the laughter, the passion, different cultures and experiences through the shared love of B747 that brought us together! Onwards and Upwards.
Check out for more information and memorable photoprints.
Pakistan’s Most Exciting Flight - Flying Over “Roof of the World”
I flew to Skardu in the north of Pakistan. This is one of the most scenic and exciting flights in the country. Captain Majid from PIA gave a quick briefing on the ATR-42-500 flight. Soon after takeoff from Islamabad, the plane flew directly over the mountains in the north of Pakistan.
It was a clear winter day of flying. The passengers are treated to a ‘one of a kind’ experience – a sky dance of the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges which include some of the highest peaks in the world. You can see Nanga Parbat (8,125m), Rakaposhi (7,788m), and above all, the spectacular K-2 (the second highest peak in the world) towering above all others at 8,611 meters.
The approach into Skardu was very tricky and no turning back once past the “decision point”. Pilot need to perform a “Z” shaped bend called a Zulu Bend, flying between a few mountain peaks before the Skardu valley appears.
After landing, I was given a quick tour as far as the Shangrila resort in Skardu. Check out the scenery and environment of Skardu. It is a hidden gem and has huge potential for tourism. Skardu airport has recently been upgraded to an international airport status. They’re constructing a new 6km runway. I flew PIA A320 on my way back. We flew past all the tall mountains with a clear view from the cockpit. It is truly the Air Safari.
An Epic Flight - Flying the Ilyushin IL-76 Cargo Transporter to Iraq
This week, I flew on SilkWay Ilyushin IL-76 transporter from Baku to Erbil, Iraq. The flight was completely different from the Western conventional airplane. It took a strong team of 5 men to operate including 2 pilots, a. flight engineer, a radio controller and a navigator. The flight also carries a loadmaster and 2 technicians.
Before takeoff, the captain and loadmaster briefly introduced the cockpit and the cargo cabin. Inside the cabin, it has a crane system and ramp system able to lower to load without infrastructure. This particular IL-76TD-90 has new stage 4 noise compliant engines (Perm PS90 engines) instead of the older and noisier Soloviev D-30 engines.
Our flight took 2.5 hours from Baku to Erbil. After dropping off the cargo, we flew back to Baku empty. The view from the navigator seat through the glass nose was amazing. Watch the full video of the entire IL-76 flight and cargo operation.
The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. For more information, visit:
Cover Image: Andreas Kolbe
The Last Boeing 747 - Final Delivery Flight
The last Boeing 747, a -8F is the 1574th built of a production run that has spanned 55 years. Join me in the final B747 delivery Ceremony at Boeing Everett factory.
Listen to Boeing’s current and former CEO honoring the “incredibles”, John Travolta talking about his love of B747 and Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr announcing the upgrade of their 747-8 cabins. I spoke with Charlie Trippe Jr, grandson of Pan Am’s founder Juan Trippe and many Boeing employees who worked on the 747 line with their stories and emotions.
The last B747; Atlas Air N863GT departed Everett the next morning at 8:19am. She received a water cannon salute, followed by a quick takeoff with a steep climb out. Then she performed a low flyby to say goodbye! Later, she drew a 747 and a crown in the sky!
Over the years, I have been fortunate to fly on the 747 a total of 282 times, with every model from the 747-100 to the 747-8F, from 747-SP to SR to SUD and Combis. There are many memorable ones….I picked some special 747 flights to share with you!
747 Forever Incredible!
Air747 Book Giveaway Link:
To buy Air747 Book with special offer:
747 Quiz Answer
1. Japan Airlines
2. Atlas Air
3. B747-400
4. Lufthansa
Cover Image: by Lukas Souza
Flying China’s Broken Air Force One - Air China B747-400
I made an attempt to fly on China’s former Air Force One - an Air China B747-400 but the plane broke down after boarding. What happened?
The former Chinese Air Force One; B-2472 was used until 2020 and returned to Air China’s fleet. It is currently deployed on domestic trunk routes such as Beijing to Shenzhen. I started my journey at Beijing Capital Int’l Airport with a visit to the Air China domestic lounge.
Boarding was swift and the B747-400 is showing its age with old recliner seats in Business Class. After pushback and engine start, we returned to the gate due to an unspecified mechanical issue.
The delay went on for almost four hours and passengers were finally swapped to an even older B747-400; 28 years old B-2447 which was used by President Jiang Zemin before return back to Air China service. During the delay, passengers were furious with how Air China handle such an unexpected issue.
The replacement 747 took off fast and climbed straight to 38,000 ft. I documented the in-flight service and tour around the whole plane. It was nostalgic to be able to fly on one of the last active B747-400 in China. The landing in Shenzhen was an extremely smooth one.
A Tale of Two Air India B747 Flying Experience
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This is a video of two distinct Air India B747 Flying Experiences. First, I flew with Air India 10 years ago from Jeddah to Mumbai via Hyderabad on their B747-400. Later, Anthony Toth re-created the classic Air India B747-200 onboard experience in 2020.
I share my trip onboard Air India B747-400 First Class from Jeddah to Mumbai. There are photos of the Air India B747-400 modern-day cabin and its onboard service.
Anthony Toth from Pan Am Experience had spent much of his 2020 to re-create the glorious past of Air India B747-200 retro flying experience. Every detail was taken care of in the process of re-creating the experience. The whole B747 was decorated up in the 1970 decor. Wallpaper, seat fabrics, tray liner, glassware, dining-ware, packaging, coaster, menus and everything else resembled Air India in the 1970s.
Video of Air India B747-400 landing:
EXTREME FLIGHT - Landing on Antarctica Ice Runway
I boarded a Hi Fly A340 chartered for White Desert Antarctica (Tour Operator) to fly to the seventh continent; Antarctica. The flight time from Cape Town to Wolf’s Fang Runway in Antarctica is 5 hours and 15 minutes. Flying from 33 degrees South to 71 degrees South in latitude. Commander Carlos Mirpuri explained the Antarctic flight operating conditions and requirements.
During the flight, the founder of White Desert Antarctica Patrick explained what to expect in Antarctica. As we flew closer to Antarctica, passengers changed to winter clothing and got ready for the exploration. The Antarctic season is from mid-November to early February every year.
The weather condition was good with clear visibility for landing at Wolf’s Fang runway. The runway friction index was also sufficient to allow the airplane to stop during braking. Our A340 landed at Wolf’s Fang runway (71º 32’ 00” S 8º 50’ 00” E) around 1930 UTC time. I was lucky to observe the Antarctic landing from the jumpseat.
The runway length is 2500 m (8200') long and 60 m (196') wide. Wolf’s Fang Runway is operated by White Desert Antarctica and it’s the only blue ice runway. It takes 22 hours to groom and prepare the runway for every jet landing.
After landing, we climbed a nearby Nunatak (small mountain) and were just amazed at the pristine landscape; the white desert! The sun never set during the Antarctic summer. I also visited the newly opened Echo Camp for refreshments before the flight back. Certainly one of The Greatest Day in my aviation and travel memory!
For more information on Antarctica tour, visit white-desert.com
FLYING A CHINESE BUILT AIRLINER IN NEPAL! Xian MA60
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I flew a Chinese built Xian MA60 airliner on a domestic flightin Nepal!
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Flying Lufthansa B747-400 Business Class - The Last B747-400 Operator
I travelled on Lufthansa B747-400 from Dubai to Frankfurt as part of my Chinese New Year journey to the U.S. The Lufthansa B747-400 made a comeback after months of grounding and uncertainties.
Lufthansa has its own lounge in Dubai but it is rather small and basic. After a short stay, I moved to the Dubai Airport Ahlan Business Lounge which has better food selection.
Once onboard the Lufthansa B747-400, I have the only solo seat in the entire business class cabin. The solo seat 4D, is in the middle of the 747 nose area. The seat is rather exposed without much privacy but I can get in and out easily. It was an overnight flight so the entire flight was in darkness. I enjoyed a quick snack and breakfast before landing. Overall, I am grateful to be able to fly on the B747-400 again, a proven reliable workhorse for the airlines.
This is just the first part of my journey to the U.S. on Lufthansa. Next week, I will share my video inside Lufthansa First Class Terminal and onboard Lufthansa B747-8 First Class from Frankfurt to Los Angeles.
Credit:
Aileron Aviation Films:
SpeedBirdHD:
Special Rescue Flight - Flying With 7 Lions on Qatar Airways B777
Last month, I followed the transportation of seven rescued lions from Ukraine to South Africa by Qatar Airways Cargo. These lions were rescued from captivity by NGO Warriors of Wildlife (WOW) in Ukraine. The long journey involved a three-day trip from Kiev to Doha and Johannesburg, so that the lions could walk on grass for the first time in their lives. All the Lions were in good health when I last saw them.
I documented the loading process of 7 lions into the Qatar Airways B777. A short interview to find out the history of these rescue lions, along with the challenges of transporting wild animals, was made during loading and onboard the flight.
After 4 hours 20 minutes, we arrived at Doha and the lions were being transported to a transit facility. During the transit, they were fed with food and water. Lionel de Lange from the NGO spoke about the challenge he went through to get them transported. Later, the 7 lions were boarded on another Qatar Airways A350-900 flight to Johannesburg. The 7 lions have since been released into a protected area after arriving in South Africa. They were transferred to a much larger nature reserve, where they will be protected and taken care of for the rest of their lives.
Transporting wild animals back to their natural environment for free is a promise made by Qatar Airways Cargo as part of their “Rewild the Planet” initiative, which is also a part of the airline’s WeQare sustainability programme.
Contact Warriors of Wildlife:
HUGE Boeing 747-400 Cargo Airplane UP-CLOSE!
Flying the Rolls Royce B747 Test Bed - An Experimental Flight with 100% SAF
I travelled to Tucson, Arizona to visit the Rolls Royce Boeing 747 Flying Test Bed (FTB). This special modified B747-200 classic is mounted with three RB211’s and one Trent 1000 engine. For the first time, Rolls Royce is using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to power their Trent 1000 engine as an experimental flight.
Before the flight, I was given a quick tour of the B747 Flying Test Bed. I met with the Rolls Royce engineering team and pilots onboard, they explained to me the test procedure on the Trent 1000 engine during flight. It will perform acceleration, deceleration and re-ignition during the 4-hour flight.
After takeoff, I spoke with an expert on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and its current challenges and limitations. After 4 hours, the B747 safely landed back in Tuscon where I met up with the crew again. Can aviation go green? Let's find out!
Flying Home on Lufthansa B747-8 First Class
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After 5 months in the US I was finally able to fly home, with Lufthansa B747-8 in First Class! This is the first of A 2 part episode that focuses on my Lufthansa First Class flight from LA to Frankfurt. Lufthansa fortunately retained most of their service standards and are still operating the Boeing 747.
Check out what's changed in the current situation with international long-haul travel. I discuss whether current air travel is safe inside the video. Is First Class still the same and the best way to travel?
You have to wear a mask at all times during the flight, with the exception of when you are eating and drinking.
This Boeing 747 Flight is WAY Better!
I flew on a Boeing 747 Cargo Jet as a passenger. The experience is way different and actually a better way to fly! Silk Way West Cargo B747-8F from Baku to Hong Kong