World's Last B747SP Flight - Iran Air Special Performance!

I flew on the last B747-SP commercial flight in the world. It was operated by Iran Air from Tehran to Mumbai. The flight took place 8 years ago in April 2016…it was one of my golden memory flight.
My flight was off to an excellent start. I was invited to join the crew in the cockpit. The B747-SP took off with a beautiful Pratt and Whitney JT9D engine spooling sound. We climbed straight to 39,000 feet and later cruised at 41,000 feet with a speed of Mach .86. Our takeoff weight was 235 tons which is quite light. I had a chat with the friendly captain about the weather, fuel burn, and longevity of the SP. Iran Air did a good job maintaining it.
During the cruise, I went around the entire B747-SP main deck. There were 145 passengers mostly Muslim pilgrims returning to India. The main deck of the SP was massive. The Iran Air crew were some of the most hospitable crew in the world. We flew over Pakistan and entered India from the state of Gujarat. With a final landing in Mumbai, this ends my last commercial B747-SP flight. The last Iran Air B747-SP was operated by registration EP-IAC.

[@saxonysteamtv8219]

Beautiful aircraft, and NO politics here. Perfect - thats what we all need!

[@mreagle7870]

My grandfather was a catering manager for Iran Air a long while ago. He flew on the 747SP plenty of times. He was also given a tour of the concorde when it was first introduced to Iran Air. He got to fly in that as well. Lucky man. 2 Legendary aircraft’s; what an experience.

[@baaz-clipz]

5:21

[@Pierro1982]

Catering manager means what exactly at that time?

[@Hotbloglovesboeing747SP]

@@baaz-clipzhe flipped us off

[@wingeditz41]

The B747-SP was an incredible plane. So sad to see it go 😭

[@Eze12347]

I flew on the 747 SP chorasan from JFK to Tehran in 1978. It was incredibly beautiful, perhaps because the time was so special ♥️♥️♥️♥️💔

[@ThrustandWings]

10:23 Wow, that Jet Airways parked at Mumbai sure does flash back a lot of memories for premium air travel in India ❤

[@gkstanfield]

I was proud to fly a United Airlines 747SP from Auckland to Los Angeles with my father in 1991…I already knew then that this was a Rare Bird…such a distinctive jet..! Proud of this…the flight was great..! The 747SP was my rarest flight…no Concorde, sadly… One day soon…the A380 please..? (I also loved every single DC-10 and Tri-Star flight…I still love and miss both Jumbo Tri-Jets…thank you for Safe Travels..!) The 747SP, DC-10 and Tri-Star all remain as my aviation favorites..!

[@ArmanHashtroudi]

I’m an Iranian who flew the B747 SP once from London - Tehran. It was in 2014, I thought it was the end, however after the announcement, I saw that the SP would still fly, so I went back to Tehran, but it was an A300. Really nice aircraft, so unique and cool! R.I.P. B747 SP.

[@bernese1004]

Wasted your money so Rubbish Aircraft.

[@aviationlba747]

@@bernese1004Do you care to explain why you have that ridiculous opinion?

[@ArmanHashtroudi]

@@bernese1004 shut up u got reported

[@ArmanHashtroudi]

@@bernese1004 I seriously wonder where u got ur education from- did you even pass ur kindergarten exam? Bet u didnt coz u got 5 percent!

[@LINJ638]

@@ArmanHashtroudi Ban him.

[@sergiorivera6229]

You can tell the high quality of the first Boeing planes... They were built to perform and to last! Same feeling when I see the L-1011 or DC-10 series cabs.! Great and emotive video (as always, Sam).

[@coolmasterztv3088]

Goodbye 747SP. We love you.

[@AvijeetGupta]

Iranian were the one of the kindest & loveliest people on earth... Wish them lots of happiness & health 🇮🇳 🇮🇷

[@alitoranj1559]

♥♥♥♥

[@demil3618]

Indeed, they are!

[@sirizalot]

Their government/leadership is nothing short of disgusting, though.

[@MrZadeeh]

”Were” dont mix gov and people you troll

[@jakewalker271]

The government is pure evil

[@News.happenings.updates]

In the 90’s I was a Flight Attendant and flew many many Flights on the B747… I love it… the Galley on the upper deck brings back lots of memories.. Thank you for sharing this memorable video. .. ❤

[@Janets-Little-World]

Aerolineas Argentinas flew 747SP's In February '81 I flew on the last leg FCO-FRA. Most of the passengers from BUE disembarked at FCO and there were literally only a handful of psx on board which resulted in the quickest t/o I've ever experienced. All the seats in economy were leather and being in the early 80's I was still allowed up on the flight deck when I asked if I could visit👍🏼👍🏼 We were flying over the Alps at that stage and the thing that struck me the most was, considering the size of these 747, how small the cockpit was. Good memories.

[@diegoe7511]

They used in the transpollar route to Australia

[@matthewshahbazi3840]

This aircraft belong to golden era of Iran , Iran air was one of the best of that time ,I love iranair ❤

[@persianguy1524]

Sanctions need to be removed

[@Vapourized90]

​@@persianguy1524Only when the regime is overthrown.

[@mndan76]

​@@Vapourized90 That's is all the western world do. Overthrow anyone not to their taste.

[@ITSSIRWAN86]

@@persianguy1524 never ever

[@PN_48]

@@Vapourized90”The regime”…😂 Just because Iran has a different Government to the west, doesn’t mean it needs overthrowing.

[@heniman7339]

Iranian are the Best and honest people to work and live with much love and respect for Iran 🇮🇷

[@ali_leo7868]

thank you so much for your kind words.

[@davidsolis6691]

Really enjoyed your narrating and overall story you told. Thanks for letting us travel with you Sam! Always find your videos interesting and fun too!

[@markpettygrove7597]

I remember flying the SAA SP from JFK to JNB and back a few times in the late 70’s. It was a very long flight!

[@fireflyrobert]

I really enjoyed this video which is a good snapshot of a golden era of flying which is sadly no more. 4 engines, at least 3 crew including a flight engineer, round dial instruments and what looks like superb cabin service. I feel privileged to have operated through that era.

[@kvaern1]

I flew this plane when I was 4 y.o back in 1997 from Stockholm to Tehran. I still remember those comfortable big blue seats! :)

[@khongsakhiranprueck]

Thanks Sam for bringing back good memories Aviation had changed forever I have started my career in the late 1993 B747-200 was the fondest of my yesteryear People were kind in those days.

[@lawrenceakini4981]

I love the 747 SP. One of my favourite aircraft. Thanks for this vlog. Have an amazing weekend. Safe travels. Cheers.

[@soundstorm99wows79]

The BOEING 747SP was truely one of the most ICONIC JUMBO JETS EVER BUILT! A shorter fuselage variant of the 747 family with greater range! A TRUE MARVEL OF ENGINEERING! GOOD BYE 747SP U WILL BE REMEMBERED BY ALL US 747 AVEGEEKS

[@JoeyBlogs007]

Classic. I've been in an SP. They are awesome. So much power to lift.

[@SamChui]

Agree!

[@sanmateoflights]

What fantastic memories, Sam you are so blessed to enjoy it and share it with us.

[@mustafatinwala4788]

Me too was lucky to experience this Iranian 747 SP in 2016 what a memorable journey and gratitude to the wonderful Iran air crew for their homely hospitality..miss the 747SP what an era of 747 sp..also remember spotting several other 747sp as a kid at Mumbai ie Air Mauritius and Syria arab airlines what a treat to see them..

[@gafakyusef6201]

Thank you Sam for such wonderful videos. You certainly know how to entertain your fans.

[@LuisAlvarez-tk1xl]

747SP, GOD WILLING That it Flys AGAIN.!!!MY FAVORITE PLANE OF ALL ✈️, Particularly Braniff International, SAA/SAL South African Airways, PanAm, TransWorld Airlines, 🇮🇷 Iran Air, Korean Air and China Airlines. A Truelly Special Plane. Thanks for the Great Videos Sam. GOD BLESS YOU and TAKE CARE. 😻🇬🇧✈️

[@SamChui]

Thank you :)

[@InTeCredo]

American Airlines had a couple of 747SP for the non-stop Dallas/Fort Worth-Tokyo flights in the 1980s. Sometimes, AA would rotate the 747SP for the European flights: my mum was only family member to have flown with 747SP. I am only one to have flown with every variation of 747 (from -100 to -8) except 747SP.

[@wagnerbejaranocarvalho9971]

Good morning Sam Chuí, another great video about a culture that I had the pleasure of admiring and getting to know because I worked on the pilgrims' operation towards Mecca, leaving from Bangladesh. The noises of turbines leaves us in love with this machine, called Queen.

[@guzrahman3014]

When I was young (like 6/7) I boarded the Iran Air 747-SP DAC - DXB, and we were in the first class. It was my first time riding in first class. I really loved it, I especially loved the small toy 747-SP they gave me. I embarrassed myself by telling a girl to gtfo my seat only to realize that she was next to a stranger wearing a red shirt similar to my sister's, who was sitting in front and laughing hysterically. The entire first-class cabin glared at me in disapproval, making it a cringe-worthy memory that haunts me as I try to sleep.

[@skywarddreamschannel]

Wow is an amazing aircraft. One of the most iconic aricraft. Is a special B747

[@Comrade738_Nusantara]

The Boeing 747SP always be a Masterpiece 🤩

[@shaghayegh974]

You are so fair on all your videos! And look at every detail with positive energy! I flew there as a cabin crew 2015 and moved to other airlines but am still being in love with the iran air catering and my colleagues there ❤

[@MichaelTshupoyamodimo]

Rip 747 queen of the skies 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

[@MeTravel247]

6:55 Thanks for taking the name of my city 🌆🏙️⛵🌊🌞 Karachi city of Pakistan ❤️ Though things have changed but still there are very very few Good memories I have. Looking to just leave this city and the region forever ❤😢 Take Care 🤗

[@StrongLuxa]

Glad I found your channel 😊 - keep it up Iran Air ❤

[@crazzzeee]

What a great experience Sam. I love watching your incredible adventures.

[@truebrit3578]

Crew who treats you like royalty or crew who remembers the flaps 🤔 Tough choice there Sam

[@superweedenjoyer]

Absolutely amazing plane, shame to see it go. Thank you for the upload

[@a3cc393]

your community waited so long for another upload, thank you Sam for your awesome work as always

[@SamChui]

Thanks for waiting.

[@dimitridevuyst6664]

I was on the TWA 747SP across the Atlantic a long time ago! I loved it!

[@paletobay1017]

Perfect timing

[@user-zr4li2je1h]

Wow dear Sam. Thanks so much for this amazing gift. Oh my god. I flow by this amazing queen to Kuala Lumpur at 2011 I am Iranian ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@GreyRockOne]

Very impressive Sam! The Iranian crew, the Captains, the flight attendants and of course the great 747 and you! It's always interesting to see other countries airline standards and operations compared to the US, again, impressive. Thanks Sam, signed - Still waiting to fly a 747..

[@lubistro]

A museum in the clouds. Very nice video. Thanks.

[@pranjal_ghosh]

You know this video is old when you spot a Jet Airways 777 🥲

[@Frissegast]

my thoughts exactly when I saw it. Flew on it to Newark in 2014

[@kurianjoseph78]

9W lining up on RW27 at BOM is a golden memory. Lovely vid

[@jafar6785]

Thanks for uploading this video. You know Sam, i still remember the day i flew this beauty from Tehran to Malaysia KLL. Such an amazing experience, the over wing view was breathtaking, looking at the flaps and spoilers operations made me feel so excited. We used to live close to Mehrabad Intl. Airport in Tehran and i used to see them flying to EU and Tokyo weekly. Good old days. I am a pilot myself now :) Cheers

[@UnknownKatz]

Well your so luck, quite sad that legend B747-SP had to go...

[@dollarchange2917]

Bro that plane is so old but look how new it looks, especially the cockpit 😍

[@Borgus]

Flew on an SP with Air Namibia years ago… loved every minute

[@DshibiVideo]

So glad I got to experience the SP with you all those years ago Sam! Not on this flight of course but still :)

[@demil3618]

Excellent content- once again, but this is a real highlight. Thtis cockpit eperience would have been impossible outside Iran Air. Persian food, Persian people, always a great experience!

[@thewindowseat77]

What a unique and awesome flight!

[@TranJacinto]

Sam, I'm surprised that you made an aviation documentary because lately, you usually enjoy your time when filming trip reports!

[@paulb267]

Nothing like the sound of the PW engine spool, just saying. Great video as always Sam.

[@bayareapianist]

I think you can recognize B747Sp by the number of windows in the second floor which was the first class. The other B747s have only two orr three windows. They were special orders from Pan Am and Iran Air to fly directly between Tehran and JFK. Iran once had plans to have direct flight to Sydney Australia. I proud to have flown many times in SP, sometimes even in domestic flight between Shiraz and Tehran. In those days, during the Persian new year, Iran Air would allocate 747 for some domestic flights due to high capacities. It was before Airbus eara, when most high capacity passenger airplanes were made in USA.

[@mrpeel3239]

Nice to see Aviation bringing together different cultures in Peaceful co-exultation.

[@ashimkumarchatterjee9092]

B 747 - SP HAPPY LANDING LAST - TIME , thanks Sam # withness watching

[@djscottfree2008]

Your channel is my number 1

[@keirra5096]

The B747-SP is a nice plane.❤

[@james5353]

Used to see these flying into Heathrow from time to time - always great to see this special bird

[@Fly_Cruising-Altitude]

8:32 Glad to hear B747 Classic A/P disengage sound~

[@andrewhawk2642]

Interesting the Iran SP is only dual auto-pilot, the two Qantas SP’s were triple A/P.

[@KuostA]

@@andrewhawk2642 what does that mean exactly? ty

[@PanAmguy-np7et]

I wish I could fly an SP and would love to hear the amazing sound of the Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4W or Rolls-Royce RB211-524C2 engines.

[@aviationlba747]

Hire the Las Vegas Sands one. Haha!

[@PanAmguy-np7et]

@@aviationlba747 If I had the money I would.

[@PixelPitch09]

Love the videos again

[@yanislahlouamine2577]

The sound of the engines 🔥

[@QuicknStraight]

I know many Iranians and they are all lovely, friendly people. If only our leaders could learn to get along!

[@demil3618]

Indeed the people are wonderful. They just haven't had the chance to kick out their politicians.

[@AmandeepSingh096]

Politicians are elected by people only. One can say that to elect good people, create awareness about it. Discuss issues with politicians.

[@AmandeepSingh096]

​@@demil3618They did get chance and they elected according to situation.

[@demil3618]

@@AmandeepSingh096 The problem is that real opposition candidates got filtered out beforehand. So the choice was limited. It's similar to Russia, where real opposition candidates are declined. Or have we ever had a candidate that wasn't supporting a religious state in Iran after the revolution? I'd be curious to know the name and the result!

[@demil3618]

@@AmandeepSingh096 I'm not sure Iranian politicians would listen to that. If they go too far off the line of the religious leaders then they will end up in pison- or worse. Not much of a choice for Iranians there.

[@vthome78]

Excellent video

[@ericliu3992]

Wow that is such nostalgia

[@blaster915]

Great little airplane. I say little but dang it flies fast and pulls up like a rocket 🚀

[@TheRareVideosXL]

Awesome.

[@duk2k]

No flaps on landing is crazyyyy

[@tomd.43]

How can that happen with three people flying the aircraft??

[@shri_kaka24]

Hi, sam thanks for come with jumbo sp Iran have very old Air craft i know him since 1990 (India) Bombay

[@1CAG]

What an amazing experience on the fantastic 747SP and totally understand your sentiment. I consider myself super lucky I had the opportunity to do twelve flightdeck jumpseat rides on Lufthansa Cargo's MD-11s before they were phased out.

[@mahdihaddadian8639]

IRAN AIR ❤❤❤❤❤

[@sebinamuwanga]

Thanks for the video. The distraction in the cockpit might be the reason why the crew did not run the before landing checklist which confirms the gear has been lowered and the flaps have been extended.

[@JamesUnderwood-tu2dl]

As flight enthusiast, Sam always delivers great content. I wish Boeing and or Airbus would manufacture a new variants of double decker jets that would be more efficient as they offer unique flying experiences. The ability to travel and interact with people from different countries has always shown the special aspects of different cultures, food and the good people of those places. I would love to be able to see Iran and experience their culture and cuisine and see the amazing history of ancient Persia.

[@Nooticus]

Excellent video Sam

[@benjob1360]

Hope to see you again in Iran

[@stradivarioushardhiantz5179]

Memorable✈

[@shikhar4314]

2016 was 8 years !!! ago just hit me hard…😮

[@barron204]

Envious. What an amazing experience.

[@samkawer]

So this is a throwback

[@aayanraj888]

Rip the queen of the skys 747 ypu will always be remembered😢😢😢👑👸

[@samy7013]

The food looks delicious, and so filling! ☝️🤩👍

[@shubhambhavsar4297]

happy to see the jet airways lined up! Good old days!

[@AstroBound]

I got a look on the NASA 747SP (SOFIA) back in 2022 in Christchurch NZ not long before it was decommissioned. An amazing experience

[@GCHatSCHOOL]

In 1993 I was on a flight that was late coming into Ohare, and to add insult to injury, the jet bridge was broken. Fortunately for us, we were arriving on a 727 and were able to use the stairs. Me: being 16ish, carrying my guitar case, long hair, and aviator sunglasses- was COMPLETELY ECLIPSED by a 747Sp that we were parked next to on the tarmac. I mean, even 16ish year old me was awestruck, mostly because I knew quite a few guys who designed the 747 and the 747Sp and I had never seen one in person. Time has passed and both my hair and this wonderful airplane have disappeared, but I will always remember that moment.

[@Brian_L_5168]

This Iranian captain speaks CLEAR English than ANY of the US domestic flight capitains I have ever seen. 💯

[@Nordic-Sun]

Says the guy who can’t correctly convey their message using correct grammar. You’re also wrong.

[@janvanheijningen8588]

@@Nordic-Sun lol fr

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

English is dying as the main US language.

[@Aeronaut1975]

Hopefully the good people of Iran get their country back soon.

[@VamsiKrishna-ls5fk]

nice video mate.

[@soyfulhoque9591]

Wonderful Sam👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼💋🇬🇧

[@Nick-vp7lp]

"300" followed by "Too low Flaps" And continued to land .... Very very different standards in aviation. 😮

[@user-nr9te2hj4z]

The trip was great

[@rafaelcahaya2461]

It's beautiful 🤩

[@choppy8842]

Brilliant video, but if I was the pilot the second a flash went off I would’ve had you lot out of there

[@RykonYE]

Dang Sam your a lucky man!

[@michaelkim3432]

The SP really had the looks of a sports car don't you think? I remember seeing one at the gate at LAX way back when. Easily the sexiest B747.

[@DavidZ_HGH]

so happy to see aviation brings everyone together

[@idkjames]

I was just happy to see the shit safety procedures 😂😂😂. Who forgets the flaps. Every US airline im aware of that would be unstable approach and automatic go around.

[@ramkaranpal3461]

Hi Sam, I love ❤your every vlogs.

[@shakirmuhammad1739]

Nice.

[@s3048161]

my one and only time on 747-SP was with air china from Shanghai to Sydney back in 90s, it was my first international flight and first 747 experience