With many airlines around the world retiring the Boeing 747-400 from passenger service, Lufthansa will continue to use this variant for another six or seven years. B744 aircraft like D-ABVW are slated to be replaced in the German airline’s fleet by 2025 by newer, longer and much more fuel efficient Boeing 777-9 models.
We photographed D-ABVW on February 25, 2018 with a Canon Rebel T6i while plane spotting at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). For full-size, high resolution versions for any of the photos in the image gallery, simply click on the individual pictures. See below for more detailed information on this particular aircraft, the Boeing 747-400 model in general and the airline.
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D-ABVW
Boeing 747-400
Lufthansa
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D-ABVW Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 Image Gallery
D-ABVW
D-ABVW performed its maiden flight on March 4, 1999 and was delivered to Lufthansa on March 13, 1999. Named Wolfsburg, the moniker can be found below the ‘Lufthansa’ near the front of the airplane, just below the row of passenger windows. This Boeing 747-430 is configured for a maximum total of 371 passengers with 67 seats in business class, 32 more in premium economy and 272 seats in economy class. The B744 is one of 13 in the Lufthansa fleet. The variant is to be replaced by the Boeing 777-9 by 2025.
On January 29, 2014, D-ABVW was flying from Frankfurt, Germany to Denver, Colorado. Along the way, the Boeing 747 experienced severe turbulence. After landing safely at Denver, ambulances were on standby but no injuries were reported.
Once again on the Denver/Frankfurt route, the Boeing 747-400 experienced difficulties on both flights to and from Denver in October, 2017. On an October 18, 2017 flight to Frankfurt, the smell of dirty socks began to engulf the cabin. The odour dissipated soon after takeoff and the flight continued toward Frankfurt. Shortly before landing, the smell reappeared, causing headaches, nausea and eye irritations among crew and passengers. One flight attendant needed further care at a hospital after landing.
On the return flight, departing October 20, 2017, the same issues were experienced. After remaining on the ground for three hours, the aircraft resumed service and the problem hasn’t been experienced since.
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 variant took its maiden flight in 1988 and was introduced with Northwest Airlines in 1989. Northwest has since ceased operations, merging into Delta Air Lines. In all, there were 440 produced (passenger variant only) with the last delivered in 2005. This came 20 years after the first the first Boeing 747 was introduced with Pan American World Airways in 1969. Like Northwest, Pan Am was eventually swallowed up by Delta.
The B744 is 71 metres or 232 feet in length with a wingspan of 64 metres or 212 feet. At the tail, the Boeing 747-400 stands 19 metres or 64 feet in height. The flight range is a lofty 13,490 kilometres.
Lufthansa
Founded in 1953, Lufthansa commenced operations in 1955. The founding member of the Star Alliance is headquartered in Cologne, Germany. The airline has a main fleet of nearly 275 aircraft flying to 220 destinations around the world. That fleet grows to over 650 with subsidiaries added in. Included in the fleet are 13 Boeing 747-400, 19 Boeing 747-8 and 14 Airbus A380-800 airliners.
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