Regarding the last 747, I too love the aircraft. My uncle, a lifelong
Pan Am employee rose to cargo operations manager at PTY before retiring in the mid-90s. PTY is Panama City, Panama for those not versed in airport designators.
As such, when we flew (I was born in Panama), we did it under his
aegis, which on a Pan Am flight was a big deal. I also remember –
vividly – meeting Mr. Juan Trippe, Pan Am CEO. This was in 1968 when I
was ten years old. He gave me a model of a 747 jet in Pan Am livery, one
of those which was destined for travel agencies as part of the
promotion for the upcoming ‘world largest passenger jet’ promotion.
Anyway, in 1969 we moved to live in Birmingham (when my stepfather
retired as Command Sergeant Major of the 193rd Infantry Brigade). This,
to continue serving in the reserves at a backwater Army depot (viewed as
a plum assignment used as reward for long service because it meant
certain perks of Army life, remained).
Point being, we traveled back to Panama twice a year. Of course,
always on Pan Am (after an Eastern flight through Atlanta to Miami).
Heck, I still remember my excitement as if it were yesterday when in
1971 we flew on the 747 for the first time! Travel with my uncle’s
imprimatur on our tickets meant the stewardesses treated 11-y/o me like
royalty.
And for those unaware, the aircraft has a circular staircase to the
upper deck, through which the crew access the flight deck. I was puffed
with importance at being in 1A at the very front. Honestly, I felt like I
was king of the world because I was even welcomed onto the flight deck
itself where they let me sit in a jump seat for about 15 minutes. Small
wonder model aviation followed and I use a Bonanza to this day for
personal and business travel, eh?
I maintain a fond part of my heart for the 747 to this day.