Air India’s Boeing 747 departs Mumbai on its last trip.
As it takes off from Mumbai, Air India says goodbye to its final Boeing 747, ending a chapter in the history of the recognizable jumbo aircraft.
On Monday, Air India said goodbye to its final Boeing 747, bringing an end to an era for the recognizable jumbo jet. Once registered as VT-EVA and given the name “Agra,” the aircraft made its final departure from Mumbai’s airport after being purchased by a foreign business.
On Monday morning, one of the two well-maintained Boeing 747s took off from Mumbai, and the other is scheduled to depart shortly.
After being retired and deregistered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last year, the aircraft experienced a symbolic change when its Air India titles and insignia were removed. This allowed the aircraft to temporarily register as N940AS, an American registration, and allow it to leave its previous home base.
One of the previous Boeing 747s operated by Air India departed Mumbai today for the final time. It was formerly registered VT-EVA and called “Agra,” but after retiring, the DGCA deregistered it last year and took off the “Air India” titles and insignia. In order to allow it to depart from its previous home base and head into an unknown destiny, a temporary American registration, N940AS, was applied to it last week, according to aviation historian Debasish Chakraverty
The pilots retiring the aircraft conducted a “Wing Wave,” an aviation custom designated for retiring or ending flights, across the skies of Santa Cruz when the clock struck 10:47 a.m.
Observing this airplane take off from the terrace of my Santa Cruz apartment building was a bit of a bittersweet moment for me. In the 1970s and 1980s, my father flew Air India Boeing 747s, one of the airline’s first aircraft. When I was a kid, Chakraverty recalled, “I used to stand at my window and watch Air India Boeing 747s take off, bound for their destinations half a world away.”
“I could recognize the four Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines in the 747 by their distinct sound back then, even before I could see it.” The “wing wave” made me think of my father, possibly bidding adieu to the Air India 747s he so enjoyed piloting.
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