Queen of the skies: The Boeing 747 is playing a hero's role during Covid-19 crisis

May 6, 2020
Her Majesty might just be having the finest moment of her reign, Howard Slutsken reports for CNN.

SEATTLE - During the week of April 21, there were just two passenger-carrying 747 jumbo jets flying around the world. The Covid-19 pandemic has made the Queen of the Skies an acutely endangered monarch. But Her Majesty might just be having the finest moment of her reign, Howard Slutsken reports for CNNContinue reading original article.

The Intelligent Aerospace take:

May 6, 2020 -While the veritable 747 has largely been taken out of service for passenger travel, its freighter variant is proving invaluable moving needed materials around the globe in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

UPS is one of several companies that still fly the 747 freighter and has 28 in its fleet. Captain Kelly Lepley, who flies the 747F for UPS, says the work is "humbling" in this environment.

"You know that you're carrying lifesaving equipment down below, and you know it's going to make a difference to those who need it on the front lines. It's very humbling, and it's not something that I thought about when I started my aviation career 30 years ago. But now, I feel that it's a gift that I can give back, in a time of crisis," said Lepley in an interview with CNN Travel.

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Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace

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