Sunday Reads: Our Most Notable Stories This Week

It’s that time of the week again when we like to take a look back at some of our most notable stories from the last seven days. Let’s get started!

HZ-HM1B will celebrate its 43rd birthday this year. Photo: Papas Dos via Flickr

The World’s Oldest Active Passenger 747s

Owing to its age, the Boeing 747 is becoming an increasingly rare sight in the world’s skies, particularly among its older examples. However, certain passenger-configured jumbos remain in operation today despite being over 40 years old!

The Longest Non-Stop Turboprop Routes

Turboprop aircraft are the sort of planes that most people would typically associate with short regional hops. However, in certain areas, these designs actually operate comparatively long sectors. Simple Flying examined some of the longest, which you can see here.

LAM Mozambique operates one of the longest non-stop turboprop routes bookable this month with the Dash-8-Q400. Photo: Guido Potters via Wikimedia Commons

Nagpur Airport’s Abandoned Boeing 720

Nagpur Airport in India used to have a rather unusual (and permanent) guest on site. After making an emergency landing at the airport in 1991, the owners of a Boeing 720 opted to leave it there, where it stayed for 24 years before moving to the Nagpur Flying Club.

The aircraft started its life in the US before moving to Europe and eventually into private hands. Photo: Eduard Marmet via Wikimedia Commons

Delta Looks To Backfill Aircraft Retirements

As part of its procedures to mitigate against the significant impacts of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Delta Air Lines retired more than 200 aircraft last year. The Atlanta-based US legacy carrier is now looking to backfill these aggressive retirements, by turning to the second-hand market. You can read more about its search for used aircraft here.

Delta has reportedly secured seven Airbus A350-900s from LATAM. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Boeing 707 Restaurant Finally Set To Open

21 years after buying a Boeing 707, a pair of brothers from Palestine are finally set to open a restaurant in the retired airliner. Atallah and Khamis al-Sairafi reportedly hope to welcome their first guests within weeks. You can find out more about this venture here.

A two-decade-long dream is just weeks from becoming a reality. Photo: Getty Images

Antonov An-225 Flies To Namibia

The mighty six-engined Antonov An-225 has been back in action this week. The world’s heaviest-ever aircraft flew German medical aid to Namibia via Ghana. It departed from the cargo hub of Leipzig, having arrived from its Kyiv base two days before.

With six engines and 32 wheels, the An-225 is the world’s largest aircraft. Photo: Helmuts Rudzītis via Wikimedia Commons

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What was your favorite story this week? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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