This is what was written on the Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet’s control yoke
- The fleet of British Airways Boeing 747-400 was retired due to the pandemic
- And we know the concentration and focus required to fly an aircraft of this size
- However, the W-shaped yoke will make you take a second look
Published on Jul 04, 2024 at 6:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jul 04, 2024 at 11:49 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
After we bid a fond farewell to the entire fleet of British Airways Boeing 747-400 due to the pandemic’s crushing effect on global aviation – the iconic aircraft’s control yoke is well worth taking a look back at.
In simplest terms, the control yoke allows the pilot to move the airplane up, down, over left, and over right.
But it’s what is written on the W-shaped yoke of the British Airways Boeing 747 that will really make you take a second look.
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The cockpit of the Boeing 747
One of the most iconic aircraft ever made, it made its debut test flight in February 1969, with the last Boeing 747 rolling off the production line in December 2022.
We’ve previously seen footage from inside the cockpit of Boeing 747, revealing exactly what it’s like for a pilot to take off.
Like the inside of a vintage IBM super-computer, its buttons, levers, and knobs reach from the cluttered dashboard right up to the roof.
This video of a Dutch pilot in the cockpit of a Boeing 737 shows the concentration and focus required to land in crosswinds.
The control yoke
And with so much to remember it makes sense that, for the safety of themselves, the jumbo jet, and every person on board, a memory jog would be a good idea.
That’s why the W-shaped control yoke features instructions for each leg of the flight- from before take-off to landing.
While each model will vary slightly – the jist of those instructions remains the same.
First up ‘before takeoff’ it reminds the crew that the flaps should be X-checked, the flight controls should be checked, take-off briefing should be reviewed and the cabin should be secure.
Next onto ‘cleared for lineup/takeoff’ with a reminder to review packs and transponders are to give information on traffic advisories (TA) and resolution advisories (RA) when appropriate.
Followed up by checks towards the back end of the flight on ‘descent/approach’.
These include checking recall, auto brakes, alongside landing data VREF minimums, presetting and checking the altimeters, and completing the approach briefing.
Lastly for ‘landing’, the cabin should be secured, the speed brake armed, the landing gear down and the flaps deployed.
And specialist aircraft furniture manufacturer, Jayyviation, recently had one for sale for just over $1,900.
However, while the Boeing 747 cockpit seems complicated it has nothing on the cramped and complicated cockpit of the SR-71 Blackbird.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
