Boeing 747 ‘says goodbye’ during takeoff as pilot performs breathtaking ‘wing wave’

  • Pilots usually wait until 2,000 feet to perform this stunt
  • It serves as a gesture of gratitude to the personnel who have created the aircraft
  • It is a standard gesture when a new aircraft takes its maiden voyage

Published on Mar 26, 2024 at 3:54 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat

Last updated on Mar 26, 2024 at 8:08 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

An old video has recently gone viral showing a Boeing 747 saying goodbye during takeoff as the pilot performs a breathtaking ‘Wing Wave’ maneuver.

At the time of filming the video a single Boeing 747 cost $281.3 million, so it’s a good thing the pilot knew what he was doing.

The original video was posted back in 2014, and the story behind it is quite heartwarming too.

READ MORE! Hyper-rich sheikh from the Middle East has converted a Boeing 747 into a flying palace

Even recently, a retiring Airbus A380 pilot performed the Wing Wave maneuver on his final flight full of passengers.

Here you can see the massive aircraft perform this breathtaking maneuver.

The Wing Wave maneuver is usually standard procedure when a new aircraft takes its maiden voyage.

It serves as a gesture of gratitude to the personnel who have created it.

This particular Boeing 747 was departing from Paine Field Airport in Washington, USA, where it was assembled.

So the pilot performed the Wing Wave maneuver to thank the people who had created it.

However, in the video, the aircraft was quite close to the ground.

Usually, pilots wait until the aircraft has reached at least 2,000 feet or several minutes after takeoff, before attempting the stunt.

Speaking about takeoffs, cockpit footage of a Boeing 747 shows exactly what it’s like for a pilot to take off.


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Nalin Rawat

Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.