Last week, aviation enthusiasts from across the country descended on London Heathrow to watch British Airways’ last 747-400s depart for their final resting places. The recent retirement of the aircraft leaves some very large shoes to fill. The 747 has been a core staple of long-haul travel for the past 50 years.

The aircraft was the pioneer for long-distance air travel, bringing with it syle and adventure in equal measure. Over the years, technology advanced and the aircraft tried to move with it. Sadly, time catches up with us all. Nowadays, of course, we find ourselves in a shifting landscape within the aviation industry. So naturally, the innovation and versatility offered by the 787 Dreamliner has propelled it to be one of the most abundant aircraft in the sky. //

The 747-400 uses 10 tons of fuel per hour. The 787 uses five tons per hour. With such a massive difference, it’s clear why the sky is full of 787s at the moment and not 747s. However, with 40 years of technological improvement between the two models, it’s not surprising that 787 performs so much better.