A queen to inspire all
Saif Tinwala, 27, Air India pilot, Delhi

Boeing 747 is such an iconic plane for aviators and enthusiasts. It looks majestic at the very first glance and we lovingly call it the Queen of the Skies. Growing up in Mumbai’s Juhu, I remember watching the plane take off as a young boy and being in awe of its size, and the way it looked. I can rightly say that it was in these moments of watching the 747 take flight that my love for aviation took root. I have a collection of Air India model aircrafts and the 747 holds an important place in my mini fleet. The livery or paint scheme of this aircraft looks grand and beautiful. It truly is, as it’s themed, ‘Your Palace in the Sky’; to get a better sense, look at the jharokha window design. And as for the tradition of naming aircrafts, The 747s were named after famous emperors and kings of India, keeping up with its royal charm.
I joined Air India at a time when this majestic aircraft was close to retirement. While I fly Boeing 787 as a pilot, I’ve flown the 747 as a passenger many times before. In fact, I often used to plan my passenger flights so that I could fly in the 747. It’s a large passenger aircraft with four engines, and is comfortable and spacious.