Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, a UPS Boeing 747-8 emerges from the clouds, carrying a crown of light rays in her wake. The other Queen of the Skies passes by our cockpit in the opposite direction, a mere thousand feet above our heads.

No matter how many times I see the Boeing 747 up close in flight, I am always impressed by her iconic lines, the aura of grace and character, complemented by the sheer power of those four engines beneath her wings. The Boeing 747 stands in a league of her own— the last generation of four-engined behemoths ever to be produced.

I feel privileged to have been flying this unofficial Queen of the Skies for nearly fourteen years now, making up over two-thirds of my logbook’s flying hours. I’ve crossed nearly all the oceans in the world, traversed the largest deserts, and navigated through some of the fiercest storms I can remember. Yet, through it all, she has always performed flawlessly. No matter how remote our route, how hostile the skies, or how demanding the approach, the 747 has always been a reliable companion and we've never let each other down.

The 747 remains a symbol of endurance, grace, and the relentless pursuit of flight.