DOORS TO MANUAL AND CROSS CHECK – for the last time.
As we watched the two 747’s take off from London Heathrow here in Sydney the team all tried to remember the many hours spent on these aircraft – too many! In its hey day BA flew to most major capital cities – twice daily! With so many airlines, United, Qantas and now British Airways withdrawing this legend we will miss that roar signaling the start of another journey!
747 Geek Out:
- Boeing has been manufacturing 747 aircraft for more than 50 years
- BOAC flew its first 747 flight on 14th April 1971
- British Airways took delivery of its first 747-400 in July 1989 and its last in April 1999
- At its height, the airline had a fleet of 57 747-400s
- British Airways was the world’s biggest operator of 747-400 aircraft
- The 747-400 has 6ft high winglets on the tips of its wings to improve efficiency
- It has 16 main wheels and two landing nose wheels
- The wings of a 747-400 span 213ft and are big enough to accommodate 50 parked cars
- The tail height of 64ft is equivalent to a six-storey building
- The 747-400 is 231ft long
Farewell…
UPDATE: Cotswold Airport will be the permanent home to an iconic British Airways 747 aircraft for locals and visitors to enjoy.
The Boeing 747, registration G-CIVB, will be permanently retired at Cotswold Airport, near Kemble in Gloucestershire. The aircraft is painted in the unique Negus livery which adorned British Airways planes in the 1970s and 1980s. The aircraft was one of four painted in heritage liveries to mark the airline’s centenary last year. It was also one of the final two British Airways 747s to leave Heathrow last month.
The airport will maintain the aircraft and plans to convert an area of its interior to be used as a unique business, conferencing and private hire venue, as well as a cinema for locals and an educational facility for school trips. It is planned that the aircraft will be open to the public from Spring 2021.
