Farewell 747 a personal tribute
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
Last BA 747 flights planned LHR-Kemble this Thursday, marking the end of 50 years of BOAC & BA operation of the type.
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
A great aircraft indeed, and I have always enjoyed flying in one.
Over the years I have flown on it 106 times, including a surprise short haul CPH-LHR ( SE-DFZ ) when the designated DC-9 on the route went tech.
Over the years I have flown on it 106 times, including a surprise short haul CPH-LHR ( SE-DFZ ) when the designated DC-9 on the route went tech.
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
Not many flights for me on this great aircraft. LHR-BKK with TG 31 years ago. Returned via CPH
LHR-JFK about 4 years ago. Touching down at JFK in a 747 was a bucket list thing for me
LHR-JFK about 4 years ago. Touching down at JFK in a 747 was a bucket list thing for me
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sanderling
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Fri May 01, 2020 7:22 pm
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
My best memory was in the late 80s on BA175 LHR to JFK on 200 series G-BDPV
Extremely lucky to be invited up to flight deck for landing at JFK (ATC related)
On entering flight deck I was aware that seating arrangements for landing were extremely limited.
There were the 2 pilots plus a check captain sitting behind the captain plus the flight engineer already in the flight deck
The captain welcomed me and informed me the best place to see everything that was happening was to ‘wedge’ myself against the back of his seat whilst still standing between the 2 pilot positions.
Not sure if health and safety people would have been happy but they would never find out
S
Extremely lucky to be invited up to flight deck for landing at JFK (ATC related)
On entering flight deck I was aware that seating arrangements for landing were extremely limited.
There were the 2 pilots plus a check captain sitting behind the captain plus the flight engineer already in the flight deck
The captain welcomed me and informed me the best place to see everything that was happening was to ‘wedge’ myself against the back of his seat whilst still standing between the 2 pilot positions.
Not sure if health and safety people would have been happy but they would never find out
S
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
The last two at Heathrow, CIVB & 'VY are planned out of Heathrow at 0815 tomorrow to Kemble, 'VY will perform one final flypast before heading west on the short flight to Gloucestershire. 'VB, in Negus livery, will join Britannia XM496 in preservation at the Cotswold site.
F
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Jeremy Kemp
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
Hi
Just watched earlier this morning on BBC1 the live departure of the last 2 BA 747s. A sad day for those who flew them.
My only 747 flight in December 2000 was from AMS to JFK and back. It was so cold that the baggage doors had frozen and had to be de-iced before the luggage could be removed. Our trip included a helicopter flight round New York and included the Twin Towers. We bought a wind up snow globe from Macy's which had the Main New York buildings in it.
JK
Just watched earlier this morning on BBC1 the live departure of the last 2 BA 747s. A sad day for those who flew them.
My only 747 flight in December 2000 was from AMS to JFK and back. It was so cold that the baggage doors had frozen and had to be de-iced before the luggage could be removed. Our trip included a helicopter flight round New York and included the Twin Towers. We bought a wind up snow globe from Macy's which had the Main New York buildings in it.
JK
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
Flew BA 744's on 3 occasions , also in good condition i thought .. flew VS 744 twice on GLA-MCO , beach fleet was due to retirement .. however will be missed , watched online this morning and certainly emotional..
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
First flew on a Pan-Am B747-100 in 1972 from FRA-LHR second last leg of a roundabout routing from Fukuoka in Japan to home in Scotland, luckily most of it in first class, company policy for length of flight.
Last flight exactly a year ago on G-CIVK with BA AUS to LHR had flown out to AUS on G-CIVB (Negus scheme) one of the planes that departed LHR today. Sat in 1A for the flight to AUS will never get that experience again. Anywhere up in the nose was always good.
Many flights on the 747 over the years with various airlines, at the back, at the front and upstairs. Will miss them for their character always great to fly .
Last flight exactly a year ago on G-CIVK with BA AUS to LHR had flown out to AUS on G-CIVB (Negus scheme) one of the planes that departed LHR today. Sat in 1A for the flight to AUS will never get that experience again. Anywhere up in the nose was always good.
Many flights on the 747 over the years with various airlines, at the back, at the front and upstairs. Will miss them for their character always great to fly .
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
Had a couple of flights on the 747, but the last one was probably the most memorable, for the wrong, and right, reasons. BA from LHR to JFK return.
Was going to NY for Hogmanay in 2010/11 with my Dad and partner. Given my Dad's age had booked WTP to give him a bit more legroom to stretch out. Got to GLA and told we'd been upgraded to Club, result!
Arrived in LHR and got the lounge access, magic! Eventually got on to the plane after significant weather delay and told we had to hold due to weather in NY. No probs, in club so was still happy!
Set off and service was great all through the flight. Landed at JFK and in taxi-ing to the gate the left outboard engine hit a snow bank at JFK which was under blizzard conditions. Again, being in Club we were offered significant refreshments until we got to the gate. To say I was buckled when we got to the gate would be an understatement!
Apart from an NY taxi driver who tried to drop us off in the blizzard 4 blocks from the hotel (whom I told my Dad was 'an old man and couldn't walk far', much to my Dad's disgust) he eventually took us to the hotel door, it was a great break.
Return was on a 772 and again got an upgrade to Club from WTP which was excellent.
My Dad had an incident at LHR custsoms who incorrectly didn't like the size of his cough bottle (innocent times!) and told him to pour it out. In the absolute nicest of terms a man over 75, who has stayed in rural Scotland most of his life, but grew up closer to Drumchapel than Bearden, told him to 'go raffle himself' and drank the rest of the bottle.
Safe to say the security guy had the right idea and my Dad had a gyppy tummy for the lounge and the flight up to Glasgow on a wee Airbus.
Genuinely a fantastic journey and holiday all round and the 747 was the highlight. Won't ever do it again with him but a fantastic memory. Will never forget it.
Was going to NY for Hogmanay in 2010/11 with my Dad and partner. Given my Dad's age had booked WTP to give him a bit more legroom to stretch out. Got to GLA and told we'd been upgraded to Club, result!
Arrived in LHR and got the lounge access, magic! Eventually got on to the plane after significant weather delay and told we had to hold due to weather in NY. No probs, in club so was still happy!
Set off and service was great all through the flight. Landed at JFK and in taxi-ing to the gate the left outboard engine hit a snow bank at JFK which was under blizzard conditions. Again, being in Club we were offered significant refreshments until we got to the gate. To say I was buckled when we got to the gate would be an understatement!
Apart from an NY taxi driver who tried to drop us off in the blizzard 4 blocks from the hotel (whom I told my Dad was 'an old man and couldn't walk far', much to my Dad's disgust) he eventually took us to the hotel door, it was a great break.
Return was on a 772 and again got an upgrade to Club from WTP which was excellent.
My Dad had an incident at LHR custsoms who incorrectly didn't like the size of his cough bottle (innocent times!) and told him to pour it out. In the absolute nicest of terms a man over 75, who has stayed in rural Scotland most of his life, but grew up closer to Drumchapel than Bearden, told him to 'go raffle himself' and drank the rest of the bottle.
Safe to say the security guy had the right idea and my Dad had a gyppy tummy for the lounge and the flight up to Glasgow on a wee Airbus.
Genuinely a fantastic journey and holiday all round and the 747 was the highlight. Won't ever do it again with him but a fantastic memory. Will never forget it.
Re: Farewell 747 a personal tribute
Was I the only forum member watching BBC breakfast news yesterday morning with misty eyes watching The Negus and sister 747 depart LHR?