British Airways last remaining Boeing 747 took to the sky for a final time on Friday 11th December.
The BOAC Gold Speedbird retro livery B747-400, registration G-BYGC, flew from Cardiff Airport to eCube Solutions at Bro Tathan business park in St Athan, to be preserved.
I traveled all the way from Dubai to Wales, just to say farewell to the iconic B747. Here are some pictures and the video from the day.
The weather wasn’t great to start with. Flight BA747 took off from Cardiff at 13:37, she climbed to 5,800 ft and flew around the coast before the weather improved for the visual landing. Her last flight lasted just 21 minutes.
Spectacular “Short Field” Landing
As the weather had finally decided to co-operate, the B747 was able to find a gap between the showers in which to begin her descent. The pilots kept the nose high after touch down and pulled up quickly on the short 2km runway, it brought tears to my eyes.
Watch the spectacular landing in the tweet below.
The airport fire services gave a water cannon salute to the Queen of the Sky. Everyone at the airport stood still to watch her going past to her final stand.
Since entering BA’s fleet on 20th January 1999 the aircraft has flown 45m miles and completed over 11,049 flights, for a total of 91,023 hours.
The Last Goodbye
It wasn’t a big media event, it was rather personal. I was among the first to enter the B747 and meet up with the pilot. My Air747 book co-author Charles Kennedy was with me.
I felt honoured to be able to record the last power down of the B747. There will be a final video out next week.
The flight deck crew: Captain Richard Allen-Williams (his landing), Captain Di Wooldridge, Captain Allister Bridger and Captain Arun Sharma
The painting I am holding in the photo is an original painting of BOAC B747-100 from the 1970 (from the Collection of Charles Kennedy).
All 4 pilots signed a special BOAC 747 livery model, this will be a gift to the underprivileged children at BA’s annual Dreamflight event.
She said Yes on the 747!
There was an unexpected surprise for cabin crew Philippa when her boyfriend Scott (a flight dispatcher) proposed to her inside the B747. Congratulations to Scott and Philippa!
End of An Era
Sean Doyle, British Airways CEO, said: “This final 747 journey is a bittersweet moment for the many thousands of British Airways customers, and crew, who have flown the world on these Queens of the Sky over the last five decades”.
“But while we will certainly miss their majestic presence in the skies above, knowing our last 747 will be preserved for future generations, to enjoy at a new home in Wales, gives us a great sense of pride and is a fitting end to this chapter of British Airways’ history.”
“I’ve been watching the 17 or so 747s that were stored at Cardiff leave and, to be honest, every time one leaves I get a tear in my eye. It was my office for some 30 years… it’s just such an iconic aeroplane and a delightful aeroplane to fly from a pilot’s point of view.”
Former BA pilot Catherine Burton told BBC Radio Wales
I am so grateful I was able to be a part of the last movement of a BA 747, a story stretching back half a century. It’s sad to think that it’s over. Was it the happiest event where I cried? Or the saddest event where I was thrilled to be in the company of such like-minded aviators and friends? At least we were there to say goodbye and mark the end of an epic era.
Personally, it is the 747 that was the plane that started my love of aviation. It was truly a bittersweet day. I felt sad, but delighted to see the final farewell she deserved. Goodbye 747.
I will be showing all the details of yesterdays event in an upcoming video next week.
Sam; This was a GREAT job of reporting a milestone of aviation history. I flew on a BA 747 back in 1993 and don’t know on which version from JFK to LHR. Now we need to hear of which airlines are still flying passengers on 747’s. Does anyone know if Mahan Air in Iran still fly theirs? I think that the 747 had one of the very best safety records of any airliner. They were truly iconic and way ahead of their time and will be sorely missed. At least we’ll still have all those cargo 747’s.
we made a post about airlines still flying B747 on the blog in 2020:
https://samchui.com/2020/08/19/airlines-still-flying-the-boeing-747/
This post seems outdated right now these airlines still fly 747 Namely Lufthansa, Korean Air, Air China.
Sam Thankyou for sharing this my grandfather flew in the first jets of Qantas and BA. It’s definitely the end of an era. Some of the best times of my grandfathers life was flying in this beauty much appreciated all u do for aviation oxox
An awesome post to commemorate and celebrate the retirement of one of the worlds greatest (if not THE greatest) airliners. I’ve flown on many 747’s (-100, -200, SP, Combi and -400) and on several of BA’s, and I will truly miss these iconic Queens fo the Sky. Thank you for another terrific post for all of us Avgeeks (and with no “cringeworthy” moments . . . LOL). Happy New Year and all the best to you, Sam–stay safe and well. Cheers!
Sam. As a new signee to your site, I wish to congratulate you on the post. I began following the 747 in the 1970’s in the San Francisco area, watching practice touch and go’s near Oakland airport in the early evening. Those landings and go arounds are still in my memory; I’m now 86. You do wonderful work and presentations for those of us interested in aviation, and we do appreicate the effort. Be safe and continue the super work!
Nice report, excellent camera work. Still amazing to see these big birds fly & land. More pictures for your next 747 book !
Thanks for the wonderful pictures of this final flight of G-BYGC. This plane has a special place in my heart. This was the first 747 – 400 that I flew on. My previous 747 flights were on the – 100 & – 200. I will miss the 747. I flew back on a 777 from JFK last year and hated it. No where near as spacious.
My late father used to work for BOAC then BA among 747s, in Engineering & Maintenance at LHR, so it was a joy to see one of them in the retro livery. Have always had a soft spot for this aircraft and these are, indeed, sad times.
Sam, thank you for posting this.
Hello Sam a very big thank you for sharing this beautiful reporter for all those who are passionate about the majestic Jumbo Jet
Sam.. don’t listen to these Covid obsessed idiots! Keep up the good work…
Sam, the wearing of face coverings in Wales and the rest of uk are maybe different to your home country, its not compulsory in all settings. If you put yourself in the public eye then take public opinion.
I have followed you a long time and you are the best, I just think common sense deserted you on this trip.
Stay safe Lee
Lee, of course I do accept public opinion but I just think your statement on “just to see a plane landing” is playing down on this significant event and what I do. I have considered all factors before made the travel to Wales.
Sam -re: green corridor – good to know, thanks for the update.
Your right you didn’t break any law but you have travelled to Wales ( seperate country) which is suffering badly with the virus and have asked people not to travel from England to Wales unless its for work or necessary. You could say it was work but travelling all that way to watch a plane land??? Doesn’t really help does it?
Lee
Lee,
This is totally unnecessary discussion in an aviation blog.
I am covering an important piece of video work with full media invitation from the event organizer. I have tested covid negative before the travel and see every reason to be there. I shared my work with millions of people in this historical event.
Very nice Sam. Thanks for recording this. Looks like you also broke UK quarantine/isolation rules too….. 😉
No I didn’t break any rules. Travel from Dubai is on the green corridor. No need to quarantine.
I flew on this plane from Chicago to London. Was very run down inside… well past it’s best. One of the worst business class flights I’ve had.
Hello Sam The BA 747-400 is my favorite aircraft and I’m sad it’s retiring it’s the pioneer of aviation and same you said end of an era but I’m happy that some airlines still fly it that’s good news and I’m happy that aviation is going to play a key role in delivering vaccines to the world stay safe stay warm happy holidays Sam.