BA to bid farewell to 'Queen of the Skies' with rare dual take off

 

FILE PHOTO: A British Airways Boeing 747 is seen at the Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, July 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways will bid farewell to its final London-based Boeing 747s on Thursday with a rare synchronised dual take off for the "Queen of the Skies", the jet which brought long-haul flights to the masses.

 

Once the world's largest operator of the 747, BA has now retired its entire jumbo jet fleet after the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed most air travel, accelerating the move to more fuel-efficient planes.

 

"Tomorrow will be a difficult day for everybody at British Airways as the aircraft leaves our home at Heathrow for the very last time," Chief Executive Alex Cruz said.

 

For over 50 years, the 747 has been the world's most easily recognised jetliner with its humped fuselage, four engines and 16 main wheels.

 

It took its maiden flight in 1969 and soon secured its place in history as the jet which allowed more affordable air travel due its size and range.

 

Passengers have included John Paul II, who arrived for the first visit to Ireland by a pope on an Aer Lingus 747 in 1979. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran from exile on an Air France jumbo during the same year's Islamic Revolution.

 

BA's predecessor airline BOAC first introduced the 747 on the London-New York route in 1971, and at its peak BA had a fleet of 57 747-400s.

 

Former pilots have relayed how the jet initially took some getting used to, from a cockpit positioned almost 30 feet above the ground and more when angling the nose higher just before touching the runway.

 

"It was like landing a block of flats from the 2nd floor," Hugh Dibley, a former BOAC captain, told Reuters.

 

On Thursday the final two 747s will take off from Heathrow at 0730 GMT with a rarely seen synchronised dual take off on parallel runways before one conducts a fly-past along the southerly runway, weather permitting.

 

The owner of British Airways, IAG <ICAG.L>, is battling to survive after the pandemic wiped out much of the global flying market.

 

(Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Catherine Evans)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-08

 

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Still have fond memories of my first Jumbo Jet flight. A 20 minutes hop between Mauritius and St Denis La Réunion on the Mauritius/Charles de Gaulle route.

And indeed, as for most of us here, it became a lifestyle; I was fortunate enough to have good paying jobs with heaps of paid leave. Aren't we a lucky generation, driven by Jumbo jets, computers and blue pills...

My claim to fame. I flew on the last BA 747 flight from Bangkok to London.

Amazing aircraft.

 

Edited October 8, 20205 yr by Chelseafan

Farewell Jumbo. i have fond memories of the flying brick

I was once the only passenger on a Thai Airways (747) flight from Narita to Don Muang.

 

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I was once the only passenger on a Thai Airways (747) flight from Narita to Don Muang.

 

How did all the other passengers know that you would be flying on that aeroplane ?

Memories of 747s? Ah yes, flying from Gatwick to Don Muang with Phuket Airways. Some of the original 747s, to say they were tired would be generous. Cheap though!

     In late December I flew by 747 from Dulles to Frankfurt on Lufthansa.  Then Frankfurt to Bangkok on an A380 with THAI.  I sincerely hope it was not my last flight on either aircraft as I like both, although the A380 is by far my favorite aircraft type.  

My memory of the 747 is of one of the scariest flights I've ever had! (not counting some rather hairy military experiences) We were flying to Florida on a BA Jumbo for that 'once in a lifetime holiday'. As we approached Orlando a massive storm was developing there.

 

The pilots were trying to let down between storm surges with lightning filled thunderheads all around us. I've flown a lot, but I've never appreciated just how much punishment an aircraft can take. We were being thrown around like leaves in a gale.

 

Well, after a diversion to Miami to refuel and a number of attempts we finally made it into MCO and it's hats off to a great aircraft and a superb aircrew. It truly was the 'landing of a lifetime!'.

 

Me and the Jumbo have done many miles together. Sorry to see it go.

 

Edited October 8, 20205 yr by Moonlover

Watched it this morning, comedy gold. It was a little bit rainy, so the dual take off was not allowed. Is there anything the English can't f#€k up these days? So risk averse and such pu$$ies, it's embarrassing.

2 minutes ago, UnkleGoooose said:

Watched it this morning, comedy gold. It was a little bit rainy, so the dual take off was not allowed. Is there anything the English can't f#€k up these days? So risk averse and such pu$$ies, it's embarrassing.

par for the course in all Western countries around the world nowadays I'm afraid...

22 hours ago, UnkleGoooose said:

Watched it this morning, comedy gold. It was a little bit rainy, so the dual take off was not allowed. Is there anything the English can't f#€k up these days? So risk averse and such pu$$ies, it's embarrassing.

You'd rather have seen a spectacular midair collision as a swansong would you?