Zippo58

I count myself fortunate to have flown many times on BA 747's, my last was a trip back from Las Vegas to LHR at the end of Dec 2019. I always found the 747 a comfortable aircraft and I will miss the old bird.

Yellowbelly

gliderpilot

and to link to another thread ‘by the British Airways orchestra’. No royalties required.

2ilent8cho

Just out of curiosity, how difficult would it have been to put a 747 on say the Manchester/Heathrow route one weekend for the 4 flights that happen instead of the A320/A319 as a farewell flight / normal operation hybrid? Any enthusiasts who wanted the opportunity to fly the BA 747 one last time could have done giving BA extra ££ while flying a route that was happening anyway. I know a 747 uses more fuel but i'm sure that would have been offset by those wanting to fly it, i know i would have paid £500 for 2 seats to fly it again just for an hour so long as it was in the business or first seats.

Would something like that have just been a logistical nightmare for them or is it a case of they don't need every avenue of income at the moment so just don't care?

speedbuslhr

I’m afraid yes it would be very difficult. All of the 747’s have had many systems disabled to save money. They have also not had their hanger check up’s and heavy work done which means Boeing are usually giving BA permission to over ride these checks in order to fly them on a one off basis - i.e a retirement/positioning flight. To set them up for a passenger operation and flyable condition would now be extremely costly.

Kenneth Jensen

CIVD was planned to retire april / may this year due to expired D check (the major check done every 6 year) - CIVH and CIVI has expired D check too so they are probably next

MADPhil

We flew ORD-LHR on CIVH in March (we should have been on the later 777 flight but it was cancelled 40 minutes before we left the house and we rebooked). We flew back on CIVR with one other passenger in F after BAH persuaded us to leave a day early in case the next day was cancelled in the muddle over US entry. We scored 1A and 1F in both directions. We didn't know at the time that it would be the end of the line and I am glad we managed it. I shall particularly miss the UD!

bmibaby737

CIVH was due to go in October I believe - so at this rate she won’t be far away off her target.

Trent900

IVH outside the hangar today with a really tatty looking tail. Also another 74 in the run pen but couldn't see the reg.

Oxon Flyer

Isn't the correct term "avgeek" nowadays ?

Anyway, my Covid-friendly suggestion for a fitting sendoff : the 3 heritage liveried 747s, plus one in regular livery, in formation for a low-level circuit around and over London, taking in LHR and LGW, then off westwards into the Cotswold / Victorville sunset ...

tjcxx

I might know something about that. On Nov 26 last year I boarded CIVH en-route to JFK. After 2 hours we were sent back into the terminal, told that we'd get a new aircraft because CIVH required an inspection for a lightning strike on the tail sustained inbound that morning. The tail certainly looked less than pristine. Eventually CIVS turned up and we were on our way, 6 hours late. And, a couple of weeks later, 600 euros made its way into my bank account.

KARFA

just passed by and there has definitely been some movement, that was all 747s about two weeks ago

gliderpilot

that indeed would be a sight to behold. I not confident it will happen though. Maybe we will see just the one.

notakeenflyer

I thought CIVH might be on the move as showing on FR24 and the track was changing. I think it was switching between 131 and 311 which I suspect is an anomaly based on it not moving (+180°)

johnaalex

A sad picture, CIVN at Cotswold Airport.