BOAC B744 to be scrapped

JackPott · Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:14 pm

G-BYGC is being parted out at St Athan. Such a shame!

mooseofspruce · Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:44 pm

I got to spot it for roughly three separate occasions pre-covid; once taking off from SFO in April 2019 as a BA A380 arrived, again a month later when it took off as the last remaining VX-liveried Airbus at the time (an A321neo) landed from GSO, and lastly in August 2019 when I was traveling through JFK without a proper camera (though it was mostly hiding behind the terminal save for the tail anyway).

It was the only of the retro 744s I ever saw in-person, presumably because the others (or at least one of them) had the seat classes proportioned differently and were never used for SFO.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/67796797@N02/47942786926/ (my photo)

Happy to have had the opportunity!

flipdewaf · Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:50 pm

Such a shame, saw it a few times out of LHR and was due to fly JFK-LHR in n her but a bloody thunderstorm at YYZ made me miss my connection.

Are any of the BA retro jets going to be preserved?

Fred

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Velocirapture · Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:53 pm

JackPott wrote:
G-BYGC is being parted out at St Athan. Such a shame!

Just my humble opinion, of course, but this was the single best retro scheme on an airliner, ever. God save the Queen!

RvA · Wed Jun 07, 2023 7:56 pm

mooseofspruce wrote:
I got to spot it for roughly three separate occasions pre-covid; once taking off from SFO in April 2019 as a BA A380 arrived, again a month later when it took off as last remaining VX Airbus at the time (an A321neo) landed from GSO, and finally in August 2019 when I was traveling through JFK without a proper camera though it was mostly hiding behind the terminal save for the tail anyway.

It was the only of the retro 744s I ever saw, presumably because the others (or at least one of them) had the seat classes proportioned differently and were never used for SFO.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/67796797@N02/47942786926/ (my photo)

Happy to have had the opportunity!

Great picture man

NYCAAer · Wed Jun 07, 2023 8:43 pm

Sad to hear, but unfortunately every aircraft can’t be preserved. I saw the retro BOAC 744 a couple times, once while parked at Terminal 7 at JFK and once as it was on final approach into LHR. Seeing it in the air was amazing and it took me back to my childhood when flying was still a pleasurable experience, and BOAC had stewards in white jackets, and the upper deck lounge. I could never figure out how they kept those jackets so clean looking, wearing them during a meal service!

Aesma · Wed Jun 07, 2023 9:52 pm

The scheme is important not the aircraft. It would be nice if a newer frame would get it.

MrHMSH · Wed Jun 07, 2023 10:04 pm

mooseofspruce wrote:
I got to spot it for roughly three separate occasions pre-covid; once taking off from SFO in April 2019 as a BA A380 arrived, again a month later when it took off as the last remaining VX-liveried Airbus at the time (an A321neo) landed from GSO, and lastly in August 2019 when I was traveling through JFK without a proper camera (though it was mostly hiding behind the terminal save for the tail anyway).

It was the only of the retro 744s I ever saw in-person, presumably because the others (or at least one of them) had the seat classes proportioned differently and were never used for SFO.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/67796797@N02/47942786926/ (my photo)

Happy to have had the opportunity!

Nice photo, I think the BOAC 744 was the best of the trio. Shame that she will not survive like her sisters.

Seems you were somewhat unlucky to miss G-BNLY (Landor), she made one visit to SFO, and the lighting for her visit was spectacular.

PB26 · Wed Jun 07, 2023 11:11 pm

I love the Union Jack livery, but Landor and BOAC are the best and how fit well in the 747.

If a manager in BA, I'll keep at least one frame with BOAC and Landor liveries.

Newark727 · Wed Jun 07, 2023 11:27 pm

Unfortunate, the BOAC colors looked great, but it's very difficult to preserve a complete 747 over the long term. I also flew on G-BYGC once, though before it got the livery.

jfk777 · Thu Jun 08, 2023 1:34 am

What has happened to the British Airways 744 fleet is sad, not one of those planes has been preserved in a country where every VC-10 has been preserved. All the Concordes has been preserved. The 747 played a very long & significant role at BA & BOAC, the UK deserves better.

I hope 10 years from now a BA A380 is preserved because they are all getting parted out, where are the Malaysia planes ? Parted out

jomur · Thu Jun 08, 2023 1:57 am

jfk777 wrote:
What has happened to the British Airways 744 fleet is sad, not one of those planes has been preserved in a country where every VC-10 has been preserved. All the Concordes has been preserved. The 747 played a very long & significant role at BA & BOAC, the UK deserves better.

I hope 10 years from now a BA A380 is preserved because they are all getting parted out, where are the Malaysia planes ? Parted out

The VC-10 and Concorde were British, half British for Concorde, designs. The 747 is American so they can preserve one if they want. There are other British designs which should be preserved more than a 747.

TWA772LR · Thu Jun 08, 2023 2:00 am

Aesma wrote:
The scheme is important not the aircraft. It would be nice if a newer frame would get it.

I think the retro liveries would look great on a 77W, A35J or even the A380. It would be cool if BA saved the tails and made some display at their HQ or training center or some grand entrance set up to T5 like how the Hungarians did with a Malev tail.

bennett123 · Thu Jun 08, 2023 6:08 am

jfk777 wrote:
What has happened to the British Airways 744 fleet is sad, not one of those planes has been preserved in a country where every VC-10 has been preserved. All the Concordes has been preserved. The 747 played a very long & significant role at BA & BOAC, the UK deserves better.

I hope 10 years from now a BA A380 is preserved because they are all getting parted out, where are the Malaysia planes ? Parted out

Not sure why you say that every VC-10 has been preserved, or do you mean that every preserved VC-10 is in the UK.

TC957 · Thu Jun 08, 2023 6:24 am

jfk777 wrote:
What has happened to the British Airways 744 fleet is sad, not one of those planes has been preserved in a country where every VC-10 has been preserved. All the Concordes has been preserved. The 747 played a very long & significant role at BA & BOAC, the UK deserves better.

I hope 10 years from now a BA A380 is preserved because they are all getting parted out, where are the Malaysia planes ? Parted out

There is the two at Dunsfold still intact.

Max Q · Thu Jun 08, 2023 6:51 am

Always thought it surprising that BA, with the biggest 747 fleet in Europe retired them all so quickly and Lufthansa still operates a substantial number

A very different reaction to Covid

ClassicLover · Thu Jun 08, 2023 6:56 am

bennett123 wrote:
jfk777 wrote:
What has happened to the British Airways 744 fleet is sad, not one of those planes has been preserved in a country where every VC-10 has been preserved. All the Concordes has been preserved. The 747 played a very long & significant role at BA & BOAC, the UK deserves better.

I hope 10 years from now a BA A380 is preserved because they are all getting parted out, where are the Malaysia planes ? Parted out

Not sure why you say that every VC-10 has been preserved, or do you mean that every preserved VC-10 is in the UK.

I was going to say, not many VC10s have been preserved, there are 10 of the 54 and of those some are only partials.

I'm sure the United States can preserve their Boeing 747s if they want to. There are some in Australia anyway (a Qantas Boeing 747-238B in Longreach at the Qantas Founders Museum and a Boeing 747-400 in Albion Park about an hour south of Sydney at HARS). So there'll be some around forever, even if they're not BA ones.

JackPott · Thu Jun 08, 2023 7:37 am

I know eCube are short of aircraft and need to make money but this still seems a shame.

Kent350787 · Thu Jun 08, 2023 8:45 am

ClassicLover wrote:
bennett123 wrote:
jfk777 wrote:
What has happened to the British Airways 744 fleet is sad, not one of those planes has been preserved in a country where every VC-10 has been preserved. All the Concordes has been preserved. The 747 played a very long & significant role at BA & BOAC, the UK deserves better.

I hope 10 years from now a BA A380 is preserved because they are all getting parted out, where are the Malaysia planes ? Parted out

Not sure why you say that every VC-10 has been preserved, or do you mean that every preserved VC-10 is in the UK.

I was going to say, not many VC10s have been preserved, there are 10 of the 54 and of those some are only partials.

I'm sure the United States can preserve their Boeing 747s if they want to. There are some in Australia anyway (a Qantas Boeing 747-238B in Longreach at the Qantas Founders Museum and a Boeing 747-400 in Albion Park about an hour south of Sydney at HARS). So there'll be some around forever, even if they're not BA ones.

Apparently there are already 2x744 and a 742 on display at Dunsfold, just not in the BOAC livery. Plus Delta has one in Atlanta. There are a few 742 around the place

MEA-707 · Thu Jun 08, 2023 8:57 am

The Netherlands have 2 747s preserved (a Corendon hotel near the airport and Aviodrome near Lelystad), the Germans and French also one. In Arlanda Sweden there's a 747 hostel. I also presume the Landor (Dunsfold) and Negus (Kemble) will stay. In the USA #1 is preserved in Seattle, a tanker at the Evergreen museum in Oregon. Eventually I am sure the 2 Air Force Ones will remain. South Africa has an SP and a -200 in Rand Museum. Australia has one at Longreach.Thailand has like 5 747s now as cafés or props. And I am sure I forget a few. So while I pity the loss of the BOAC 747, I think there will be a reasonable amount of 747s preserved.

cedarjet · Thu Jun 08, 2023 9:05 am

Suzie & the gang at Kemble are doing a superb job with Negus. Open on Saturdays and can be hired for events. Well worth a visit.

Think NASA preserved a Shuttle transporter in Houston.

skipness1E · Thu Jun 08, 2023 11:58 am

Kent350787 wrote:
ClassicLover wrote:
bennett123 wrote:

Not sure why you say that every VC-10 has been preserved, or do you mean that every preserved VC-10 is in the UK.

I was going to say, not many VC10s have been preserved, there are 10 of the 54 and of those some are only partials.

I'm sure the United States can preserve their Boeing 747s if they want to. There are some in Australia anyway (a Qantas Boeing 747-238B in Longreach at the Qantas Founders Museum and a Boeing 747-400 in Albion Park about an hour south of Sydney at HARS). So there'll be some around forever, even if they're not BA ones.

Apparently there are already 2x744 and a 742 on display at Dunsfold, just not in the BOAC livery. Plus Delta has one in Atlanta. There are a few 742 around the place

They're not really on display, they're stored out in the open until the inevitable happens.

Bhoy · Thu Jun 08, 2023 12:24 pm

Max Q wrote:
Always thought it surprising that BA, with the biggest 747 fleet in Europe retired them all so quickly and Lufthansa still operates a substantial number

A very different reaction to Covid

Had LH not had brand new (relatively) 748s rather than BA's 20-30 year old 744 fleet, with their higher fuel burn and Maintenance costs, I suspect they'd have gotten rid of them sooner, too.

CRJ200flyer · Thu Jun 08, 2023 12:54 pm

Bhoy wrote:
Max Q wrote:
Always thought it surprising that BA, with the biggest 747 fleet in Europe retired them all so quickly and Lufthansa still operates a substantial number

A very different reaction to Covid

Had LH not had brand new (relatively) 748s rather than BA's 20-30 year old 744 fleet, with their higher fuel burn and Maintenance costs, I suspect they'd have gotten rid of them sooner, too.

Lufthansa still has 747-400s too.

BobRoss · Thu Jun 08, 2023 1:16 pm

MEA-707 wrote:
In the USA #1 is preserved in Seattle, a tanker at the Evergreen museum in Oregon. Eventually I am sure the 2 Air Force Ones will remain. South Africa has an SP and a -200 in Rand Museum. Australia has one at Longreach.Thailand has like 5 747s now as cafés or props. And I am sure I forget a few. So while I pity the loss of the BOAC 747, I think there will be a reasonable amount of 747s preserved.

The two VC-25A will certainly end up in museums, probably one at IAD in the Smithsonian and another at Wright-Patterson, unless a Presidential library gets one.
There are actually 2 747s in McMinnville, Oregon. One is on static display without engines and the other is a water park.
Qantas also has VH-OJA in Wollongong, with the 5th engine pod attached!
Someone also mentioned a NASA 747, and indeed they did move one SCA to Houston and there is an orbiter (Independence) attached to it.

gdg9 · Thu Jun 08, 2023 1:27 pm

The two VC-25A will certainly end up in museums, probably one at IAD in the Smithsonian and another at Wright-Patterson, unless a Presidential library gets one.

Some day, but I'd suspect the two VC-25A will stay in the Air Force fleet as VIP transport for a few years before going to museums. That has happened before at least with the 707s if I'm not mistaken.

mga707 · Thu Jun 08, 2023 1:39 pm

Kent350787 wrote:
ClassicLover wrote:
bennett123 wrote:

Not sure why you say that every VC-10 has been preserved, or do you mean that every preserved VC-10 is in the UK.

I was going to say, not many VC10s have been preserved, there are 10 of the 54 and of those some are only partials.

I'm sure the United States can preserve their Boeing 747s if they want to. There are some in Australia anyway (a Qantas Boeing 747-238B in Longreach at the Qantas Founders Museum and a Boeing 747-400 in Albion Park about an hour south of Sydney at HARS). So there'll be some around forever, even if they're not BA ones.

Apparently there are already 2x744 and a 742 on display at Dunsfold, just not in the BOAC livery. Plus Delta has one in Atlanta. There are a few 742 around the place

Two at Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson--a -100 (ex-GE engine testbed) and their recently-acquired SP (ex-NASA/SOFIA, UA and PA). And don't forget the one turned into a water slide at Evergreen's museum in McMinnville OR.

Fiend · Thu Jun 08, 2023 2:27 pm

JackPott wrote:
G-BYGC is being parted out at St Athan. Such a shame!

Is there a link for where you got this information from?

eagleheart87 · Thu Jun 08, 2023 3:00 pm

on twitter
https://twitter.com/Fly_BOAC/status/166 ... et%3DTweet

Bhoy · Thu Jun 08, 2023 5:05 pm

CRJ200flyer wrote:
Bhoy wrote:
Max Q wrote:
Always thought it surprising that BA, with the biggest 747 fleet in Europe retired them all so quickly and Lufthansa still operates a substantial number

A very different reaction to Covid

Had LH not had brand new (relatively) 748s rather than BA's 20-30 year old 744 fleet, with their higher fuel burn and Maintenance costs, I suspect they'd have gotten rid of them sooner, too.

Lufthansa still has 747-400s too.

Yeah, but I’d imagine having the 748s too help with justifying keeping the crew and MX current on the 747 platform, as well as partially at least having the spares inventory (assuming there are some P/Ns usable on both models).

BA, on the other hand, parked the whole lot in one fell swoop when lockdown happened, allowing licences to lapse etc. making reactivating an ageing fleet a lot more of a financial decision when they were looking to restart operations.

Newark727 · Thu Jun 08, 2023 5:12 pm

BobRoss wrote:
Someone also mentioned a NASA 747, and indeed they did move one SCA to Houston and there is an orbiter (Independence) attached to it.

The other SCA is also currently on display at the airpark in Palmdale (though not with an orbiter attached.)

SEA · Thu Jun 08, 2023 5:32 pm

Bhoy wrote:
CRJ200flyer wrote:
Bhoy wrote:
Had LH not had brand new (relatively) 748s rather than BA's 20-30 year old 744 fleet, with their higher fuel burn and Maintenance costs, I suspect they'd have gotten rid of them sooner, too.

Lufthansa still has 747-400s too.

Yeah, but I’d imagine having the 748s too help with justifying keeping the crew and MX current on the 747 platform, as well as partially at least having the spares inventory (assuming there are some P/Ns usable on both models).

BA, on the other hand, parked the whole lot in one fell swoop when lockdown happened, allowing licences to lapse etc. making reactivating an ageing fleet a lot more of a financial decision when they were looking to restart operations.

While you're not exactly wrong, the A350-1000s coming online certainly played a factor too, in addition during early COVID times they were still taking delivery of 77Ws.

KPTKRampy · Thu Jun 08, 2023 9:13 pm

JackPott wrote:
G-BYGC is being parted out at St Athan. Such a shame!

Strange, it’s shown as preserved on planespotters.

FLALEFTY · Fri Jun 09, 2023 1:02 am

Someone up thread mentioned Delta's preserved B744 at their ATL museum. That aircraft (N661US) had a good career covering 26 years of active airline service, the first 19 with Northwest, then (by merger) another 7 years with Delta when retired in September 2015. This was also the original B744 Boeing prototype back in 1988 (test reg. N401PW).

Kent350787 · Fri Jun 09, 2023 5:24 am

mga707 wrote:
Kent350787 wrote:
ClassicLover wrote:

I was going to say, not many VC10s have been preserved, there are 10 of the 54 and of those some are only partials.

I'm sure the United States can preserve their Boeing 747s if they want to. There are some in Australia anyway (a Qantas Boeing 747-238B in Longreach at the Qantas Founders Museum and a Boeing 747-400 in Albion Park about an hour south of Sydney at HARS). So there'll be some around forever, even if they're not BA ones.

Apparently there are already 2x744 and a 742 on display at Dunsfold, just not in the BOAC livery. Plus Delta has one in Atlanta. There are a few 742 around the place

Two at Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson--a -100 (ex-GE engine testbed) and their recently-acquired SP (ex-NASA/SOFIA, UA and PA). And don't forget the one turned into a water slide at Evergreen's museum in McMinnville OR.

Fair enough to the PP regarding Dunsfold. I also forgot the 742 at Teknik Museum Speyer, which is most definitely on display. The former VH-OAJ at WOL (owned by HARS) is out in the open, but miost definitely on display, as well as avialable for filming.

I agree with others that the BOAC livery is much more important that any aircraft iots on - and a VC-10 is prob more appropriate than a 744.

metalinyoni · Fri Jun 09, 2023 3:00 pm

Just as an aside, are any of the remaining BA 744s been maintained in an airworthy state? I assume BA is not in a position to bring any back as LH has done.

hongkongflyer · Fri Jun 09, 2023 5:15 pm

Being a retro jet is not a strong point for preservation as virtually any plane in the airline can get the same paint. Being the significance of the type eg. First/ last etc. is a strong reason instead.

kanban · Fri Jun 09, 2023 7:39 pm

the economics of preserving "significant" examples of either planes or paint schemes is poor. not everyone shares the same criteria and only 50% actually visit enshrined commercial planes (the 50% is my generous guess from watching the crowds at Seattle's Museum of Flight). yes there are those passionate about certain planes in their company's fleet, or paint schemes, but come on are you willing to pony up the money to preserve them? And I frankly don't care, at some point most will be scrapped anyway. If it's a color scheme you're preserving, continue the Retro scheme idea, buy a model, or paint your living space or car. Actually I might just do that - put a 1920's Boeing 40B United Aircraft paint scheme on my pearlescent road dirt beige Jeep :duck:

SXDFC · Sat Jun 10, 2023 12:43 am

FLALEFTY wrote:
Someone up thread mentioned Delta's preserved B744 at their ATL museum. That aircraft (N661US) had a good career covering 26 years of active airline service, the first 19 with Northwest, then (by merger) another 7 years with Delta when retired in September 2015. This was also the original B744 Boeing prototype back in 1988 (test reg. N401PW).

I believe that particular 744 was the first 747-400 ever made.

Fiend · Sat Jun 10, 2023 2:56 am

kanban wrote:
the economics of preserving "significant" examples of either planes or paint schemes is poor. not everyone shares the same criteria and only 50% actually visit enshrined commercial planes (the 50% is my generous guess from watching the crowds at Seattle's Museum of Flight). yes there are those passionate about certain planes in their company's fleet, or paint schemes, but come on are you willing to pony up the money to preserve them? And I frankly don't care, at some point most will be scrapped anyway. If it's a color scheme you're preserving, continue the Retro scheme idea, buy a model, or paint your living space or car. Actually I might just do that - put a 1920's Boeing 40B United Aircraft paint scheme on my pearlescent road dirt beige Jeep

Preservation is driven by peoples passion for saving something, but passion is not enough. Taking care of something preserved requires a lot of finance going forward. My main passion is UK Diesel locomotives and helped save 2 locos from the scrapyard in the 1980's. The preservation group is well run, raised the funds to restore the locos and is constantly raising funds to help maintain and run the locos.The group is now custodians of 3 running preserved locos of the same class, one of which has gained certification to return to use on the national rail network. Another loco of the same class, withdrawn in 1986 but saved from the scrapyard has seen slow progress in it's restoration, 37 years have passed and the loco is still being restored to running condition.

FGITD · Sat Jun 10, 2023 3:32 am

kanban wrote:
the economics of preserving "significant" examples of either planes or paint schemes is poor…..If it's a color scheme you're preserving, continue the Retro scheme idea, buy a model, or paint your living space or car. Actually I might just do that - put a 1920's Boeing 40B United Aircraft paint scheme on my pearlescent road dirt beige Jeep

It’s an opposing stance on this site but I fully agree. Especially in this case. G-BYGC is an unremarkable 744 that rolled off the line and was delivered in 1999, and had a completely non noteworthy career. (Which in aviation is exactly what you want!) Until due to some odd chance, most likely just simply fleet rotation, she needed to be repainted and it coincided with BA’s celebration, so she got to be a BOAC aircraft for a little while. And that’s it, end of story.

I get the sentiment, I work in aviation, I’ve had a fondness for certain aircraft. I remember the first tail I ever worked, and I remember so many of my former employer’s fleet for various reasons. That one was always delayed, this one had the shoddy PDUs in the fwd bay, etc. But I was always happy to see them scrapped. They’re meant to safely carry passengers and work hard until it’s no longer possible, then be replaced. Making it to scrapping meant they did just that.

JannEejit · Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:37 am

The BA retro and heritage fleets don't seem to have much luck do they ? The Cosford collection largely broken up or chopped up, the 2010 Negus 757 only flew for a few months, similarly to the short pre-pandemic flying time of the 2019 retro fleet with the exception of the BEA themed A319, itself now stored pending disposal. At least the Negus 747 appears to have some long term visitor attraction appeal. If we were going to preserve a classic BOAC scheme 747 then perhaps a 741 should have been considered, but then again there's seldom been much room for sentiment within BA and I expect the announcement of the scrapping of the last remaining Concorde at LHR to be made sometime soon.

JannEejit · Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:41 am

JannEejit wrote:
The BA retro and heritage fleets don't seem to have much luck do they ? The Cosford collection largely broken up or chopped up, the 2010 Negus 757 only flew for a month or so, similarly to the short pre-pandemic flying service of the 2019 retro fleet with the exception of the BEA themed A319, itself now stored pending disposal. At least the Negus 747 appears to have some long term visitor attraction appeal. If we were going to preserve a classic BOAC scheme 747 then perhaps a 741 should have been considered, but then again there's seldom been much room for sentiment within BA and I expect the announcement of the scrapping of the last remaining Concorde at LHR to be made sometime soon.

JannEejit · Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:42 am

JannEejit wrote:
The BA retro and heritage fleets don't seem to have much luck do they ? The Cosford collection largely broken up or chopped up, the 2010 Negus 757 only flew for a month or so, similarly to the short pre-pandemic flying service of the 2019 retro fleet with the exception of the BEA themed A319, itself now stored pending disposal. At least the Negus 747 appears to have some long term visitor attraction appeal. If we were going to preserve a classic BOAC scheme 747 then perhaps a 741 should have been considered, but then again there's seldom been much room for sentiment within BA and I expect the announcement of the scrapping of the last remaining Concorde at LHR to be made sometime soon.

JannEejit · Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:43 am

Can the mods please delete the above edit gone wrong, thanks.

by738 · Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:57 am

Let it go, its not especially noteworthy. Scrap it! Noone went to see it thats why it wasn't economical as a heritage piece. Use it or lose it..

DartHerald · Sat Jun 10, 2023 11:31 am

by738 wrote:
Let it go, its not especially noteworthy. Scrap it! Noone went to see it thats why it wasn't economical as a heritage piece. Use it or lose it..

Agreed, it's just a coat of paint - get over it!

chunhimlai · Sat Jun 10, 2023 2:11 pm

Good news: They will keep this plane if you donate $100million to them.
Bad news: You dont have $100million.

JannEejit · Sat Jun 10, 2023 3:09 pm

Maybe BA could use it plug it's long haul fleet shortages ? :rotfl:

Samrnpage · Sat Jun 10, 2023 3:10 pm

chunhimlai wrote:
Good news: They will keep this plane if you donate $100million to them.
Bad news: You dont have $100million.

Surely you dont get 100mill for scrapping a 747-400

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