Cally Queen of the Desert

[Plank Cap]

Found in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, looking a little forlorn due to the ravages of time and the desert............

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/ruplaw/2009_11260118.jpg


http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/ruplaw/2009_11260126.jpg


http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/ruplaw/2009_11260178.jpg

[Rainboe]

Nobody wanted the engines? No flight deck window covers, no pitot covers, no inlet covers. just closed up and left! What are the steps left there for?

[G-ARZG]

How old are those photos? There are other shots from Jan '09 with
all engines gone.

Was G-BBAF. Fond memories of proving flights LHR-MUC/Riem...

[avionic type]

This has ruined my holiday I remember when she was a brand new, bright and shiny bird in her British Airways colours working on her in the Central Area at L.H.R. many a happy hour spent desnagging her and I flew on her once . so to see her in that sorry state brings on a moist eye and a reach for a tissue, I know there is no sentiment in aviation but that is a sorry sight.:sad::sad::sad::sad:

[l.garey]

It is at the Emirates National Auto Museum south of Abu Dhabi on the road to Liwa. It is now TT-DWE

Laurence

[Plank Cap]

To answer G-ARZG the photos were taken 19th November 2009, just a month or so ago. She is indeed a sorry sight and if rumours are true from staff at the motor museum where she now resides, the plan is to turn her into some form of hotel. Perhaps at least that way G-BBAF will live on, having some kind of future denied to her sister ships who after being pensioned off by Cally / JMC ended up with GAMCO in Abu Dhabi.

For I.Garey, the aircraft is at the Emirates National Motor Museum which is about 30 minutes drive south of Abu Dhabi. The museum is run by the 'Rainbow Sheik' and has quite an interesting (if a little eccentric) collection of vehicles. See below his global mobile home, used allegedly for outings into the desert..........

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/ruplaw/2006_1216Image0031.jpg

[l.garey]

My apologies to Plank. I had asked where it was, then realised that I knew, so I pulled my post, but he/she must have seen it already. I have often been past the Rainbow Museum, but not since the Tristar arrived.

Laurence

[avionic type]

Perhaps the engines were time expired I know they ran for years so much so 1 airline in the states was reported to have been paid by Rolls to drop an engine so they could strip it down and give it a through check for wear and tear after goodness knows how many 100s of hours on the "wing" and poor old AF must have been round "the World " a few times even with the odd engine change. I would have loved to had known what its final flying hours were .:ooh::ooh: