I can remember the first ex BA Tristar arriving at Farnborough to be assessed for its IR 'signature', staying for a couple of days for the boffins to look at it. Doing innumerable circuits with low 'go arounds' (overshoots!). Seems only a few years ago but must have been about 30.
I had one or two ATCO Fam flights in BA ones; most enjoyable as the jump seat I usually occupied (there was more than one) was on the left side next to a huge window giving a superb view. At the end of one trip to Larnaca, when we shut down at Heathrow, the chief steward entered the flight deck with a tray containing 4 glasses each consisting of a miniature of whisky which he had topped up with champagne!
Fond memories eah?