Goodbye BA Jumbos
Inevitable but still a sad day. I wonder when the A380 will be retired? I suspect it won't make 50 years.
https://www.flightglobal.com/fleets/...139341.article |
Yep. While the A380 has even more issues with economic operation, the 744 is also doomed. And: Most airlines don't need its size currently. Once they do, like in 2 years, 4pod aircraft are even more in disadvantage. So the desicion to get rid of them right now.
Some might be converted to freighters. The A380 won't. Note that 748 is currently less doubted. But BA doesn't have one. |
I doubt they will make freighter conversion - wrong engines.
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Sad to see the jumbos go, they looked good in BA colours and especially some of the retro ones they had. I personally don't think their 380s will fly again even though there's mutterings that they will. Back to the main point, sad to see them go I was just thinking many pilots completed their last flights on them and didn't even realise at the time, very emotional time for all this crisis.
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Didn't a BA A380 return to LHR yesterday (or Wed?) from storage in France/Spain somewhere?
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It's being prepared to go for heavy maintenance in Manila, replacing the one that went there a couple of months ago.
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748 - Ahhhhhhhh - Avro
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Yes, fifty years. I remember the first one to land at Heathrow back in 1970. Pan-Am. A long time ago.
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I remember in 1971 or 1972 landing a Vulcan in Nairobi. We parked up and were doing what we had to do to put the thing to bed when this enormous thing parked next to us. A 747. Never seen anything dwarf a Vulcan like it did. The we realised that they were on a proving flight and only crew on board. Some gorgeous girls got off, obviously struggling with the Captain's luggage because he got off with a small folder under his arm and disappeared off to the hotel. Envy doesn't even get close.
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Very sad indeed
I have flown well over a million miles as a BA passenger, quite a lot of those in 64A or K on 747s. My favourite seats in my favourite aircraft. Had another 747 holiday trip planned but it was scuppered by COVID.
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I wonder if it is a plot by BA management to offload all the 747 personnel at minimum cost.
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Originally Posted by frieghtdog2000
(Post 10839577)
I doubt they will make freighter conversion - wrong engines.
Rather, I think the BA 747s are unlikely to become freighters simply because they are already very high time - most already over 100,000 hours. Heck, IIRC, that BA 747-400 that knocked down a building in Joberg was around 108,000 hours - and that was several years ago. |
I remember the first 3 parked up in BOAC maintenance. I was working in a hut in Elgin Crescent at the time, just the other side of the blast screen. They were parked up 'cos BOAC crews refused to fly them until they were paid more money. I went past Elgin Crescent on a bus just before the restrictions this year - the hut is still there. I think those buildings will outlast the whole airport; they're just in a sweet spot that no-one wants to develop. The only difference I can see is that there are now barriers to get in to Elgin and Epsom Square, you could just drive in formerly. You could even just drive on to the airfield at the Eastchurch Road crossing.
BTW, all the roads round Heath Row had names starting with the letter pertaining to their compass orientation, quite clever really so you had an idea where abouts to go. The exception was Beacon Road, on the South Side... TOO |
Im guessing around 250 pilots were still operating the type. As all are very senior, will they be shifted to other fleets as needed , or simply bump off less senior folks through their choosing? ( yes unlikely in the modern BA)
Will the oldies take redundancy if offered? I liked the 747, but its a polluting nightmare of anarchism. Those living in hounslow will breath a little deeper now . Good bye , but your time was up . |
I wondered the same about pilots doing a routine flight not knowing it was their last on the -400.
Fabulous aircraft from a bygone era which I was lucky enough to be part of. Over 20,000 hours on Jumbos - mostly in the LHS. I think I enjoyed every single flight in some way or other. Goodbye and thank you to the Queen of the Skies. Sob sob………………. |
Originally Posted by tdracer
(Post 10839917)
It won't be the engines - Cargolux has a large fleet of RB211 powered 747-400F. In fact, about 15 years ago Cargolux wanted to buy another six 747-400Fs with Rolls engines, but Rolls had shut down the RB211 line and wasn't interested in starting it up for another 24 engines (Cargolux instead got PW4000s).
Rather, I think the BA 747s are unlikely to become freighters simply because they are already very high time - most already over 100,000 hours. Heck, IIRC, that BA 747-400 that knocked down a building in Joberg was around 108,000 hours - and that was several years ago. At the time CX had already purchased a half dozen -400 and -400BCF from SQ powered by PW4056 engines. Do you happen to know if RR ever considered a higher thrust rating than their existing high thrust ~60k Lbs “H” rating RB211-525H-T-19 to power the -400ERF? The CF6-80C2B5F and PW4062A (only -400ER/F engines delivered) produce ~62k Lbs static thrust. On the -400 only Cargolux operates the RB211 at the higher “H” rating. BA did for a number of years and SA did as well due to the elevation at their home base. |
So the 747 was the fastest passenger airliner, after Concorde. It was also the biggest before the A380. The former is long gone, the latter probably not long left. The 747 flew in February 69. So where is the progress?
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As all are very senior, will they be shifted to other fleets as needed |
Originally Posted by rolling20
(Post 10840043)
So the 747 was the fastest passenger airliner, after Concorde. It was also the biggest before the A380. The former is long gone, the latter probably not long left. The 747 flew in February 69. So where is the progress?
the Convair CV-990 Coronado was faster. |
The Tu-154 doesn’t hang about either.
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