In retrospect .... enlarged the original photo, Capt. doesn't look like Phil Brentnall. 2nd from the right looks familiar tho' ?

Do you reckon Hugh bought that Cobra on a BOAC SFO salary?

First delivery 22 April 1970. They then sat unused for a whole year in an industrial dispute with the pilots over rates of pay on it. Only 747 introductory carrier where this happened.

That was in the days when this sort of thing happened. Remember a near-12 hour delay on Wardair at Gatwick, we were coached for a tour of Beachy Head etc, ending up for dinner at a hotel in Brighton before getting back.

Last time I had a big issue with BA at Heathrow I got a £5 refreshment voucher ... which the Pret-a-Manger near the gates then refused as "we don't take those".

My first ever flight was on a BOAC 747 G- AWNJ ?? , LHR JFK BA175 , which still exists to this day Dep LHR 1100 Arr JFK 1335 . Staff travel trip (via my dad) Thanksgiving Day with Thanksgiving dinner for lunch and 'Afternoon Tea ' Y was pretty good back then

Ah those were the days, when airlines were structured for the benefit of the Captain.
About three hours out of Heathrow we were herded out of the upstairs bar which we were told was closed for an hour.
It was so odd that curiosity overcame me and I headed back up the stairs to find the captain having a significant lunch in splendid isolation, being attended to by a handmaiden and the barman.
I was traveling first class.
I understand that in those days the needs of the flight crew had the highest priority, engineering was a consideration and ops had a thing or two to say.

And passengers? well, they were just a damn nuisance.

...Murg ..... IIRC - but I wasn't there - Didn't the early 747s also have a LORAN set ?

Mounted somewhere outboard of the F/O's seat ...... Just in Case .......

Where would he lay the LORAN chart if he needed to plot a position ?

It was the size of a small bed sheet. You needed the A Bird's help to fold it.

LFH

....

I met him at Airbus training in TLS many years after the normal retirement age so perhaps he was still paying for it.