747 to Dunsfold

[Halcyon Days]

Air Atlanta are planning to deliver G-BDXJ 747-200 to Dunsfold sometime early next week subject to weather. It was due to go last Thursday but was cancelled due to poor weather.
Runway is only just over 6000 feet in length and aircraft will ideally need a dry runway to make the most of its braking and thrust reversing capabilities.
Sadly it is to be scrapped and turned into tin cans or whatever the metal is used for.
If anyone who lives locally can get photos of it landing and paste them I am sure it would be appreciated.
Does anyone know if this will be the largest a/c to have used Dunsfold? or have 747s been in before?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Post any updates - I can be there in an hour.

[Right Way Up]

Could it also be the worlds shortest 747 planned flight?

[Mark Lewis]

I believe it is going to be there for a few years before being scrapped, and used for TV work.

[PPRuNe Radar]

Could it also be the worlds shortest 747 planned flight?

The delivery of the SAA 747-200 from Johannesburg to Jo'Burg Rand would be hard to beat for this title. It's also got to be one of the shortest and narrowest runways to put a 747 down on as well. This airport has an elevation of 5568 feet and runway dimensions of 4898 feet long by 50 feet wide. The aircraft's outer-to-outer main gear width is 41.33 feet, so not too much room for error !!

Dunsfold ? .... would be a piece of cake to these guys

Short Final

Flare

Narrow Runway !!

Tight Fit !!

[BOAC]

Now that IS neat! Nice bit of flying.

[Right Way Up]

Pprune Radar,
Those are some mighty impressive pics!

[pulse1]

Mark,

When you say it is going to be used for TV work, has that got anything to do with Top Gear which is fimed at Dunsfold. I can imagine Jeremy Clarkson dreaming up something interesting to do with a defunct 747. p1

[opsjockey]

The air Atlanta machine is already there!! went earlier in the week!

[cirrus01]

Top Gear have now re-located to Enstone in Oxfordshire.

[Mark Lewis]

AFAIK Top Gear are still there, but apparently that isnt who are using it. There is lots of demand for cabin shots for movies, and the 747 will be used for doing those.

I dont believe there will be any antics similar to the Virgin 744 at PIK last year!

[Flyer 719]

When did it arrive at Dunsfold?

And just out of curiosity, how long was the flight compare the the one the Pprune Radar mentioned with the South African Airlines flight?

719

[wub]

G-BDXF is in Edinburgh today for the Heineken Rugby Cup final (from Orly)

[Dash-7 lover]

The SAA pics are impressive - must have been an ex bush pilot with a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand! What was the reason behind it?

[Goforfun]

Good to see the EAL jumbo's. I believe they can't keep with demand for them now they only have 2.......

G-BDXJ was a good ship in BA is she really retired to Dunsfold?

[PPRuNe Radar]

The Jo'burg 747 was on delivery to the South African Airways Museum Society.

Full information here:

SAA Museum Soc.

[TheOddOne]

As of the time of writing, G-BDXJ is still on stand 152, here at LGW...

Cheers,
The Odd One

[Halcyon Days]

As per my original posting the aircraft was waiting for good vis and good braking action. Dont know what Ops jockey saw or heard about. Also as per original posting. Does anybody know if a 747 has been to Dunsfold before?

[Dr Illitout]

From what I remember the "NIMBY's" used to moan about the odd Hawk flying around. What are they going to say about a 747 arriving!!!!.

Rgd Dr I

[blackbox]

The SAA pics where great!!!


cirrus01- The topgear deal to move to enstone, fell apart and as such is still being filmed at dunsfold, hence no change to the track in the new series which started on Sunday 22nd May...