BA Retrojet - Its Happened
 

I was on nights last night at LHR and B757 G-CPET was in the paint bay being sprayed up in the original BA livery (The red tail one with just 'British' on the side.)
Apparently it is going to fly like this until it is WFU sometime in November. I could not get any photos as they are a bit tetchy about that. It looks really good, I was told it is being unveiled by Willie sometime today .
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Yes there is a thread on "another" site that's been running on this. G-CPET allegedly doing the old Shuttle routes in this scheme on Sat 30-Oct. I am soooo gonna book. Aside from the engines being wrong it's gonna look awesome.

Shame they didn't do this in the Spring but it would be churlish not to say that some good PR and marketing profile won't justify the cost of the paint. I guess it's not a full body respray but a touch up as the colours just about match the Union Flag scheme anyway.

Myrtle Avenue beckons !

Will this be the airframe doing the 757 "Farewell flight" LHR-MAN-LHR with the "low panoramic overfly" of MAN, ATC and wx permitting, and champagne on board etc?

G-CPET rolls out
 

User Photo

The only differences are it doesn't have a ".... Castle" name, it has RB211-535E4s rather than '535Cs and there's an extra aerial on the rear fuselage.

Let's party like it's 1983!

As a 'spotter'; it'll be nice to see a "Speedbird" back on a Speedbird!

:ok:

JAS

Personally, I'd rather see the old BEA cols from the sixties.

Looks just as naf as it did the first time. Wasn't the first of the last batch of 732s in this scheme but silver/grey were the white is?

Maybe we can have the good old SuperShuttle cabin service on it on the Glasgow/Edinburgh run as well, proper 3-course steak dinner plus a bar service for all pax, served and cleared in about 45 minutes.

Looks Good, must go down there and see it.:ok:

I've always liked the BA Landor livery, wished they did a retro of that.

Yup, definite improvement.

Photos: Boeing 737-236/Adv Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Thanks Paper Tiger.

There's more photos of Stokesay Castle on Av Week: Pictures: BA 757 retrojet breaks cover

Well done BA! :ok:

Skipness, it does have a castle name on it now drove past it last night couldn't read what it is .For info it is doing a LHR-MAD-LHR returning as BA457 ETA 1400L might try and get down to Myrtle Ave if they are landing on 27L.
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It's called Stokesay Castle - after the castle in Ludlow.

What a huge disappointment

1) it's not a retro livery at all but a modern one

2) it's their worst scheme by far (British what? for #### sake!)

3) given the above, it might be a blessing, but why do this for a few months when other airlines do this as a permanent way of reminding passengers of their heritage?

I know it's a very subjective thing but to me it's a huge wasted opportunity.

Agree; this however would be worth seeing.

The BOAC livery was done on one of their old 747-100 just before it was retired to be scrapped in 1998:

Photos: Boeing 747-136 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

KLM made a far better job with their retro scheme on the 737. I doubt that the average passenger will even notice - what a waste of money!

Wow this makes me feel old, I remember seeing the first BA ones in the 1980s - great looking aircraft.

For all the criticism levied at BA here:

1/ This is the first time in about 10 years that BA has shown any interest in, or recognition of, its heritage. That in itself should be applauded, particularly given the crimes committed at Cosford a few years ago and concerns about the dilapidating state of the Concorde at Heathrow.

2/ The scheme is that which the 757s first entered service, so is absolutely relevant to the type. Painting the aircraft in Negus (which I personally think is the best scheme they've ever had and that the current scheme is basically a rip-off of it anyway, but there you go) is historically accurate.

3/ Naming the aircraft - with a unique name - is also very apt. Well done to whoever thought to add that finishing touch.

I think that what they've done is great and looks great. I just hope to get the opportunity to see it before it goes. BA, and more specifically, the few individuals in BA who have no doubt had to push hard to make this happen, ought to be given credit for their efforts.