SCRAPPED. The last remaining BA 747 sent for UK breakup in 2020 is now gone. G-CIVN. December 2023.
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- čas přidán 14. 12. 2023
- G-CIVN holds the sad distinction of being one of the first of the British Airways 747 fleet to be taken out of service at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020 - and being the last 747 (of the huge number that were sent for scrapping across the UK during 2020) to remain intact- until this month (December 2023) when it was finally broken up at Kemble Cotswold.
The aircraft first flew for British Airways in September 1997 and was configured as 14 F / 52 J / 36 WTP / 235 Economy.
The aircraft flew to Kemble Cotswold on 16th April 2020, as flight BA 9154, in the height of the first COVID lockdown, where for more than 18 months it was stored on the taxiway alongside the A419, giving motorists a really close up view.
This short film charts the gradual decay of this aircraft following its' withdrawal; having been filmed by me on several occasions during these 3 final twilight years. I've also included a clip showing G-CIVN in action, departing Heathrow Runway 09R in the wake of storm Oscar in November 2018, with a strong gusting crosswind - very evident in the "crabbing" on takeoff.
I couldn't watch this entire video without one single tear in my eye.. The British Airways 747-400 was the official aircraft that got me into aviation - my offical favourite aircraft of all time and now it's gone forever. I personally believe BA made a huge mistake retiring all of the 747's from their fleet, they should've keeped at least 5-10 of them until 2024... Looks like I can trust Lufthansa more than British Airways with their iconic fleet of aircraft. As always a great video Steve, thanks for filming this!
Fax, worst mistake for ba as they lack widebody planes
@aviationcinematics2023 I think you’re absolutely right about the mistake BA made in retiring the entire fleet in one go. LH had the right idea. 10 remaining a/c would have seen them through even if they had had to mothball them during the pandemic. Agh!! 😢
So sad to see this have flown on BA 747s many times the last one was to DC just before Covid it was 20 years old but had been refurbished the return journey to LHR was non refurbished and was pretty tired but still sad to see
@@r12004rewy yes that’s what didn’t make sense - some had been refurbed and had a few years’ life remaining..😢
Definitely agree the refurbishment was done to a very high standard and looked very smart
This is very sad to see but thanks for sharing, Steve. Hope you're keeping well!
@mrsmchistory thanks a lot - yes very sad isn’t it? The grey weather reflected the scene as well I think…thanks for watching and commenting. All the best Steve
I'll be going to Heathrow later this month, and it will always feel strange not seeing these icons there to welcome me.
@jayd1426 Yes they were a key part of the Heathrow “scene” for so long weren’t they. Hope you enjoy your trip to / through Heathrow anyway!
Crazy 3-4 years ago, they were flying in the air with no worried on their future
@BoxinThisLapVR46 I know - you’re right. How things can change - sadly…
So very sad, this most once majestic beautiful 747 reduced to scrap.
@LeeAirVideos Yes it really is … definitely the end of an era now!
Just heartbreaking to see this queen that a I flew and had such a important part in my life being ripped apart. Thanks for posting
@SEMPLANOS77 It’s really sad isn’t it….they were such an icon of what we may come to think of as pre covid times…….
💔
@jarnotrulli849 😢😢
Sad😢😢😢
@kimjensen234 Hi Kim -yes it’s the “end of an era” now….😢
It's the best plane I ever flew on, period. Don't care about 'sustainability ' or cost to operate. I'd willingly pay more to fly on it.
@militarymarch3006 Yes they were truly iconic in every way weren’t they ….
So sad. 😢
@peacefulrider - yes very sad to see 😢
Well, this sucks. Newer aircraft of the fleet can’t fill the void…
@yenzelllopez-sjucoquispott2468 Too true! 😢
How many in the fleet were total, I though there were some in tact in Europe? So sad. You can see the seats inside too.
@aviationin4K258 There were 36 in 2018 but then a few were retired before covid anyway (G-CIVG; G-CIVM; G-BNLK; G-BNLN; G-BNLP). All that is left now in the U.K. are G-CIVB Negus at Kemble: G-CIVW at Dunsfold and G-BNLY at Dunsfold. At Teruel Spain there is still G-CIVA; CIVR; CIVS; CIVT and CIVX. But CIVN in the film was the last of the “batch” that were sent for scrap in the U.K. ….
@@HeathrowAircraftah ok, great video!
There is only one thing that everyone I have met and I can agree
we miss commercial 747 flights out of Heathrow
@British_airways_747 Yes it’s not the same now is it?
No it sure isn’t
Hi Steve, how are you? Good video. By the way, is the BOAC 747 fully scrapped?
@rossmason8812 Hi Ross how are you? Good to hear from you. Yes sadly G-BYGC is no more. I caught the twilight few weeks of it back in the autumn before it was completely dismantled. There may still be keyrings made from the skin panels for sale on this website www.aerotiques.co.uk/shop
All the best Steve
Farewell 747, atleast the cockpit was spared!
I always hate it when the cockpit gets torn apart
@IndonesiaMajapahitNDPCA yes I agree! Someone has bought it that’s for sure!
yeah, when I saw a video of a BA 747 getting scrapped at St Athan with its cockpit torn into shreds, my brain cried@@HeathrowAircraft
@@IndonesiaMajapahitNDPCAThat’s me! 😂✈️
haha 😂😂@@FarnboroughAviation-nb2or
@IndonesiaMajapahitNDPCA Sorry - replied on my other channel. But yes that was also me! 🤣
so sad to watch,i first flew on a 747-200 with Wardair from Stansted to Toronto in 1982 & i was hooked & ive still got the plastic model of the 747 my father brought me on the plane, its been so sad seeing these BA Queens of the sky being broken up,luckily watching recent footage of Ted Stevens Airport Alaska which is 747 heaven the Jumbo is still well & truly alive & reaching for the sky,there is still recent video footage on youtube of 3 ex BA 747's in storage at Victorville aircraft storage facility California with there engines & some panels removed,certainly an amazing place
@stevecurd3944 Yes Victorville would be an awesome place to visit...as would Alaska!! thanks for watching Steve.
There are two BA -400 at Dunsfold airfield, plus a -200.
@David-Ibte Hi David yes I’ve filmed these on the channel - but G-CIVN was the last of the 747s that were sent for scrap in 2020. End of an era!
What a sad loss for the queen of the skies
@madhatter8253 yes it really is, you're right...
If G-CIVN could only talk.
The tales it could tell us.
What a shame ?
BA why ?
Lufthansa is still flying 747-400 .
At least they could have been refitted to become cargo planes.
@ahbenjamin2889 I know - you’re right. I’ve said it before but LH definitely had the right strategy in place to mothball not retire their 747 fleet during the pandemic…
So sad to see this have flown on a number of BA 747s the last one to DC just before Covid it had refurbished and was 20 years old, on return to LHR a non refurbished 23 year which was looking very tired but still sad to see. Lufthansa still operating a few but unfortunately none flying into Heathrow so still an opportunity to fly from Germany to the US
Disappointed. She deserves more . Clearly, British Airways has no respect ! Destroying the Queen of the Sky! Unbelievable!
@istvanmecsefalvy253 Yes agreed!
Gut wrenching stuff 🥺😢🧱👍🏽
@SteveAndAlexBuild Definitely the end of an era now 😢✈️