Earlier this week I took the 300 mile round trip from home to St Athan Wales, to see for myself the final days of the iconic BOAC retro liveried BA 747, GBYGC and to say my final goodbye. The rain was coming down in sheets, but it seemed a fitting backdrop to the bleak sight that I saw when I arrived.

The aircraft was moved to the aircraft break up area last week, on 22nd August 2023 after having the wings removed. You'll see glimpses of other aircraft being dismantled including GMIDY, BA's 24 year old A320 which flew to St Athan on 28 June this year.

Since moving to the break up area, it appears that the undercarriage is about to be taken off judging by the chocks and supporting structures under the fuselage. Panels have been removed from the tailplane and some windows appear missing in the upper deck. In the film you can see ECube personnel removing fixtures from the interior of the aircraft, presumably for sale or upcycling.

This film charts the highlights and key moments of the short service life that BYGC had in the BOAC retro livery. I filmed the first passenger departure in the new livery, on 19 February 2019, as well as the final Heathrow departure on 20 June 2020; so have included both of these historic moments in this tribute film. I've also included some footage of when I revisited BYGC at St Athan in September 2021, when it was still intact; as well as a Heathrow departure in the days before COVID.

GBYGC flew from Cardiff Wales to St Athan on the 11th December 2020; fittingly as flight BAW 747, with the stated aim of preserving the aircraft. A press release from the British Airways Media department from 1st December 2020 states:
"Tuesday, 1 December 2020 – British Airways' Queens of the Skies will continue to inspire aviation enthusiasts across the UK for years to come, after permanent homes have been found for its remaining retroliveried Boeing 747 aircraft – the last to leave the British Airways fleet.

The aircraft, registrations GBNLY and GBYGC, are this month due to depart from British Airways’ engineering base in Cardiff, where they will be waved off by the British Airways engineers who for many years have proudly maintained the 747 fleet. The pair were among several aircraft painted in heritage liveries to mark the airline’s centenary last year.

Adorned in the iconic Landor livery, used between 1984 and 1997, GBNLY has been given a new lease of life as a permanent exhibit at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey. It will join its sister 747, GCIVW, which was retired in late October and features the current Chatham Dockyard livery.

GBYGC, painted in the BOAC ‘Gold Speedbird’ livery used between 1963 and 1974, will make the short journey from Cardiff Airport to the Bro Tathan business park in the Vale of Glamorgan. It will be maintained as a heritage piece by aviation specialists eCube Solutions to showcase the preeminent contribution British Airways’ 747 fleet made to UK aviation.

Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways, said: “While we will miss seeing them grace our skies, we are delighted to have found permanent homes for our remaining centenary 747 aircraft.

“We think they have great historical importance, not only to British Airways but to the entire aviation industry, and we are pleased they will be preserved for future generations in locations in the UK."


For once I am lost for words......