8th October 2020. Dark grey skies; a dismal wet and windy Heathrow perhaps a fitting ending marking the final 2 British Airways 747s to leave Heathrow Airport. What a contrast to the bright sunny day in July 1989 when the first 2 747400s were delivered brand new to BA; GBNLA and BNLC.
Here is a film then of both events the last 2 747s to leave; GCIVY as flight BA 747 (bound for St Athan Wales, almost certainly for scrap) and GCIVB as flight BA 400; heading for Kemble Cotswolds (hopefully) for preservation; PLUS a look back at the first 2 747s delivered to BA in 1989 (I remember it well!)
Today at Heathrow, the wind was gusting quite strongly and the rain did nothing to improve visibility resulting in both 747s disappearing into the overcast remarkably quickly.
GCIVY flew a circuit around the Airport and came back for a missed approach (flypast), which was quite a poignant sight.
The Air Traffic Control Comms are all captured including the farewell signoff by the crew on board GCIVY; the last BA 747 to fly from or over Heathrow.
So enjoy the end and look back with nostalgia at the "3 minute" film within the film; showing the shiny new 747400s arriving at Heathrow, landing simultaneously.
As Lord King, Chairman of British Airways at the time the new aircraft were delivered says about the 747400 in the film I've included:
"It's as good as you can get; I suppose one day they'll make something better but that's it at the moment".....how true are those words....