BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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Pen Pusher
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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by Pen Pusher »

Duxford turned down a Nimrod and a Hercules because they had no where to park them so all this talk of a 747 going to Duxford and its runway lengths is meaningless.
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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by andygolfer »

Pen Pusher wrote:
Tue 27 Oct 2020, 10:45 am
Duxford turned down a Nimrod and a Hercules because they had no where to park them so all this talk of a 747 going to Duxford and its runway lengths is meaningless.
noted Brian and agree that there is limited space available BUT assuming the runway could take it, would the attraction of a 747 to Joe public who would recognise it almost instantly as opposed to a Nimrod or Hercules which is dare I say a more niche exhibit, would duxford be tempted if it were possible if only to attract more 'joe public' types through the door?
The aprons have been kept relatively clear of exhibits up to now but with the suggestions here and elsewhere when FL was confirmed as finished at Duxford that airshows may have a limited time left here then that could possibly free up space for a permanent exhibit of this type especially (dare I say) they trimmed off the outer wings - not ideal from an enthusiasts point of view but a possible way to reduce the footprint.
The fact that one can on average see half a dozen 747s a week abut 20 miles down the road at Stansted is probably unknown to many otherwise there would be no point whatsoever.

Personally I doubt it would happen but just suggesting a scenario where Duxford might consider it - if it increases numbers through the turnstiles then they might just think it worthwhile
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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by DOUGHNUT »

Agree with you Brian Duxford is not place for a BA 747. But with the Muppets who currently run the place anything is possible. They will most likely see the "marketing possibilities" and think it's a great idea. Maybe they could park it on the roof of the new hotel 😋

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by GeeRam »

DOUGHNUT wrote:
Tue 27 Oct 2020, 12:59 pm
Agree with you Brian Duxford is not place for a BA 747. But with the Muppets who currently run the place anything is possible.
This is why I'm not totally discounting the possibility of one turning up there. especially when you see what the proposals already stated are for the Negus scheme 747 that went to Kemble the other week.
(although I still think it less likely than more likely)

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by GertrudetheMerciless »

I think the bigger issue wouldn’t necessarily be runway length, but taxiway width and documented overall pavement strength. And the lack of anywhere to part it.

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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I don't know why, but might one go back to Boeing in Seattle?

That's a stupid suggestion, isn't it?! :hide:
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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by alisdairanderson »

DOUGHNUT wrote:
Tue 27 Oct 2020, 12:59 pm
Maybe they could park it on the roof of the new hotel 😋
:-) There is a Lufthansa 747-200 in Speyer, Germany, which is mounted on an angle 'on stilts' - it can be seen from a fair distance, and is an innovative way of displaying such a large aircraft - they have a caged section so you can walk out onto the wing, and then a tube-slide back to the ground......

Image
Boeing 747-200 D-ABYM Lufthansa 20120920 Speyer by steam60163, on Flickr
Image
Boeing 747-200 D-ABYM Lufthansa 20120920 Speyer by steam60163, on Flickr
Image
Boeing 747-200 D-ABYM Lufthansa 20120920 Speyer by steam60163, on Flickr
Image
Antonov AN26 20120920 Speyer by steam60163, on Flickr

Their sister museum at Sinnsheim has a Concorde and Tu144 on top of the museum, at 'take-off angle':
Image
Tupolev Tu144 CCCP-77112 20120921 Sinnsheim by steam60163, on Flickr
Image
Planes 20120921 Sinnsheim by steam60163, on Flickr
Both are popular tourist attractions, and all are opened to visitors.

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by timuss »

Now that's a museum!! How cool is that.
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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by capercaillie »

Tommy wrote:
Tue 27 Oct 2020, 5:55 pm
Well that looks like both non representative -400s in service preserved. :thinking:
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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by andygolfer »

Tommy wrote:
Tue 27 Oct 2020, 5:55 pm
well that's encouraging if true but we have seen several stories about preservation of these aircraft.

Being cautious or sceptical which ever you prefer - how accurate are his sources because it seems a very ambitious proposal, is it (at one extreme) from an official source or (the other extreme) a rumour from Myrtle Avenue or the pub. hopefully the first one but I'm currently adopting the approach that I don't believe it until the aircraft is in the air and on it's way

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by Tommy »

andygolfer wrote:
Wed 28 Oct 2020, 4:12 pm
Tommy wrote:
Tue 27 Oct 2020, 5:55 pm
well that's encouraging if true but we have seen several stories about preservation of these aircraft.
Yeah, agreed - take everything with a pinch of salt, but so far, the person’s info has been absolutely spot on. Almost to the minute.

They were correct about preservation of the Negus scheme at Kemble long before official confirmation, likewise the one going to Dunsfold, that many couldn’t believe when it was announced!

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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Pen Pusher wrote:
Tue 27 Oct 2020, 10:45 am
Duxford turned down a Nimrod and a Hercules because they had no where to park them so all this talk of a 747 going to Duxford and its runway lengths is meaningless.
Can't quite get my head round the Imperial War Museum turning down a Nimrod and a Hercules - 2 types that were, and have been in use by the RAF for many years.

However, just because they did turn them down doesn't mean that those in charge now will turn down a 747.

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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Talldan76 wrote:
Thu 29 Oct 2020, 8:51 pm
Can't quite get my head round the Imperial War Museum turning down a Nimrod and a Hercules
Because they had no where to park them. Called lack of space.
Talldan76 wrote:
Thu 29 Oct 2020, 8:51 pm
However, just because they did turn them down doesn't mean that those in charge now will turn down a 747.
a) It's a CIVILIAN aircraft and nothing to do with the collecting policy of the Imperial WAR Museum

b) It's AMERICAN built and not relevant to the BRITISH Airline Collection.
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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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Not to mention the fact that the museum's current policy is something called 'reducing the conservation footprint', in other words getting rid of more than they add. At least 20 IWM airframes have been disposed of in recent years.

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by pbeardmore »

I saw that Kemble are using theirs in some sort of corporate event/training role,

given the direction the IWM has moved over the last few years, that would be the only way that they would be interested IMHO
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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by Mike »

They already have a conference room in AirSpace that is used for this purpose, and also use the so-called ‘conservation area’ at the front of the hangar for corporate events.

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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Pen Pusher wrote:
Fri 30 Oct 2020, 6:57 am
Talldan76 wrote:
Thu 29 Oct 2020, 8:51 pm
Can't quite get my head round the Imperial War Museum turning down a Nimrod and a Hercules
Because they had no where to park them. Called lack of space.
Talldan76 wrote:
Thu 29 Oct 2020, 8:51 pm
However, just because they did turn them down doesn't mean that those in charge now will turn down a 747.
a) It's a CIVILIAN aircraft and nothing to do with the collecting policy of the Imperial WAR Museum

b) It's AMERICAN built and not relevant to the BRITISH Airline Collection.
Do not let the facts get in the way of a good story or rumour. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by GertrudetheMerciless »

Mike wrote:
Fri 30 Oct 2020, 9:24 am
Not to mention the fact that the museum's current policy is something called 'reducing the conservation footprint', in other words getting rid of more than they add. At least 20 IWM airframes have been disposed of in recent years.
Yep. Physical exhibits are more expensive to maintain and acquire in the first place. Add to that the modern penchant for “space”, light etc and you can see a reduction in airframes over the long term.

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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Mike wrote:
Fri 30 Oct 2020, 9:24 am
Not to mention the fact that the museum's current policy is something called 'reducing the conservation footprint', in other words getting rid of more than they add. At least 20 IWM airframes have been disposed of in recent years.
yep.
the Eurofighter is due to be off soon, and i imagine jumble of airframes in the conservation hanger will be separated out and sold/disposed of
i can't see any sense in a 747 going to duxford. no space, doesn't tie in with the theme etc

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by NAM Updater »

rockfordstone wrote:
Mon 02 Nov 2020, 3:19 pm
Mike wrote:
Fri 30 Oct 2020, 9:24 am
Not to mention the fact that the museum's current policy is something called 'reducing the conservation footprint', in other words getting rid of more than they add. At least 20 IWM airframes have been disposed of in recent years.
yep.
the Eurofighter is due to be off soon, and i imagine jumble of airframes in the conservation hanger will be separated out and sold/disposed of
i can't see any sense in a 747 going to duxford. no space, doesn't tie in with the theme etc
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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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https://onemileatatime.com/retired-brit ... ches-fire/

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

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If your really missing the BA experience they are selling off bits and pieces from the 747's

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Re: BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet

Post by capercaillie »

Tommy wrote:
Mon 23 Nov 2020, 6:02 pm
Well its looking increasingly like all authentic in service 747-400s will be scrapped and non authentic ones preserved. Its a crazy conservation world. :crazy_face:
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