One of Britain's most iconic planes took to the skies for the last time on Friday, December 11 as British Airways' last remaining Boeing 747 made one final journey from Cardiff Airport.
The huge passenger plane flew from Cardiff Airport to eCube Solutions at Bro Tathan business park in St Athan where it will be preserved. And to make the occasion even more special, there was also a marriage proposal on board.
Earlier this year, British Airways announced that as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the retirement of all 31 of their Boeing 747 fleet would be brought forward to this year.
Today's journey was the last to be made by a jumbo jet of its stature with the all the Boeing 747s now being grounded for good
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With fewer people taking long haul flights in 2020, today’s aircraft last housed passengers back in April on a flight from San Francisco to Heathrow.
Since entering the British Airways fleet on January 20, 1999, G-BYGC has operated 11,049 flights and flown for 91,023 hours over nearly 45 million miles.
While new planes are being engineered and developed every year, the Boeing 747 holds a special place in the hearts of pilots, cabin crew and plane fanatics.
As well as all the crew invited to view its last journey today, dozens of avid aviation fans lined the fence of the runway to watch it land one last time.
Among those on board was BA cabin crew member Philippa Miller who had a surprise visitor - partner Scott Ingram, who is also a dispatcher for the company.
Knowing how much the aircraft meant to Philippa, Scott decided it was the perfect moment to get down on one knee and propose.
As her colleagues looked on, a clearly shocked Philippa said 'yes' and kissed her new fiance.
Watch the moment the proposal happened here:
Boeing has been manufacturing 747 aircrafts for more than 50 years, with British Airways taking its first 747 in 1989.
And while the fleets has now been drawn into retirement, British Airways is currently the world’s biggest operator of 747-400 aircraft.
The stature of the jet is something to behold.
With 16 main wheels and wings big enough to accommodate 50 parked cars, the aircraft has consistently been considered as one of the biggest in the world.
The truly iconic plane has a height of 64ft - equivalent to a six-storey building and is 231ft long.
On its final journey, the aircraft flew around this scenic area of the Welsh coast before landing at the commercial airfield at Bro Tathan, the Welsh Government’s 1,200 acres business park in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Bro Tathan is located on the Cardiff Airport and Bro Tathan Enterprise Zone, and includes a fully operational 1,800m runway on a commercial airfield operated by Cardiff Airport,
It will be managed by eCube Solutions, the leading aircraft disassembly and end of life services provider based on the business park, to showcase the pre-eminent contribution the 747 fleet made to British Airways, and the love of aviation for the passengers who flew on them.
Also on board today’s ceremonial flight was cabin crew member Barbara Christian, a former Miss Wales from Pontypridd. Barbara first travelled on the aircraft in 1985 to compete in Miss Universe.
She has been a flight attendant for 16 years and has spent 10 years of these on board Jumbo Jets such as the 747.
Barbara said: “The 747 is an iconic aircraft. It flies beautifully and was a pleasure to serve on, especially the upper deck.
"My first ever long-haul passenger flight was on a 747 to attend a Miss Universe event in Miami. I remember being awestruck then, and that same feeling has continued throughout my career.
"It’s lovely to be back in Wales, and an honour and privilege to witness her last ever flight. So this is farewell from one Queen to another.
"We've had many, many wonderful people on board and everybody is special. Everybody looks forward to flying on the 747, she is an iconic aircraft.
"Some people are on board for a special occasion, some for business but everyone comes away having had an excellent experience. Every day we get on board this is a special day.
"When you see her on the ground she is enormous, the sheer size and scale is awe inspiring."
Another crew member on board today was Martin Wiggam who has been cabin crew with British Airways for just over a year.
He said: "It is an absolutely iconic aircraft. Every time I got on board this for work I was filled with child-like awe every single time.
"This is the last of the golden era of aviation, this is pretty much it not for truly iconic aircrafts. The way aircraft is going now is fantastic but there's just nothing like this."
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Sean Doyle, British Airways’ CEO, said: “This final 747 journey is a bittersweet moment for the many thousands of British Airways customers and crew who have flown the world on these Queens of the Sky over the last five decades.
“But while we will certainly miss their majestic presence in the skies above, knowing our last 747 will be preserved for future generations to enjoy at a new home in Wales gives us a great sense of pride and is a fitting end to this chapter of British Airways’ history."
