Possibly the most famous of the set of retro-livery aircraft painted by British Airways in the lead up to its 100th anniversary has been scrapped.
Boeing 747-436 G-BYGC was painted in the iconic BOAC livery, representing the British Overseas Airways Corporation – one of the airlines that became British Airways in 1974.
The aircraft was part of the mainline fleet, but was also used in promotional flights like this display with the Red Arrows aerobatic team in 2019.
Sadly the Covid-19 pandemic brought forward the retirement of the BA 747 fleet, including this and the other three retro livery aircraft.
The aircraft prior to scrapping, with parts already missing. Photo (c) Steve Knight
G-BYGC was earmarked for preservation (like the Negus and Landor examples at Kemble and Dunsfold respectively). It was retired to St Athan in South Wales.
However, the owner has not been able to progress with plans to put it on display and open it up to the public, and time has finally been called on the airframe which was recently moved to the scrapping area at this airport and reduced to a pile of metal.
A sad end to one of the best looking jets we’ve seen in recent years.
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6 comments
I am very sad to hear that the Boeing 747 in BOAC retro livery has to be scrapped.
I was hoping it would be preserved in a museum or under cover somewhere.
So sad!!!
Yes, sad news indeed. I saw her in San Diego (SAN) on 12 March 2019 when I was on a U.S. West Coast air show trip. Since arriving in San Diego, I had checked FR24 each day to see what aircraft was operating the LHR-SAN route, not really expecting to see this special liveried aircraft. A “right place, right time” event for me. This was its first visit to SAN in that livery and word had obviously spread around the aviation enthusiast community as there were lots of onlookers with cameras for its arrival.
A few months later, it turned up at RIAT with the Red Arrows as part of the BA centenary celebrations. A memorable event.
Sad end but this is where aviation has ended up, all about money nothing else. Luckily I’ve seen the best of this industry, now it’s just a race to the bottom. No time for even nostalgia.
I was 8 years old when all my family emigrated to Canada in 1957,we stayed there for five years as my uncle living on his own sujested we move in with him back in England,but when my mum and dad and brother and l arrived back,uncle said he would have packed himself up and come to us,my other family are still out there what’s left of them after all these years as I’m now 74 today,but l wouldn’t have my lovely children if l hadn’t come back then my eldest sister who had lived in Canada but came back to have her first child sadly died of leukemia in 1968,then after l got divorced after seven years l met the man l loved more for over 30 years now sadly he passed away 4 years ago 😢,but will never forget travelling on BOAC there and back l had the wing’s for a long time but sadly don’t know what happened to them
According to information British Airways have denied this and say she will be saved after all!
Hope she’s saved so sad anyway to see the end of these great planes.