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A British Airways 747 will today depart for Dunsfold Aerodrome where it will begin its new life as a TV and film set.
The aircraft, registration G-CIVW, will depart from Cardiff Airport at 13:30 as flight number BA1978E, landing in to Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey an hour later.
On landing it will be handed over to the airport which will preserve the aircraft for use as a commercial film set and training facility.
The aircraft which will keep its Chatham Dockyard livery will be stored in public view on the airfield.
In time the aircraft will be opened up as an exhibition for visitors to experience up close the size and scale of the Queen of the Skies.
The aircraft, like many other 747s, has ties with the world of film, having flown many actors across its cabins and having often visited film set hotspots like Los Angeles and New York.
Jim McAllister, chief executive, Dunsfold Aerodrome, commented: “The 747 is a unique and important piece of aviation history and we are excited to be taking delivery of this retired aircraft at Dunsfold Aerodrome.
“Whilst G-CIVW will no longer fly, the aircraft will be preserved and given a new lease of life in the world of TV and film, training and special events.”
After entering the British Airways fleet on May 15th, 1998, G-CIVW operated 11,424 flights and flew 90,617 hours over 45 million miles.
Its last passenger flight was from Boston to Heathrow on March 28th this year.
After its final commercial flight, the aircraft was stored at Bournemouth Airport before moving to storage at Cardiff Airport in June.
British Airways retired the last of the Boeing 747 fleet earlier this month in the wake of the Covid-19 shutdown.
Source: breakingtravelnews.com