discussion Cotswolds Airport Boneyard!

[Dave Ward]

The airport, at Kemble has become a storage/sales pitch/ demolition site:

Due to the down turn in air travel the Jumbos have been retired by BA, and now await sale, or more likely scrap. Apparently there are more than 50 jets at Kemble - pictures from local news websites
Dave
note the missing engines in the top picture............

 

[boatman]

WELL i would have thought they would just leave the covers in the engines an other places that need it to stop birds nesting in them an wait to see if things pick up again unless these planes flying hrs are up but what a sad site
chris

 

[prichrd1]

wait to see if things pick up again unless these planes flying hrs are up but what a sad site

Chris,

It is indeed a sad sight - The Queen of the Skies" - probably one of the most iconic passenger/cargo planes ever produced. Easily recognizable on the ground with it's familiar "lump" and with a distinct
vapor trail whilst cruising at altitude.
As Dave says - with the recent down turn in air travel - and more advanced twin engine planes available - Boeing will cease production in 2022 - with the latest model 747-8.

Post

Paul.
:smiling2:

 

[Jack L]

I used to drive past the airport every day to work, there is a company on site that specialises in demolishing planes, often for film sets I believe. Was always fascinating seeing something new or different. Occasionally some absolute leviathans, Antinovs I believe, parked up. Never saw that many though.

 

[rtfoe]

Glad to have been on one of these iconic jets twice before this happened. Been more on others. One of the first wide bodied jets and you could nearly sit right up to the nose. Sadly on one of these flights I was bumped up to first class but because of heavy partying the night before I slept through the whole journey. What a waste...had only pictures that friends took of the fair that was being served. :crying:

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Dave Ward]

Johannesburg to UK - my first intro to the 747. No matter how big, it was still uncomfortable ( 6ft 1" ). Later I did Hong Kong to UK ( no better )
Dave

 

[Tim Marlow]

Apparently BA we’re taking them out of service anyway, and just brought this forward due to Covid. There has been a bit of coverage for this on local TV.

 

[stona]

Johannesburg to UK - my first intro to the 747. No matter how big, it was still uncomfortable ( 6ft 1" ). Later I did Hong Kong to UK ( no better )
Dave

A lot of airlines had the 747 configured with just two seats together each side, right at the back. I always used to go for those, because you got a bit more elbow room. They were right next to the bogs at the back, so no good if that would bother you

 

[rtfoe]

A lot of airlines had the 747 configured with just two seats together each side, right at the back. I always used to go for those, because you got a bit more elbow room. They were right next to the bogs at the back, so no good if that would bother you :smiling3:

I didn't know that. Besides the elbow room, wouldn't mind having first dibs to the bog. Interesting how people want to visit the bog at the same time.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Dave Ward]

The Jo'burg - UK flight was by South African Airlines - at that time (78-79), SAA couldn't land anywhere in Africa to refuel ( apartheid etc etc ), and their original 747s didn't have the range, so they had to land in the Cape Verde, Islands, at Isla del Sal (Sol). A miserable airport, breeze block terminal ( whitewashed ) 30C at 2am with no air conditioning and alive with Geckos! Good job I was on my way home..............
Dave

 

[colin m]

I was in the Merchant Navy for a few years before coming ashore, so got to do quite a few miles in these beasts when joining ships in the far East / Australia etc. Once, as a young officer returning home, I was directed up stairs ! I thought, this is it, I've made it. I'll be standing at the bar with film stars. I climbed the stairs, looking for the bar, only to discover seats, loads of seats. Seats and more seats. Up stairs wasn't always first class.

 

[stillp]

I used to fly to the Far East a few times a year. Best was flying into Kai Tak (the old Hong Kong airport) in a 747. The pilot stood it on the starboard wing over one island, on the port wing over another, then you flew down the main street looking UP at people hanging the washing out on their high-rise balconies, cleared the terminal building by a few feet, landed, then full reverse thrust, turned off the runway onto the taxiway, as the next 'plane landed 40 seconds later. Speaking to a pilot in the hotel, he said that Kai Tak was every pilot's favourite since it wasn't just a straight approach.
One of my colleagues was stranded at Gatwick due to a technical issue with a 747. Talking to the pilot in the bar, he was told the 'technical issue' was an engine that wouldn't run. My colleague said he thought the 747 could take off with only three engines running, and the pilot said they'd been doing that for a few days, but now a second engine had failed! I hope he was joking...
Pete

 

[colin m]

Best was flying into Kai Tak

I was one of the last people to fly out of that airport. Cathay gave us all a rather nice plaque to commemorate the flight.

 

[mrtintheweb]

Maybe should band together and buy one? I've done some research and a 20 year old 747-400 is only £20million +/-
They cost over £300 million new so it's a bargain!
T

 

[boatman]

Maybe should band together and buy one? I've done some research and a 20 year old 747-400 is only £20million +/-
They cost over £300 million new so it's a bargain!
T

ONLY 20 MILL COR THAT IS A BARGAIN well why dont you buy half a dozen LOL:nerd::smiling3::smiling3::smiling3:

 

[boatman]

I was one of the last people to fly out of that airport. Cathay gave us all a rather nice plaque to commemorate the flight.

CAN we see a pic of the plaque Colin ?
chris

 

[rtfoe]

Hong Kong, I managed to experience both the old Kai Tak and new Chep Lap Kok airports and both were memorable.

Kai Tak was the approach as Pete described, I only got the shivers seeing the next flight come in at an angle but CLK was during the China Airlines crash in the airports first typhoon experience and shut both runways.
Our flight out was on the same night and we're checked into the departure hall and all flights were cancelled...chaos was beginning with long lines at food outlets and crowds protesting but we managed to get out with the help of the airport manager as we had a baby with us and surety that we had a relative to stay at until they booked us into the same accommodation we were holidaying in.
Cathay provided cash for our necessities and we stayed on for another week...phew that was scary. Wasn't even scarred of the typhoon although pieces of stuff were flying about.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[colin m]

CAN we see a pic of the plaque Colin ?
chris

Found it. The date is 6th July 1998 . However, the plaque actually says to celebrate the opening of Chep Lap Kok, so maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I was one of the first to fly out of the new airport. It was a long time ago !

 

[colin m]

W

Found it. The date is 6th July 1998 . However, the plaque actually says to celebrate the opening of Chep Lap Kok, so maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I was one of the first to fly out of the new airport. It was a long time ago !

wait, I was right, I’ve just found this in the box

 

[Dave Ward]

I remember flying Hong Kong > UK. It was alarming to see the masts of junks whizzing by at the same level, when taking off - the runway stuck out into the harbour
Dave