Fascinating photos capture the inside of a Boeing 747 which travelled 150 miles to Greater Manchester - on the back of a lorry.
The top deck of the decommissioned British Airways plane was transported from Kemble, on the edge of the Cotswolds, to Salford, on its final journey. It set off about 9.30am and cruised along the M5, M6, M56 and M60, before arriving at Barton City Airport around four and a half hours later to rapturous applause on August 11.
Now its new owners have revealed it will be open to the public from next month. Airline memorabilia company Doors2Manual plan to eventually use 'The Deck', as it's been dubbed, as a backdrop for weddings and conferences and for educational purposes. It will also be the UK's only 747 flight simulator using a real aircraft flight deck.
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The 747 is a much-loved plane in the aviation industry. However, many airlines have placed their aircrat in early retirement. British Airways grounded all 31 of its 747s – 10 per cent of its entire fleet, while Virgin Atlantic put its last seven of the aircraft out to pasture.
Others are still in use around the world, particularly as cargo aircraft.
Visitors will be able to get up close and personal from September 17, but for now the final touches are being placed to ready the plane for opening day. Engineers and staff have been clearing the inside of the plane which will also be used as the UK's only 747 flight simulator using a real aircraft flight deck in the near future.
Earlier this month the plane came home to a rousing reception when a jubilant crowd gathered at the airport to welcome a piece of British aviation history. Parents took pictures of their children in front of the plane, budding photographers and videographers brought their cameras and drones to capture the moment the plane arrived while others jumped at the chance to take a peak at what it looks like inside the cockpit of the Boeing 747.
Doors2Manual saved the plane from the scrapheap and plan to use 'The Deck' as a backdrop for weddings, meetings, events and for educational purposes in the coming months. but from September, residents will be able to book and visit a tour of the plane. On the day of its arrival, co-director of Doors2Manual Aine Behan told the MEN: “It’s been a long time and coming and it was amazing to see the group of people around the corner waiting for the plane to arrive.
"We’ve been advertising today for a few weeks now and have received a lot of support, but today’s turnout makes us happy that we’ll be able to provide something that the community is obviously looking forward too.
“We have to get the deck into the hanger first, and then we’re going to get the clear the deck as it still has a lot of equipment in there, and then we’re going to get the engineers in to get power to the plane and we’re looking to getting customers inside the plane within the next few weeks . Doors2Manual was established a couple of years ago and we have had a lot of projects, but it’s good to complete something that’s going to take us to that next level.”
Doors2Manual are finalising the booking system and tickets will be available to buy next week. More info can be found via their Facebook, Instagram and website.
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