V-Flyer

G-VBIG has just operated her final commercial sector

Wow, thanks for the update. Don't think she will be that missed though as she was never the same after she left LHR!

Yay, I can retire my empower adaptor from my carry on luggage

We flew out to Orlando on her on the 1st. She was looking very tired, but I’m glad we saw her one more time before she retired.

Sad news. Do we know what will happen to her? Is she destined for scrap / sale

Regards

Goddard

Scrap I would imagine. She was delivered in June 1996 so was ~ 23.5yrs old. VS's oldest A/C.

Delivered brand new to VS in 1996 and is the last one left to have worn the euro-white livery.
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/39872

Aw, and I hadn’t managed a ride on her yet. Oh well - hope I get to ride G-VROS as part of my JFK or MCO visits over the next few months so I’ve experienced them all.

Never got a ride on G-VBIG, though it's clearly an aircraft that has served VS well, even though it was probably non-standard after it was reconfigured to match the remaining 747's operating non-LHR routes.

At the same time, I'm also slightly baffled considering extra services were promised for next year on the routes G-VBIG used to operate and I'm still trying to work out what aircraft will operate these. Is it due a heavy check that VS have decided not to sanction given it would only have 2 years max left in service? Have repairs now been done to the engines of the entire VS 787 fleet?

My first ever Upper was on G-VBIG. That trip spawned a prolific amount of VS travel in the years since, something that pleases me greatly.

Goodbye old girl.

Flew out to MCO on Tinkerbelle on the 2nd - she was certainly looking a bit tatty on the edges in Upper Class.
At least it means there is some consistency in the 747 fleet now - every Upper Class cabin has a bar & AC power!

Personally pleased by this.. always felt disappointment when seeing this was our plane to board. Usually sit upstairs in PE and the lack of side bin and older generation entertainment meant we felt like being on a sub standard flight. Flying MAN MCO next week so am glad it wont be on good old Tinkerbelle. Nonetheless she has been a good servant over her long life.

She was tired a couple of years ago! Rust in peace!

This is very sad news :(

Tinker Belle was the first ever 747-400 I flew on, way back in February 1997, when she was brand new.

Off to MCO in January, probably last flights on the Virgin 747s, and was hoping one of the flights would be G-VBIG!

Never mind. Down to 7 now.

Feeling kinda sad myself. I flew her several times ex LHR to various destinations and of course, old-timers on here will recall her namesake who was active on here for any years.

Tinker Belle has just left Gatwick. Not sure where she is going . I guess off to a desert in the US for scrapping now.

She's just made her final flight to RAF St.Athan for breaking

Sad times, I hope someone gets one last picture before she is torn apart. Surprised Virgin have not made any mention of her going. A goodbye tweet would have been nice considering she is their longest serving aircraft.

Regards

Goddard

We flew V-BIG to MCO in 2015 and I must say she was looking very old and tired then. Great aircraft mind you...a beast

Here is the tweet...

https://twitter.com/VirginAtlantic/status/1198197372595118082

Silver Surfer wrote:She's just made her final flight to RAF St.Athan for breaking

Same airport where BA sent their final few 767’s and some 747’s for scrapping. I’m assuming there’s a company based there that scraps aircraft like there is at Kemble which is another domestic airport where some planes go to on their final journeys.

RIP

VS075 wrote:

Silver Surfer wrote:She's just made her final flight to RAF St.Athan for breaking

Same airport where BA sent their final few 767’s and some 747’s for scrapping. I’m assuming there’s a company based there that scraps aircraft like there is at Kemble which is another domestic airport where some planes go to on their final journeys.

RIP

Yes there is ( ecube Solutions) .There’s some awesome footage on the South Wales Aviation Group ( SWAG) Facebook page showing her arrival but it’s a closed group.
DL

'Same airport where BA sent their final few 767’s and some 747’s for scrapping. I’m assuming there’s a company based there that scraps aircraft like there is at Kemble which is another domestic airport where some planes go to on their final journeys.

RIP'
And another BA 747 (G-CIVG) will be joining her at lunchtime today

I am sure I flew on Tinkerbelle to South Africa in 2010!

Nice article on the VS blog with video and some stats;

https://blog.virginatlantic.com/tinker- ... to-g-vbig/