Just came across the video, thought id add a few comments. I was lucky enough to be one of the British Airways quality engineers in Seattle for the launch of the 777, so inspected them all the way through from a bare wing spar all the way to flight test. ZZZA was the test aircraft and certainly was the first with GE90 engines, and was 5th (WA005) aircraft off the production line, the first 4 were United P&W powered. BA had 5 of the first 20 aircraft. One of them, ZZZE or D, was scrapped a while ago, possibly because it had had a wing defect during manufacturing that reduced its useable life. I have loads of photos somewhere of the aircraft in build and the first flight somewhere!
@Kevin Harris. Hi Kevin -that’s a great connection. It must feel strange to see them having flown more than 100,000 hours now in the process of break-up? Would be good to see the photos! Best wishes Steve
Yes and it strange for me as I was on the Modification/Refurbishment team at Everett after the flight test was done and we were responsible to bring WA005 to full production standard. Which means removing the flight test equipment, stripping the interior down to a empty shell and then doing any modifications needed and then installing the production standard interior. It feels strange to see aircraft I worked in being retired but I also retired from Boeing 4 and half years ago and worked the interiors on the 77 from Line 1 to 1,500.
Pratt and Whitney powered 777s have been grounded by United since February and are being retired. Many have recently been flown to Victorville for storage and scrapping
It's sad to see the 777-200s being retired. I guess they are next in line after the 747s retirement. Thank you so much for the amazing footage. The 777 is my favorite aircraft after the 747 and 767.
Time marches on, doesn't it. When I started flying, it was in a DC10, 727 and a Lockhead Tristar. Those were my first three. Not many of them around now...,.
I recently re-watched the 5 part series entitled "21st Century Jet" that was published by channel 4 London circa 1995. Its available here on YT via channel "shareoldvideos". It chronicles the development of the 777 from drawing board through first customer delivery. Quite a story behind these planes! Watched the series 4 times now, never gets old!
@Patrick Foley. Hi Patrick that sounds really interesting- I will look that up and watch. I was working for BA at the time they were planning to introduce the 777 so it will bring back some good memories for me hopefully! Thanks for the info! Best wishes Steve
@Aviation Gamer. Hi - that tail livery is a one off design by artist Jim Vision. If you look at 0:45 in my film I give a little written commentary on what it represents ….it looks amazing - worthy of the utopia scheme (world tails) that BA had in the late 90s. These were part of the first 777s that ever came out, before the ER version. I went onboard ZA back in 1995 before it was introduced into service. We were all amazed at how huge it was!! Makes me feel old seeing it about to be cut up 😢
@@HeathrowAircraft thanks! It’s a shame it wouldn’t be allowed as much paint on the tail these days because some people complained you can’t see the British flag, I think the livery looks amazing. ruclips.net/video/HRMoiELU9uY/видео.html this is the person explaining it Nice vid btw.
They are the A series of the 777 without a centre fuel tank which was introduced in the B series. In the BA configuration they had a larger than normal First cabin and were deployed on mid range long haul flights such as the USA East Coast and Middle East.
It's hard to believe that 25 years we t by so fast. Boeing 779x will continue on for years. I never thought DC 10s or MD 10s would outlast 777 200s by decades . Even as freighters.
@@HeathrowAircraft a friend and I didn’t even realise these frames were scrapped. Looking forward to seeing the other scrapped 319 video you mentioned in the subtitles.
@@DesiroDriver Hi Stuart - yes I’ve got 4 films in total from my day spent there. The BA airbuses are here ruclips.net/video/Br9J7KtmGZE/видео.html and there is also another showing the BA 747 G-BYGG being dismantled; plus a more general one showing Aircraft from other airlines being broken up. Oh -and the BOAC retro 747 free of fence views too! Best wishes Steve
Sad to see these have been retired. Especially considering one of these jets (can’t remember which but I think it was ZZZA) was the 1st GE90 powered 777 ever built, that’s a fact that makes it deserve to sit in a Museum somewhere, because B-HNL got that treatment as Line No 1. But another great video and it shows how much BA’s fleet is changing 👍
@Ben Browne. Hi Ben thanks very much. Yes I was working for BA at the time and remember us all going onboard ZA prior to it entering pax service. It was kitted out in testing equipment throughout the cabin - no seats but was painted in the Landor livery. That was 1995. Sad to see her twilight days or weeks now…I agree with you Re museum somewhere - it should have been preserved…..Best wishes Steve
I reckon she’ll be around for a couple more months. Those A319s the same. There are a few other jets that have been at St Athan longer than those 777s. I have a feeling that BYGD may be one of the next to enter the scrap yard (if we should call it that) but I hope memorabilia becomes available from her and all the others eventually. Cool to hear you used to work for BA, so did both of my parents - I must then ask - do you remember which one of those 777s in it’s early days ended up having to fly gear down from DXB - LHR because someone managed break the gear when landing? If you can remember that’d be great thanks :)
Yeah I do agree with you. Glad I flew on this historical plane. I also visited B-HNL in Tucson in few months after her final flighr. At least she's being preserved.
@Mike Tendler. Yes it seems sadder when it’s an aircraft we’ve flown on doesn’t it? I first went onboard ZA before it entered service with the airline, in 1995; so that also feels very sad to me to see her like this now…..
@Lifesignsmusic. That must feel really strange …like you I saw ZA when first delivered to BA but before she entered service. So that must have been during 1995. Again like you it seems like the blink of an eye ago. Where has that time gone? Steve.
@pyjamazaq. Hi yes I agree with you; they’re not my number 1 either but it still felt quite significant seeing BA’s first 777s here - and probably for not many more weeks or months….
@brooksstella. Hi Stella - how are you? Thank you very much for your kind comments. Always sad to see another little piece of history disappearing 😢 best wishes Steve
@Corrado Parris. I know - it's very sad seeing them "before and after" - they gave amazing long service to the airline when you think they were introduced around 1996.....
It's even understandable that the crisis hampered many businesses; especially in aviation. But it's sad to see new aircraft like these being dismantled!! Why not sell cheaper to other companies!? I doubt if dismantling it earns more than a sale! A dumb economy
@Stanley D Santti Hi - yes it is sad to see them being dismantled - but they had flown a long life with BA - when you think they entered service back in 1996! (One of them- either ZA ZB or ZC fly over in my Concorde film on my channel - taken in 1996 - it gives an idea of how long these have been around!) The -200 ER version which BA still uses has a greater cargo capacity evidently so perhaps they just didn’t think there was a market to sell these particular aircraft on…. Sad all the same to see them end their days like this….
@bruce5799 🤷♂️ to be fair the aircraft in this film came into service with BA in the mid to late 1990s so these airframes have had a fair run for the money….
@TheFokker03. I gather that the cargo carrying capacity for these original -200s (not 200 E Rs like the majority of BAs 777s) was not that great, so I suspect there isn’t the market to sell these 2 aircraft on. Shame to see them like this all the same….
I can't imagine there are any buyers for these planes in this current climate. It's a shame but at the end of tbe day, airlines will be looking for more economical aircraft.
I don't see much value in the airframe as they are high hour aircraft and early airframes from the line. Yeah I like to see them sold to another airline but they don't lend to being modified into cargo planes because the early airframes are not good candidates for that. They also had engines that don't fit in well with the majority of the 777's had better output engines and if another airline were to buy them they most likely would change out the interiors and engines and the big cost is newer out of production engines plus they most likely have a landing gear that will also need modification or rebuild. It is sad to see them retired but economically getting the most value is remove everything of economic value and crush the rest
Just came across the video, thought id add a few comments. I was lucky enough to be one of the British Airways quality engineers in Seattle for the launch of the 777, so inspected them all the way through from a bare wing spar all the way to flight test. ZZZA was the test aircraft and certainly was the first with GE90 engines, and was 5th (WA005) aircraft off the production line, the first 4 were United P&W powered. BA had 5 of the first 20 aircraft. One of them, ZZZE or D, was scrapped a while ago, possibly because it had had a wing defect during manufacturing that reduced its useable life. I have loads of photos somewhere of the aircraft in build and the first flight somewhere!
@Kevin Harris. Hi Kevin -that’s a great connection. It must feel strange to see them having flown more than 100,000 hours now in the process of break-up? Would be good to see the photos! Best wishes Steve
Yes and it strange for me as I was on the Modification/Refurbishment team at Everett after the flight test was done and we were responsible to bring WA005 to full production standard. Which means removing the flight test equipment, stripping the interior down to a empty shell and then doing any modifications needed and then installing the production standard interior. It feels strange to see aircraft I worked in being retired but I also retired from Boeing 4 and half years ago and worked the interiors on the 77 from Line 1 to 1,500.
@@mikeske9777 Wow that’s quite a story -you must feel very proud to have worked on these aircraft lines - a lot of good memories I’m sure…..
Pratt and Whitney powered 777s have been grounded by United since February and are being retired.
Many have recently been flown to Victorville for storage and scrapping
I flew on G-ZZZB from Heathrow to Bahrain back in 2018! Sad sight to see
@Ollie Watts. It is sad - more so somehow when we’ve actually flown on them as well…..
It's sad to see the 777-200s being retired. I guess they are next in line after the 747s retirement. Thank you so much for the amazing footage. The 777 is my favorite aircraft after the 747 and 767.
it's one of my favourite aircraft too!
Time marches on, doesn't it. When I started flying, it was in a DC10, 727 and a Lockhead Tristar. Those were my first three. Not many of them around now...,.
Many US airlines are buying more Airbus airplanes.
That's their choice but I would not have given bailouts unless they agree to but BOEING jets.
@@747heavyboeing3 Agreed... I like Boeing Jets more..
I recently re-watched the 5 part series entitled "21st Century Jet" that was published
by channel 4 London circa 1995. Its available here on YT via channel "shareoldvideos".
It chronicles the development of the 777 from drawing board through first customer
delivery. Quite a story behind these planes! Watched the series 4 times now, never gets old!
@Patrick Foley. Hi Patrick that sounds really interesting- I will look that up and watch. I was working for BA at the time they were planning to introduce the 777 so it will bring back some good memories for me hopefully! Thanks for the info! Best wishes Steve
0:30 nice BA livery. Are these the 200s or the 200ERs? When was that livery flying?
they are the 777-200(non ER variants)
@Aviation Gamer. Hi - that tail livery is a one off design by artist Jim Vision. If you look at 0:45 in my film I give a little written commentary on what it represents ….it looks amazing - worthy of the utopia scheme (world tails) that BA had in the late 90s. These were part of the first 777s that ever came out, before the ER version. I went onboard ZA back in 1995 before it was introduced into service. We were all amazed at how huge it was!! Makes me feel old seeing it about to be cut up 😢
@@HeathrowAircraft thanks! It’s a shame it wouldn’t be allowed as much paint on the tail these days because some people complained you can’t see the British flag, I think the livery looks amazing.
ruclips.net/video/HRMoiELU9uY/видео.html this is the person explaining it
Nice vid btw.
They are the A series of the 777 without a centre fuel tank which was introduced in the B series. In the BA configuration they had a larger than normal First cabin and were deployed on mid range long haul flights such as the USA East Coast and Middle East.
@@aviationin4k258 it was awful
It's hard to believe that 25 years we t by so fast. Boeing 779x will continue on for years.
I never thought DC 10s or MD 10s would outlast 777 200s by decades . Even as freighters.
@747Heavy Boeing. Yes you’re right - where have those 25 years gone???
Love how you mix in the footage of them in action.
@Chriso. Thank you very much; appreciate your feedback! ❤️
I’ll second that!
@@DesiroDriver Thank you very much Stuart!
@@HeathrowAircraft a friend and I didn’t even realise these frames were scrapped. Looking forward to seeing the other scrapped 319 video you mentioned in the subtitles.
@@DesiroDriver Hi Stuart - yes I’ve got 4 films in total from my day spent there. The BA airbuses are here ruclips.net/video/Br9J7KtmGZE/видео.html and there is also another showing the BA 747 G-BYGG being dismantled; plus a more general one showing Aircraft from other airlines being broken up. Oh -and the BOAC retro 747 free of fence views too! Best wishes Steve
How very sad, I was part of the teams that looked after these fine machines at BAMC. Great times, great aircraft.
personally love spotting at st athan and im lucky that it is one of my local airfields so i get to see some of these great planes
@G Aviation. It’s a lovely airfield isn’t it. Just a long journey for me - but I’m glad I made the effort!
Sad to see these have been retired. Especially considering one of these jets (can’t remember which but I think it was ZZZA) was the 1st GE90 powered 777 ever built, that’s a fact that makes it deserve to sit in a Museum somewhere, because B-HNL got that treatment as Line No 1. But another great video and it shows how much BA’s fleet is changing 👍
@Ben Browne. Hi Ben thanks very much. Yes I was working for BA at the time and remember us all going onboard ZA prior to it entering pax service. It was kitted out in testing equipment throughout the cabin - no seats but was painted in the Landor livery. That was 1995. Sad to see her twilight days or weeks now…I agree with you Re museum somewhere - it should have been preserved…..Best wishes Steve
I reckon she’ll be around for a couple more months. Those A319s the same. There are a few other jets that have been at St Athan longer than those 777s. I have a feeling that BYGD may be one of the next to enter the scrap yard (if we should call it that) but I hope memorabilia becomes available from her and all the others eventually. Cool to hear you used to work for BA, so did both of my parents - I must then ask - do you remember which one of those 777s in it’s early days ended up having to fly gear down from DXB - LHR because someone managed break the gear when landing? If you can remember that’d be great thanks :)
@Ben Browne. Yes I reckon it will be BYGD next …I will try and find out about which one it was that flew back with u/c down! I’ll be in touch! S.
Yeah I do agree with you. Glad I flew on this historical plane. I also visited B-HNL in Tucson in few months after her final flighr. At least she's being preserved.
@Samuel Wright yes WA001
Love the 777 2 and 300er. Have flown on Air NZ in row 1 and the back most row and a few points in between. If you need to ask yes row 1 was better 🤣
@john sutcliffe 🤣👏 I can’t think why🤣
Sad.Although they have a designed life span it is still sad to see these great planes discarded in the scrapyard.Hope they have been a profit for BA!
@GOLDBAND45rpm Yes you’re right. I understand that they flew more than 100,000 hours which is pretty good going!!
I flew to Madrid in April of 2019 aboard G-ZZZB.... Very sad to see her like that at the end 😢
@Mike Tendler. Yes it seems sadder when it’s an aircraft we’ve flown on doesn’t it? I first went onboard ZA before it entered service with the airline, in 1995; so that also feels very sad to me to see her like this now…..
Somebody needs to tell that fella what a Celt is.
@Bengali in Platforms 🤣 well I think it was the inspiration behind the idea that comes from the Celtic tradition - but I get what you are saying!!
Zulu Bravo certainly put on a sprightly performance for her last lift-off but at 08:14 she fades into a distant memory.
@Ray Jennings. Yes that was her swan song wasn’t it; a memorable last takeoff before disappearing into the clouds….
nice video mate
I saw them at Boeing Field before delivery... seems like moments ago :(
@Lifesignsmusic. That must feel really strange …like you I saw ZA when first delivered to BA but before she entered service. So that must have been during 1995. Again like you it seems like the blink of an eye ago. Where has that time gone? Steve.
@@HeathrowAircraft Indeed Steve
BA. certainly got their money’s worth with some of the old planes that flew 😆🧱👍🏽
@Bricklaying With Steve and Alex. Didn’t they just!! Apparently ZA was well over 100,000 flying hours and 50 million miles - amazing!!
@@HeathrowAircraft very cool ! 🧱👍🏽
So sad. They still had a lot of life left in them.
@Bilal Ahmed. Hi yes it was very sad seeing them half dismantled and now of course they have completely gone…..
I saw them both in storage at heathrow in April 2020
Lovely plane but the mural was awful
@alan6 Not your cup of tea then? 🤣
@@HeathrowAircraft No disrespect to the video or the plane and mural itself It just wasn't my cup of tea indeed haha
@@alan6 🤣🤣👏👏
Was never a fan of the 772. Sad to see this but not as heartbreaking as the 744.
@pyjamazaq. Hi yes I agree with you; they’re not my number 1 either but it still felt quite significant seeing BA’s first 777s here - and probably for not many more weeks or months….
I agree 747 retirement still hasn't sunk in
I have worked on both these many times mainly to the Middle East
@bermuda1100. Hi yes - they were used quite extensively on Middle Eastern routes weren’t they? Sad they have gone ….
This is great 👍 👌 👏, thank you 😊 much ‼️
@brooksstella. Hi Stella - how are you? Thank you very much for your kind comments. Always sad to see another little piece of history disappearing 😢 best wishes Steve
the aluminium makes good bike frames
I think I’m going to cry 😭😭😭
@Corrado Parris. I know - it's very sad seeing them "before and after" - they gave amazing long service to the airline when you think they were introduced around 1996.....
It was only 18 months that the airline industry was crying poverty
I’m Irish I’ve never seen Celtic art like that doesn’t come close to Celtic art
@Im McM. I agree. I think there was a bit of artistic licence going on!
cool
Flew on ZZZA im 2019 from Philadelphia to Heathrow
It's even understandable that the crisis hampered many businesses; especially in aviation. But it's sad to see new aircraft like these being dismantled!! Why not sell cheaper to other companies!? I doubt if dismantling it earns more than a sale! A dumb economy
@Stanley D Santti Hi - yes it is sad to see them being dismantled - but they had flown a long life with BA - when you think they entered service back in 1996! (One of them- either ZA ZB or ZC fly over in my Concorde film on my channel - taken in 1996 - it gives an idea of how long these have been around!) The -200 ER version which BA still uses has a greater cargo capacity evidently so perhaps they just didn’t think there was a market to sell these particular aircraft on…. Sad all the same to see them end their days like this….
I think they decided to retired them before the current crisis
Why do airlines waste so much money?.
@bruce5799 🤷♂️ to be fair the aircraft in this film came into service with BA in the mid to late 1990s so these airframes have had a fair run for the money….
She looks very Celtic...
@fulham1958. Yes you’re right. Great design. Worthy of the BA world liveries scheme from the late 1990s I reckon!!
😢
Another sad day
surely there's some life left in a 25 year old airframe?or is that too much to hope these days.I guess that blasted virus is to blame.
@TheFokker03. I gather that the cargo carrying capacity for these original -200s (not 200 E Rs like the majority of BAs 777s) was not that great, so I suspect there isn’t the market to sell these 2 aircraft on. Shame to see them like this all the same….
They have a lower max landing weight
why couldn;t the clowns at BA sell the aircraft on rather than scrap it,bad enough seeing the 747s go, why that was i don;t know
@peter smith. I agree. It’s a mystery to me!
I can't imagine there are any buyers for these planes in this current climate. It's a shame but at the end of tbe day, airlines will be looking for more economical aircraft.
I don't see much value in the airframe as they are high hour aircraft and early airframes from the line. Yeah I like to see them sold to another airline but they don't lend to being modified into cargo planes because the early airframes are not good candidates for that. They also had engines that don't fit in well with the majority of the 777's had better output engines and if another airline were to buy them they most likely would change out the interiors and engines and the big cost is newer out of production engines plus they most likely have a landing gear that will also need modification or rebuild. It is sad to see them retired but economically getting the most value is remove everything of economic value and crush the rest
Britain air way .
🤣🤣🤣
Pretty certain Celts were Caucasian ppl
@teenagerinsac - well let’s call it Artistic licence 😄