I stretched out in my business class seat, glass in hand, and began to relax into the flight to New York when suddenly the unthinkable happened.
An urgent tap on my shoulder from a member of the cabin crew: “Sir, we need you in the cabin.”
Within seconds, I’m jumping into the captain’s seat, sweat on my forehead, and being ordered to grab the controls. With no hours of flying experience, I am suddenly in control of the gigantic 747 jumbo jet.
But this is no ‘terror at 30,000 feet’ nightmare. Instead, it’s ‘thrill at 3ft’ – and one of the country’s most surreal days out.
Rather than sailing across the Atlantic, I am in a large, unassuming barn next to some stables in rural Cheshire. This bizarre experience takes place aboard a real, retired British Airways jumbo, now transformed into a flight simulator and dining experience, firmly fixed to the ground.
In 2020 BA and Virgin Atlantic brought forward plans to scrap the 747, a plane beloved by passengers with its instantly recognizable hump and biplane design.
Nicknamed The Queen Of The Skies, Boeing’s beast first took off in 1969 and made flying accessible to millions. But 50 years on the classic design has been replaced by less gas-guzzling aircraft.
Aviation enthusiast Dan Chang and two friends saved an original BA 747 cabin and an entire upper deck business class cabin. ‘It’s such a unique aircraft,’ says Dan, who runs the 744 Experience near Tattenhall, Cheshire.
Flight fantastic: Jonathan Samuels (pictured) heads to Cheshire to find out how a British Airways 747 has been turned into a visitor experience
Jonathan reveals that three friends saved a BA 747 cabin and an entire upper deck business class cabin (seen here) from the scrap heap after the airline decided to retire the fleet
Above, Jonathan at the controls of his jumbo simulator experience
The confusing name is because the cabin is of a 747-400 model and 744 is an abbreviation for this type.
The last journey for these large pieces of aircraft (minus wings) was from a scrap facility in Cardiff on a low loader.
With a police escort, the 747 slowly made its way down country roads to its final resting place.
In one particularly tight spot, the wide skirt slightly scraped the wall of a house. “I spoke to the homeowner and said I would be happy to pay for any damage.” remember Dan.
“But he said, ‘No, I want to keep the proof when I tell friends about a jumbo career in my house.’
The state-of-the-art 220-degree display screen gives a view almost as good as the real thing while hidden speakers recreate the rumble and whine of the engines.
The computer lets you take off and land anywhere in the world. Fly over Vegas at night or try the infamous approach to Hong Kong’s old airport, Kai Tak.
So how do I navigate my own ‘flight’? With clammy hands on the controls, the jumbo’s computer counts down the altitude as I descend into New York’s JFK: ’40, 30, 20…’
Above, the upper deck cabin, which forms part of the 744 Experience
Business Class Afternoon Tea and other special onboard dining events are bookable as separate experiences
My landing is a little bumpy but we make it. All souls saved. And what a ride.
How to do it: 90-minute experiences from £249, including control of the controls, light refreshments and up to two non-flying guests observing your performance/flight from the cockpit (744experience.co.uk).
So where else can you enjoy a jumbo…
In the Cotswolds, an old 747 has been turned into a wedding venue
COTSWOLDS COCKPIT
You can visit a retired 747 at Cotswold Airport in Kemble, Gloucestershire, where tours of the aircraft are offered. In the run-up to the festive season, two-hour The Flight Before Christmas events are held. These include a chance to meet Father Christmas in his grotto, presents, mincemeat, gingerbread and mulled wine.
The aircraft can also be booked for weddings, birthdays and corporate events.
How to do it: Guided tours from £12.50; tickets for ‘The Flight Before Christmas’ from £29 (negus747.com).
MANCHESTER MACHINE
At the city’s Barton Aerodrome, The Deck is another flight simulator in an old 747.
When planes broke down as airlines phased out jumbos, Drew Hanna founded his business Doors2Manual, selling parts like windows and cockpit switches to souvenir hunters.
Then he took things further, bought the front end of a 747 and opened it up to the public.
How to do it: 20 minutes on The Deck simulator is from £74.95 (thedeck747.com).
