A British Airways 747 has been flown to Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey to start its new life as a television and movie set.

The aircraft, registration G-CIVW, departed from Cardiff Airport today, 22 October, at 1.30pm as flight number BA1978E, landing at Dunsfold at 2.15pm.

The aircraft will be preserved for use as a commercial film set and training facility. It will keep its Chatham Dockyard livery and will be stored in public view on the airfield.  In time the aircraft will be opened up as an exhibition for visitors to experience up-close the size and scale of the Queen of the Skies.

The aircraft’s final flight took it within a few miles of the Woking headquarters of Global Travel Management.

An excited Paul Baker, GTM’s Sales Director said

The excitement at Global Travel Management in Woking reached near fever pitch today whilst following the progress of B747, registration G-CIVW, on its way from Cardiff Airport to Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, where it will begin its new life as a television and movie set.

The aircraft, like many other 747s, has ties with the world of film, having flown many actors across its cabins and having often visited film set hotspots like Los Angeles and New York. In its new role it will feature more prominently in front of the camera, used to mock up interior and exterior shots for TV and film.

Jim McAllister, Chief Executive, Dunsfold Aerodrome, commented:

The 747 is a unique and important piece of aviation history and we are excited to be taking delivery of this retired aircraft at Dunsfold Aerodrome. Whilst G-CIVW will no longer fly, the aircraft will be preserved and given a new lease of life in the world of TV and film, training and special events.

After entering the British Airways fleet on 15 May, 1998, G-CIVW operated 11,424 flights and flew 90,617 hours over 45 million miles. Its last passenger flight was from Boston to Heathrow on 28 March, 2020.