I remember reference being made to the B747-400 Lite in the BA High Life magazine a while back. In fact I flew on one LGW-HRE-LUN in about 1998 or 1999 I think.
My question is – what the hell is it?? I can’t find mention of this mysterious aircraft anywhere. From memory it looked identical to a normal (heavy?) 747-400.
By: greekdude1 - 27th March 2003 at 02:05
Of course I get your drift. I just thought I’d be a math geek for an instant.
By: mongu - 27th March 2003 at 01:36
Quite correct GD, but I know you get my drift!
By: greekdude1 - 27th March 2003 at 01:09
Hmmm, I’m a mathematician, and I’ve never heard of a 180 degree reflection, Mongu. How about a 180 degree rotation about the origin? Or perhaps you prefer, a reflection about the x or y axes?
By: mongu - 26th March 2003 at 19:30
Yes, BA tend to make a lot of mistakes and change their minds a lot.
Fortunately they have survived and I would therefore argue that they make lots of “little” mistakes but get the important things right. Maybe a 180 degree reflection of United?
By: greekdude1 - 25th March 2003 at 23:40
All very logical points, Elias. Etsi mou aresis.
By: Cyprioteagle - 25th March 2003 at 06:04
British Airways changed their minds to many decisions.
We saw the B747-400Lite example, they first wanted a Lite version of B747-400, later they said…. “No thank you”..
They said they wanted to start expanding operations from LGW, they did up to a stage. BAA thought it would be ideal to build a new satellite.. work was about to begin but …. BA changed their mind.. “Sorry, we are abonding LGW, we go back to LHR which is better for us” and they began to reduce services giving way to Easyjet and Ryanair to start operations from their as slots that were previously owned by BA were released…. and forcing BAA to abondon the construction of the satellite.
They said they would create a Eurohub based from Birmingham and they would operate B737’s Birmingham Airport built a terminal building capable of handling these aircraft with peers to join the main terminal with the aircraft.. “Oupsis, sorry, we decide to bring smaller aircrafts” as a result, the peers even though built, are not used since cannot go further lower to reach the door of the airport.
They said they would create a LCC airline to fight Easyjet.. they made it and just were the airline started to make profits they sold it to 3i…. and the rest is history.
They said they wanted to change their livery by making different tail pictures…… later they decided to change back to the more modern “union jack” since their previous decision was not welcomed by their passengers….
Why did BA make all these “change of mind” tactics? Couldnt they realise that they could not afford any mistakes, not now that the airline industry is liberilased???
Kind Regards
Elias Elia
By: greekdude1 - 25th March 2003 at 00:38
I concurr. Muddled planning is authentic.
By: mongu - 25th March 2003 at 00:33
BA went through a phase of basing 742’s and 744’s at LGW in the mid-late 1990s for flights to Africa and a few other destinations not important enough for LHR.
I think the 744 Lite was only ever intended for these ops, by the sound of the article. Presumably on such routes they decided the cargo loads were never going to be startling, so a “lite” would be more efficient. Then they went and mucked their fleet around and no one could think of a reason to still use the lites! Muddled planning by the sound of it.
By: greekdude1 - 25th March 2003 at 00:27
Could B.A. not make up their minds, about what they were going to do with this aircraft? The reduced fuel capacity for shorter segments means no crew rest facility. That’s great, and makes sense. But then after delivery, they decide to add it after all? Did they also decide to put the tail fuel tank in along with the crew rest area?
By: mongu - 24th March 2003 at 23:18
Ah, so they were a BA-only 744?
The airbiz article syas they were flown LGW-Africa so I guess I managed to fly on one of the rarest 747 types!
By: A330Crazy - 24th March 2003 at 23:08
This any help????
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March 24, 2003 at 10:10 pm