Aircraft Graveyard. Waiting for Scrapping. Kemble Cotswold Airport. December 15th 2021.

[@MadeiraAirport]

Really cool video, nice to watch some beautiful retired planes, a place to visit!

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Madeira Airport Spotting. Thanks very much - I’m glad you liked it - and yes; definitely worth a visit! Cheers. Steve

[@MadeiraAirport]

@@HeathrowAircraft You are welcome!

[@DannoAviation]

I never realised there were so many up-to-date/modern airliners stored etc… thanks for a great video😊

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Danno 27L. Hi yes it’s surprising isn’t it! Glad you enjoyed watching the film. Best wishes Steve

[@portuguesnomundo]

Fantastic video my friend ✈️

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Portugues no Munro .🙏 Thank you very much - I’m glad you liked it - sad though it is ….

[@portuguesnomundo]

@@HeathrowAircraft You're welcome!

[@Mike5890Aviation]

Those aircrafts are really old. Especially those 727-100s. Fantastic Footage!.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Mike5890. Hi Mike thanks very much. Yes that’s a real “classic” in every sense of the word! Best wishes Steve

[@ianstewartaviation2634]

Very comprehensive video lucrative business these days in aircraft reclamation and scrapping, my last visit was back in September to see the Buccaneer taxi run The Phantoms had arrived there as well. Merry Christmas and Happy new year Steve stay safe.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Ian Stewart Aviation. Hi Ian - yes you’re right; there’s clearly a living to be made there! I really enjoyed your Buccaneer film - must have been great to see and hear it close up! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you Ian too; hope when the weather gets a bit brighter we can meet up at Heathrow at last! With best wishes Steve

[@ianstewartaviation2634]

@@HeathrowAircraft Thanks yes that would be good 👍

[@akcbcmcb]

I've flown both of those B757's. Happy days.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Russell Butler. Hi Russell - it’s sad seeing them at this point - more so still when you’ve flown on both…..

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

The 727 was (still is) a wonderful aircraft. I flew on Icelandair examples in & out of LHR many times in the 1980s.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Prof. Hector Holbrook. Yes I agree. I only flew on the -200 variant with Dan Air in the mid 1980s but they were a good solid Aircraft weren’t they? I used to leave my workplace at Heathrow at the same time each evening on the northern perimeter road and would often be “accompanied” by an Iberia 727 that departed on the runway parallel to the perimeter road - a great sight to send me home each night!

[@alexcrawford6162]

I saw a number of those aircraft likely hundreds of times and flew on several of them. Strange to see them there being pulled apart.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Alex Crawford - it must be sad seeing them like this when you remember them in operation…

[@Arational]

Could make a very interesting house out of the fuselage of that A-330 or the 747s but it would be a beast of a job to move them to a build site.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Arational. That would be amazing wouldn’t it? Which one would you choose if you could?

[@jnorth7411]

Fantastic shots, the old 727 is certainly my personal favourite. And such a shame to see Jet2's 757s there! Can I ask, are the areas you filmed from available to the public to access? Or do you need to have special access or have a tour to be there and film? Many thanks in advance :)

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@J North hiya - yes I didn’t stray into any out of bounds areas - but you do need a small stepladder as otherwise you have to point the camera through the fencing which isn’t ideal! Cheers Steve

[@glenjarnold]

We pass there two or three times a year. A sad sight indeed, especially having worked in the airline industry previously.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Glen Arnold. Yes definitely you’re right; very sad.

[@dodahspeak]

Superb video as always Steve. Keep up the excellent work that we all enjoy so much (Dave UK B747-400 Preservation project/Everything Airliner)

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@David M. Hi Dave - that is very kind of you. Thank you very much for that. Much appreciated 👍 Best wishes Steve

[@merchantofdoom3932]

I drive past here most days. It was quite awesome last year when the BA planes were all lined up, and good to know their parts will be recycled. G-MKGA was being used as a party plane for events for a while, hence the large see through panel. Bit of a mess now though!

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Merchant of Doom. Yes it really is looking tired now isn’t it? You had the best views last year didn’t you when the whole row of BA 74s was lined up …

[@diggr13]

I came over to Kemble from Canada for a heavy check in 2015. There were quite a few airframes there then but NOTHING like this. Must be due to the plague.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@diggr13 yes I think you’re right. There were many more BA 747s here last year but unfortunately we were in lockdown a lot of the time so I didn’t get to see them all lined up along the perimeter road. But still a lot of aircraft here waiting to be scrapped - as you say, a sad consequence of the pandemic / plague! Cheers. Steve

[@darrengrimmer8541]

I’ve often wondered.. what is the process that takes place to decide an aircraft is now being retired.. it may seem a stupid question but clearly it’s not just done on a wim

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Darren Grimmer. Hi Darren no it’s not a stupid question. It’s based on a combination of factors - but every airframe has a finite number of flight cycles and hours before either major overhaul is needed or it becomes simply uneconomic to continue flying as too much needs to be replaced. Newer aircraft are becoming ever more fuel efficient too so the financial cost of running an older aircraft in the end becomes too great to make it sustainable to continue operating. Sadly…..

[@darrengrimmer8541]

@@HeathrowAircraft excellent!!. Thank you

[@boumispotter]

Thank you for sharing this magic vidéo. But too sas see these beautiful AIRPLANE.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@boumi spotter. Thanks very much for your comment. I’m glad that you liked the film - sad though it is. Best wishes Steve

[@alistairscott137]

I think M-FTOH 727-200 is for sale (VIP jet) and kept in running order.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@alistair scott. It’s a fabulous looking aircraft and looks in great shape. I read somewhere that it is owned by the C.exec of Air Salvage based there at Cotswold. Very nice too!

[@robertwinsper7409]

I worked and flew on both G-CELY and G- LSAD plenty of times. AD has a couple of patches on the RH tailplane leading edge. I sealed them up, finishing a repair off whilst working as a contractor at Southend prior to working for Jet2 at Manchester. Sad to see the old bombers being broken up.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Robert Winsper. Hi Robert - that must be quite heart breaking seeing something you worked on and knew so well, ending up at the breakers yard….sad….

[@robertwinsper7409]

@@HeathrowAircraft Yes, but machinery has a finite life. AD contributed in a pretty substantial way to the rather nice roof I'm currently sat under, a good tool, flew up and down, made lots of money. If it was a clapped out lathe we'd just be saying "We'll that one doesn't owe us anything does it"?

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Robert Winsper. Good point - clearly served you well over the years!

[@robertwinsper7409]

@@HeathrowAircraft May she return as the finest beer cans!

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Robert Winsper 🤣 I’ll drink to that! 👍

[@alanpage4641]

I agree about the 727.I flew to Dubrovnik on one with Aviogenex in late 80's.

[@aviationin4k258]

727-200? Anyway nice one it’s so sad to see these being destroyed!

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Aviation in 4K- it’s very sad isn’t it. The first aircraft is a 727-100 built in 1966. The second 727 featured is the much longer 727-200 series.

[@ciudad-del-mar]

@@HeathrowAircraft I think that the 727s are being kept running for now. Hopefully I'm not wrong on that!

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Alderney Flying. Hi yes I know the -200 is safe. Let’s hope the same is true for the -100! Thanks for watching! Best wishes Steve

[@aviationin4k258]

@@HeathrowAircraft oh ok

[@JJthrashing]

I noticed that most of the engines are removed first do they get reconditioned or used for parts ? Interesting footage but sad to see all these planes get destroyed.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@JJ 74. Hi yes you’re right; the engines are generally the most valuable part of the aircraft and are either sold on in the market or returned if leased. As an example the BA BOAC retro 747 had its engines substituted for out of service engines once it was retired - and the original engines were sold on in the market - and subsequently spotted on a 747 freighter!

[@stephenhadfield7715]

Some of these aircraft, e.g. the Air Mauritius ones, seem quite young to be scrapped at only 18-19 years old

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Stephen Hadfield. Hi Stephen yes they do don’t they, but it’s as much about the actual flight cycles they have completed. I am assuming they had a high utilisation so had reached the end of their economic life…. Best wishes Steve

[@patthewoodboy]

I was tracking the ex Qatar A330 on Flightradar as its flight looked odd , was wondering where it was going , I thought Bristol as it descended , then it landed at Kemble.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Jonathan Vogel. Oh wow - they didn’t waste much time on the breakup did they? 😳

[@patthewoodboy]

@@HeathrowAircraft probably got a lot of serviceable spares as its not that old

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@@patthewoodboy Yes I think you’re right. Makes sense…

[@doveronefoxtrot4417]

That 727 should be preserved.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Dover One Foxtrot. Absolutely! Let’s hope it is….

[@lukebrown8258]

How come that 747-200 been there so long and not been scrapped

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Luke Brown. Hi Luke it was saved so that it could be used as party space. By the look of it, I don’t think that has happened for some time! I guess Negus (G-CIVB) will take this role in the near future - it is all fitted out now (the economy seats have been removed); new lighting fitted - opening to the public this spring. Don’t know what will happen to the -200 then - hope it won’t be binned….

[@blatherskite9601]

Are the feathered aviators there for scrapping, too? ;-)

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Blatherskite 🤣 they’re too clever to be caught!

[@WarhammerWings]

Aw,LSAD.... I flew on that plane myself.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@The Shipwrecker! No way - that’s very sad - must be more so for you seeing it in this state now ….

[@saucerman110]

I believe they don't want the ordinary working man to have too many holidays any more, sad really

[@grahambrown5013]

I know all these old ladies eventually end up as Coke cans after many years of hard work but it's such a great shame to see the 727 in that state. Flown on them many times, to and from Europe and on domestic US flights. One of the best looking airliners ever.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Graham Brown. They are very much of a different era in air travel now aren’t they? Much more character about them than the 2 a Penny twin jets now!

[@scotty6346]

I can understand flying airliners to Kemble to scrap them, I can't understand why any one would store them there ie: The 727 in our damp climate, It's surely best to store an aircraft in like Spain or the Mojave desert in the USA where corrosion would not be an issue?

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@scotty6346 Yes I agree - very odd!

[@Mauscmkwk]

That 727 should be restored

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Maus 12.8cm kwk 44 Yes it really should - it's a real classic now isn't it....

[@alistairscott137]

727 need saving.

[@alistairscott137]

The 727-100 needs saving

[@JoshMcPhotography]

Not the 757s :(

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Valenta. I know! It’s sad - one of my favourites 🥺

[@ndirangugichuki6260]

The Jet2 757s, 😢

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@ndirangugichuki6260 I know 😢😱

[@ndirangugichuki6260]

@@HeathrowAircraft I wonder if there are some low cycle ones still left that are in storage somewhere.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@ndirangugichuki6260 yes I wonder. Probably worth investigating 👍

[@ndirangugichuki6260]

@@HeathrowAircraft yeah 👍. I'm pretty sure some 757's that were approaching a D check were just stored instead of going through the costly maintenance associated with it. But who knows !! hopefully some are just parked in the desert somewhere.

[@BoxInThisLapVR46]

the metal from these planes should be turned into model planes like gemini jets

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Box Inthislap. That would be ace. I guess the closest to that are the skin tags made from scrapped aircraft that you can buy from planereclaimers and planestation.aero (St Athan Wales and Kemble Cotswold respectively)

[@BoxInThisLapVR46]

@@HeathrowAircraft yeah skin tags are expensive I'd prefer them to be model planes then a drinks can

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@@BoxInThisLapVR46 Good call! 😎

[@BoxInThisLapVR46]

@@HeathrowAircraft I hope g-bnlg can be saved She's for sale at £11,000

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Box Inthislap. Now that would be £11k well spent!

[@ronparrish6666]

What wood they charge me for just the nose section of a 727 with al the instruments still in it if I bring a flatbed to get it need it for my man cave

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Ron Parrish. Would be amazing wouldn’t it. Check out the planestation.aero website to keep an eye on what comes up?

[@noelsey13]

That 727 belonged to an old buisness partner of mine A Qatari who owns the Buzwair Group.

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Steve Noel. Ace! Did you get to see it close up at all?

[@noelsey13]

@@HeathrowAircraft yea It was regularly parked at the old airport in Doha

[@HeathrowAircraft]

@Steve Noel. Must feel strange for you seeing it in the Cotswolds compared to its previous more glamorous location!