BA cabin crews celebrate 50th anniversary
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
The cabin crews of British Airways (BA) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the world's first commercial jet flight across the Atlantic wearing the original British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) uniforms flanked by crew in the current uniform designed by Julien Macdonald, said a press release.
The BOAC was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946. BOAC was merged with British European Airways in 1974 to form British Airways, following an Act of Parliament in 1971.
The historic flight from London to New York took place on October 4, 1958 on the new British-built BOAC Comet 4 jet liner, cutting the eastbound crossing time by almost six hours.
Commanded by Captain Roy Millichap, the Comet 4 made the westbound journey to Idlewild Airport in New York (later to become JFK) in 10 hours 13 minutes travelling at 465mph, making a refuelling stop in Gander, Newfoundland.
The BOAC was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946. BOAC was merged with British European Airways in 1974 to form British Airways, following an Act of Parliament in 1971.
The historic flight from London to New York took place on October 4, 1958 on the new British-built BOAC Comet 4 jet liner, cutting the eastbound crossing time by almost six hours.
Commanded by Captain Roy Millichap, the Comet 4 made the westbound journey to Idlewild Airport in New York (later to become JFK) in 10 hours 13 minutes travelling at 465mph, making a refuelling stop in Gander, Newfoundland.