The Deck 747 at Barton Airport opens to the public

Wonder no more, as Manchester Airport, Barton, welcomes a new visitor experience which includes the UK’s only 747 flight simulator that is built on the flightdeck of an actual retired ‘Queen of the Skies’.

The Deck is a visitor centre, events space and flight simulator, and is very much a labour of love for directors Drew Hanna and Aine Behan, themselves life-long aviation industry professionals. 

When British Airways 747 G-BYGA came up for early retirement because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the pair saw an opportunity to create an experience that would delight fellow enthusiast and the general public, while preserving a piece of global aviation history into the bargain. 

The attraction is built around the upper deck cabin of the majestic aircraft, showcased as it was during its flying days with the iconic British Airways classic Club World seats and the cabin door fully open for boarding.

Drew said: “As the UK's first flight simulator on a genuine 747 flight deck, we're so pleased to be able to play such an important role in securing the legacy of the Queen of the Skies.

The deck is set out as as original British Airways 'Club World' class (Image: The Deck 747)

“We're very proud that we've been able to return the flight deck to very close to how it was and are glad that we have been able to source replica sim parts for those components that had been removed.

“After the deck's very public journey from Kemble to Manchester, our team have worked tirelessly over recent months to get such an iconic part of British flight history back into working order.

"Customers have already been pouring through the hangar doors and sampling life on the flight deck.

“We're able to offer a genuine flying experience on maps across the world that are already proving a real hit."

This part of the fuselage was transported from Kemble to Manchester by road (Image: The Deck 747)

The flightdeck itself is wonderfully preserved, with the original seats, control columns, rudder pedals, thrust, gear lever, and even the pilots’ bunk-beds.

The main controls are all linked to simulator inputs, giving an authentic flying experience, including a 200 degree, fully immersive, wraparound screen.

Chris Walker, a self-confessed flight games fanatic who was visiting from Cardiff, was thrilled when instructor and former British Airways pilot, Mark Rose, let him fly the 747 underneath San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.   

Chris Walker from Cardiff proud not to have crashed (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “Mark - who genuinely flew this actual plane when it was operational - said if this was real life, I’d have been shot down by several F35 fighter plans before I got anywhere near the bridge.

"The end of the wing missed one of the columns by inches. 

“The immersive screen is honest amazing - I could have sworn as I actually moving. And when I got off, I actually felt a bit woozy. I mean that in a good way.”

For more information, or to book your visit, go to The Deck 747's website.