FAREWELL G-VAEL MAIDEN TOULOUSE

Maiden Toulouse (G-VAEL) is currently operating her last flight for Virgin Atlantic. She is doing the VS652 from Lagos and when she lands at LHR this evening she will be leaving the VS fleet. Which means all Virgin Atlantic A/C will be Upper Class Suite and no more Arcadia IFE.

My very first A340-300 flight was on G-VAEL little sad that she is leaving. My first B747-200 flight was on G-VIRG which has also gone. It makes me realise how much Virgin have invested in AC in the 6 years I have been flying.

Will be intresting to see her flying for another Carrier with new colours.

Not sad to see the last of the non-UCS aircraft go myself. However I can see how you would have a soft spot for VAEL. I had an interesting flight on her to PVG where a huge number of the IFE screens went down. After a few firm complaints I was bought one of the UC DVD players (I was in PE). Ended up chatting with the cabin crew, who told me the crew nick name for her was "Vial" because she seemed to be jinxed.

[Bazz]

Was that as crew or as a pax?

Yeah she had a few nick names. She was never very good at provding IFE. She was also known as "VILE".

Does anyone know where she is going?

To that scrapheap in the sky with any luck. No, I can't remember if this is the one that is going to Virgin Nigeria. I think it is as it's been flying around with the lower deck crew rest module removed for some time now.

Yeah the crew rest area was taken off a while ago. is on eof them going to Finnair?

Originally posted by virgin is the best
She was also known as "VILE".

Sorry, poor use of the spell checker by me[:I]. Vile is what I meant.

[Bazz]

I assume that you have crewed on board her, what were your thoughts the first time your flew her as crew having previously been a pax? Must have felt a bit nostalgic?

Was on her for LHR-CPT in March this year, and certainly not sad to see her leave the fleet.

It is certainly a relief to now know that no Virgin passengers will have J2000 and Arcadia at all anymore.

It also means that the " *For Operational reasons...." blurb can surely now be removed from the website, all adverts etc!

Thanks,

David.

[Bazz]

OMG - now I wish I hadn't asked [:0]

I'm not sad to see Arcadia IFE go I didn't like it at all. [n]

Someone somewhere must have had a good flight on her.

If she could hear us now she would be very upset.

I know a good thing to say about her. She always got her passengers from A to B safe and sound.

Originally posted by virgin is the best
Someone somewhere must have had a good flight on her.

If she could hear us now she would be very upset.

Well, she must have had ample space for champagne storage, as the crew were plying me with it for a long time before take off despite my protestations! [}:)]

Thanks,

David.

Farewell! She was the first VS aircraft I ever flew on and also the first business class flight I took. I will remember her well. Does this mean an end to the UCS vs J2000 day/night flight debates?

Originally posted by virgin is the best
Someone somewhere must have had a good flight on her.

If she could hear us now she would be very upset.

I know a good thing to say about her. She always got her passengers from A to B safe and sound.

Yes i have she was the a/c i flew on on my first long haul flight and my first flight with virgin! bye G-VILE[V][:I] oops G-VAEL

I too will be sad to see AEL gone - not that it was my first aircraft, but A343s have always held a softspot with me. Up until about 2003, almost all my flights were with the 343s - the a/c lottery didn't seem to go my way. However, I am glad that there'll be no more Arcadia.

So I guess my feelings are a combination of [:(] and [^][y]

VS.

Shes flying back to Toulouse after her parts are correctly logged with the original paperwork. She got a white lick of paint today too... :<

[mitchja]

Adam

Any idea where she's going to? Another airline maybe?

Regards

I wasnt told. Its going back to its maker, so to speak! Was horrible watching them scrub off her name and livery

On the bright side, we've a brand spanking new G-VYOU A346! With a gorgeously shiny flight deck and UCS!

Off to Finnair I believe to join her sister Dragon Lady (g-vfly now oh-lqa) I believe.

Originally posted by virginadam
Shes flying back to Toulouse after her parts are correctly logged with the original paperwork. She got a white lick of paint today too... :<

Sorry to butt in, but VAEL is sitting outside the LGW Hangar still in VS colours but just had the Virgin name painted out on fuselage and tail.
New buyer pulled out apparently so looking for a new lease. And it wasnt going to Finnair either!

it'll be sad to see her leaving but glad theres no more arcadia!

I thought it was destined for Virgin Nigeria, possibly via Hajj flights (hence name painted out). Talk of G-VSKY to also be joining Virgin Nigeria with the close down of BWIA.

Thats if Virgin Nigeria is still around then! G-VSKY (9Y-JIL) has no IFE working at all, but maybe Sir Richard will still need the airframe when he starts a new Trinidad - London service when BWIA / Carribean Airlines pulls out altogether! Watch this space.