02/08/2026
A lovely photograph of a Britannia Boeing 757 in Egypt, shared by Clive, one of the cabin crew.
If I remember correctly, this was a particularly heavy departure. We had a full passenger load, and because this was the standard 757 rather than the extended-range version, there was a real possibility that we might need a fuel stop on the way home.
A second aircraft operating that day was an ER, and our captain was trying to persuade Operations to swap the loads. The idea was for us to take the lighter load because of the heat, giving us a better chance of reaching home without stopping.
In the end, some helpful direct routing and favourable tailwinds came to our rescue. Even so, I remember the captain telling us afterwards just how close it had been!
You could sense the difference during takeoff. The engines sounded different under the strain, and the aircraft seemed to use nearly every inch of the runway before finally lifting away. It was one of those flights you never forget.
Thank you to Clive for sharing both this beautiful photograph and a fascinating memory from his Britannia days.
27/07/2026
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