When Chris Ransome worked as an A320 wing-fitter in the 1990s at the Airbus factory in Wales, he could never imagine that one day he’d fulfil his dream of becoming a pilot.
But the power of perseverance paid dividends. In 2005 he joined British Airways as a pilot, going on to become an Airbus A320 captain in 2015.
What’s more, several times throughout his career, he flew an A320 – tail number G-MIDY – that he helped build in 1999. And remarkably, he recently flew its very last flight, becoming a part of the plane’s entire lifecycle from beginning to end.
Reflecting on his journey, Chris says: ‘I have always felt really proud to know that I was part of the entire lifecycle of G-MIDY, from building it, to flying it, to taking it on its final flight.
‘Every time I have flown on this aircraft, it’s reminded me that I achieved my dream of becoming a pilot, something that I didn’t think would happen when I was building the wings for this aircraft.’
Former wing-fitter Chris Ransome, who went on to become a British Airways pilot, flew this A320 – an aircraft he helped build – for its final flight this week. Above, the plane, tail number G-MIDY, lands at its final destination, St Athan in South Wales
Chris flew tail number G-MIDY several times throughout his career. He says: ‘Every time I have flown on this aircraft, it’s reminded me that I achieved my dream of becoming a pilot’
Chris was the captain in charge of its final flight, delivering the plane, which had flown its last commercial flight from Paris to London hours prior, to St Athan, South Wales. There, it’ll be taken apart by aircraft dismantler eCube and hundreds of components recycled and inserted back into the aviation supply chain.
The pilot reveals: ‘When I found out that G-MIDY was being retired, I got in touch with the team to see if I could be part of the aircraft’s final journey.’
The aircraft in question, serial number 1014, originally went to British Midlands on June 28, 1999, but became part of the BA fleet in 2012, following the acquisition of British Midlands by BA’s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG).
Chris was inspired to pursue a career in aviation as a result of growing up near Airbus’s Broughton factory in Flintshire, North Wales.
The aircraft, serial number 1014, originally went to British Midlands on June 28, 1999, but became part of the BA fleet in 2012
Chris was inspired to pursue a career in aviation as a result of growing up near Airbus’s Broughton factory in Flintshire. He says: ‘I have always felt really proud to know that I was part of the entire lifecycle of G-MIDY, from building it, to flying it, to taking it on its final flight’
At first, he didn’t think he would be able to become a pilot, so instead he went to university to study agriculture.
While at university, Chris turned back to his original dream and applied for scholarships for flight training.
After some unsuccessful applications, he realised he would need to fund his way through flight school, so moved back to North Wales and got his job as a Stage 1 320 semi-skilled fitter.
He would go on to become a pilot with BA on the 747 and 737 before becoming an Airbus captain.
As G-MIDY retires, British Airways pledges to bring in new, more fuel efficient and quieter aircraft – including A320 Neos – into its fleet.
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