The defining characteristic of the 747, as the nickname ‘jumbo’ suggests, is that it is big. Pinal Airpark, the aircraft’s final resting place, is not. It has a short, narrow runway and an uncontrolled airfield – there is no-one in the control tower and none of the normal visual or navigational aids. Once you leave controlled airspace at 10,000 feet, you’re on your own.

‘Landing there is quite a challenge, but a retirement flight is an exceptional experience so it was a privilege to lead it,’ says Graham.

For another challenge, after dropping its final cargo in Los Angeles en route to the boneyard, the aircraft was lighter than normal. ‘You would think that when a plane is fully loaded and heavy that it’s a handful, but with a 747 it’s actually the other way around,’ says Graham. ‘When it’s empty, it does not want to descend.’

But with experience on his side, Graham was able to safely guide the aircraft to its final resting place.