So nine years ago yesterday I had one of the most unusual experiences of my life. I got to sit in the pilot’s seat in a 747 parked at Heathrow airport.

I was flying business class on a British Airways 747. I was on the upper deck, which has the entrance to the flight deck. The door was open, so I asked if I could take a few pix of the cockpit. Much to my surprise, the pilot said “do you want to sit in my seat?”

So here are some pictures of a moment that’s no longer possible (747s are retired).