Line 1429 (RC571) HZ-AI3 for Saudi Arabian Cargo delivered today. This frame has been sitting around Paine Field for ever. It was initially destined for Atlas, but was rejected (along with two of her sister ships) due to being too heavy. Atlas instead is taking recently built frames in her place. Enter Saudi Arabian Cargo, who stepped in and bought her (and at least one of her rejected sisters) after she languished for years, unfinished on the KPAE tarmac. Here she is leaving today:
Line 1429 rolled off the assembly line back in August of 2010.
As she was intended for Atlas and to be painted for British Air Cargo, she received a half finished paint job in BA blue and white.
After Atlas refused to take her, she spent almost two years in various storage locations.
Back in the middle of 2012, refurbishment started, which took about half a year to complete.
On January 31, a first flight. Read about it here:
Shortly after that she received her first full paint job in Portland (thanks to planephotoman).
And finally today, a delivery flight. The almost 14 hour flight to King Abdulaziz International is by far the longest and farthest this formerly static frame has traveled. I can't wait to catch her on flight aware racking up the hours earning her keep. And now I also look forward to line 1432 joining her. Thanks to Matt Cawby and Russell Hill for some of the pictures in this post.
Line 1429 rolled off the assembly line back in August of 2010.
As she was intended for Atlas and to be painted for British Air Cargo, she received a half finished paint job in BA blue and white.
After Atlas refused to take her, she spent almost two years in various storage locations.
Back in the middle of 2012, refurbishment started, which took about half a year to complete.
On January 31, a first flight. Read about it here:
Shortly after that she received her first full paint job in Portland (thanks to planephotoman).
And finally today, a delivery flight. The almost 14 hour flight to King Abdulaziz International is by far the longest and farthest this formerly static frame has traveled. I can't wait to catch her on flight aware racking up the hours earning her keep. And now I also look forward to line 1432 joining her. Thanks to Matt Cawby and Russell Hill for some of the pictures in this post.
Delivery of RC572 HZ-AI4 in mid-June:
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