G-BFMI Monarch 707-123B

[1970s Spotter]

There is a b&w photo on Airliners.net (can't get into their site at the moment to create the link, but beleive me it's there) of a Monach B 707-123B G-BFMI at Luton in basic OM colours minus titles and logos taken in the late 1970 I think. Beneath the OM markings and visable where the 'M' logo would appear is what looks like the cheatline of Saudia... I have no record of this plane serving with Saudia ( I have it going from AA to OM direct). Was it perhaps intended for SV but n.t.u?
Any ideas?

THANKS

[bagpuss lives]

The photo you're looking for is http://www.airliners.net/open.file/653807/M/ that one :)

[411A]

If memory serves correctly, this particular aircraft was to be lease/purchased to the BinLaden Group in Saudi Arabia as an exec transport, but the deal fell thru at the last minute, for reasons unknown.
The BinLaden Group bought another 707 at a later date, which as I recall, mostly sat on the ramp in JED, mostly unused.

[1970s Spotter]

Thanks 411A

Thant makes sence, Osama's dad, like many important people in Saudi, would probably have had the plane painted up in SV colours.

:O

[Big Dick]

There is an old 707 / 720 at the old Jeddah airport, painted in old Saudia colours. It is minus half of the wings (from engines 1 & 4 outboard sections) and has no engines. It doesn't look like it has flown in years and it will probably never fly again!!!

BD

[411A]

It's a 720B, that was operated for SaudiArabian, and suffered a hard landing, which fractured the LH wing spar, circa 1974 or thereabouts, IIRC.
Total write-off.

In addition, the remains of HK, the TriStar that burned up at the old RUH airport, is still preserved just to the west of runway 1/19, as an example as to what can happen if you don't follow proper procedures.

[thegoaf]

This aircraft was a very early 707. It was built with non-fan engines and then modified in 1961. It was removed form American Airlines service about three years before it was delivered to Monarch., where it remained for about a year. Cyprus Airways then acquired it. It seems to have ceased operational service in March 1985, presumably when it was replaced by an A310.