PZ paddy zulu
Not sure at all why BA leased this 747 (EI-ASJ) from 3/76 to 3/81 (with a sublease to BCAL 10/78-2/79 due new DC-10 delays, BA crews flew it)
It returned to Aer Lingus in May 1981, once the brand new BA Boeing 747-236B aircraft had arrived in numbers.
It had been with Air Siam for a year ~
Previously EI flew it (in old EI colours) for EAAC on the LHR & FRA - NBO run 1974-75.
BA flew PZ on dedicated runs - I used to see it often at LHR, and YYZ and ORD were common flights for her.
It is part of the BA legend that when it was returned to Aer Lingus in their latest new livery of white and Green the lads who ferried it left a note/placard on the flight deck which read: PLEASE FLY GREEN SIDE UP.
Funny that 747-148 G-BDPZ was registered sort of in sequence with a new BA 747-136 G-BDPV
747-136 G-BBPU was strangely out of sequence.
Although EI had leased EI-ASJ to BA, in Oct 1976 Alitalia 747-143 I-DEME Arturo Ferrarin was leased to Aer Lingus.
EI also bought Lufthansa 747-130 D-ABYC, as EI-BED in 1979 whilst PZ was still on lease to BA.
Aer Lingus often used the 747 from new in 1971 on charter IT flights to Spain Greece and the Canary Islands plus pilgrims to Lourdes as well (Tarbes)
EI 707's were also used on the Med IT's.
BA also leases a couple of Combis' from MEA 747-2B4M, G-BLVE & VF but some years later in 1985.
Last edited by rog747; 25th Jul 2020 at 08:31.