Originally Posted by
Ken Borough
The wet lease with Aer Lingus was for one B747: EI-BED was used for the whole period except for one or two rotations when -BED went for a check in Dublin. The substitute aircraft was EI-ASJ.
Qantas wet-leased a Martinair DC10 at the same time. It was PH-MBT in full Martinair livery. The hybrid-liveried 747 PH-MCF came later. It was a freighter but in pax configuration.
Tower Air were wet leased to operate between MEL and LAX via Nadi and Honolulu using 747s. I think they used two units during the time.
My mistake. I was around at the time but had forgotten about the Martinair DC-10... perhaps it only operated to SYD and BNE??? Definitely remember that MCF was a Freighter because you could see the forward door.
I think you're right about Tower Air, I think there was a substitute aircraft on some rotations. The main one (I have photos somewhere) was in a livery with Tower up the tail and TWA stripes. The other one was blue I think.