Dubai B707
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Baghdad (BGW)
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I guess you own a museum.
Rumours has it that Marco Polo's graffiti can be seen on the fuselage. He painted it there while on his way to the subcontinent
There was a prospetor who spent some good amount of Dollars trying to revive it some years ago but...
Your turn-off will be when you get the parking charges from the DCA
Rumours has it that Marco Polo's graffiti can be seen on the fuselage. He painted it there while on his way to the subcontinent
There was a prospetor who spent some good amount of Dollars trying to revive it some years ago but...
Your turn-off will be when you get the parking charges from the DCA
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Join Date: Jun 2001
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It was an African registered cargo bird. DGCA (local regulator) did a tech inspection on the aircraft during one of its Dubai tuurnarounds and found a cracked main spar. Owner/operator begged to be allowed to take it back to home base "for repairs". DGCA refused - (and if they hadn't, my guess is that it would still be flying arouund Africa today... unrepaired).
One of the EK engineers attempted to buy it for spares a year or two after it was grounded but the deal fell through because - THEN - the parking fees were more than the aircraft was worth. God only knows what they'd be by now.
Last couple of times I passed it, its doors were open, so I'd be guessing the state of its interior would be very poor by now. I'm surprised DUBAL hasn't dragged it off to add its carcase to their smelters years ago. The way things are going at DXB, it appears to at risk of being "built in".
One of the EK engineers attempted to buy it for spares a year or two after it was grounded but the deal fell through because - THEN - the parking fees were more than the aircraft was worth. God only knows what they'd be by now.
Last couple of times I passed it, its doors were open, so I'd be guessing the state of its interior would be very poor by now. I'm surprised DUBAL hasn't dragged it off to add its carcase to their smelters years ago. The way things are going at DXB, it appears to at risk of being "built in".
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: U.K.
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It amazes me that the PIA A.300 and the Aeroflot IL-86 got carted away, but the 707 has survived intact and let's face it, takes up space which I am sure could/would be better utilised.
Join Date: May 2006
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Wiley - Fact is the aircraft, then EL-ZGS of Triangle Airlines (U) Ltd. diverted into Dubai in April 1996 with the # 3 engine shut down due to total oil loss from the back bearing housing. The DCA at this time were not involved but the lessor and the lessee were at odds with each other as to the reliability of this ex-Korean aircraft over the preceding few months which culminated in this diversion. The aircraft was given a once over by a few on station and qualified engineers and it was decided that the overall health of the aircraft was not good. The other engines showed signs of great distress and in particular, extensive fan blade damage, although not uncommon on the JT3. these were way out of order ! Also of note were the repairs to bullet holes from ground fire taken over Africa in the gear doors and aft fuselage. The subsequent wranglings between the 2 parties led to the aircraft enduring a lengthy ground time until responsibility for the repairs could be established. It is this that led to the escalating ground costs overriding the lease returns and it has languished there ever since. An attempt was made to 'refloat' the lady which actually involved replacing the damaged engine and a year of cosmetic corrosion removal and general tidying up but it seems this money too ran out. Hope this helps . . . .
