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Question About VS 747 TF-ABA

C-GRYK From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 751 posts, RR: 41
Posted (12 years 1 month 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 734 times:

Hello,
TF-ABA is being operated by Virgin Atlantic since I'd guess last autumn or winter. Previously, it was operating with Iberia. I've seen photos of the 747-200 in Iberia's full colours dating up to October 2000. Recently, there are some shots of it climbing out of Gatwick in full Virgin 1993 era colours! Why did this machine, which is to my knowledge on a short term lease, not recieve the proper 1999 era "Silver Dream Machine" colour scheme, as all aircraft painted since June or July 1999 have recieved the newest scheme Confused

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Photo © Paul Dopson

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Photo © Chris Sheldon

Thanks
Jeremy

Think before you type!

4 replies: All unread, jump to last

AndyEastMids From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 996 posts, RR: 2
Reply 1, posted (12 years 1 month 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 716 times:

It did not recieve the full new color scheme for exactly the reason you say - it is on fairly short term lease. Overpainting just the tail and engine cowls and adding titles is much cheaper (and quicker) than doing a paint job on the whole airplane, which would then have to be repainted again when the lease was over.

Cost of repainting, particularly lease aircraft, is one of the reasons why the so-called Euro-white has become so popular.

Andy

C-GRYK From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 751 posts, RR: 41
Reply 2, posted (12 years 1 month 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 705 times:

Thanks a lot Andy! I really was dumbfounded as to why this aircraft would get the full older scheme and not maybe the newer titles and tail without the silver paint on the fuselage.

Jeremy

Think before you type!

A40-TY From United Arab Emirates, joined Apr 2000, 143 posts, RR: 0
Reply 3, posted (12 years 1 month 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 691 times:

This aircraft (TF-ABA) is a 747-267 which is being wet-leased by Virgin Atlantic from the specialist carrier Air Atlanta Icelandic (whom themselves have the a/c on long term lease from its owners-Cathay Pacific).

There is no financial incentive to paint the a/c in the full new colours of Virgin Atlantic as it is on a fairly short lease agreement from Air Atlanta. It is also considerably quicker to just paint on the old colorscheme.

I think this aircraft is operating the London or Manchester to Orlando schedule.

I love it when a plan comes together

PhilB From Ireland, joined May 1999, 2915 posts, RR: 14
Reply 4, posted (12 years 1 month 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 683 times:

Apart from the reasons already given, which are totally correct in themselves, the paint used on the fuselage in Virgin's new scheme is a special paint which reflects different shades depending on the light conditions.

Very similar to certain finishes available on Ford cars, it needs a specialist spray system and is very expensive to apply

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