Welcome to the 2021 Southern California aircraft storage activity thread.

Please continue below.

Link to previous discussion viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1445691

Great to see this thread continuing from last year, always informative and VCVSpotter is dedicated to his threads. Hope for a prosperous 2021 for VCVSpotter and all who visit this thread, stay safe!

Thank you dougbr2006 Wishing a better year for all!

We have a lot of movements at VCV today (January 2, 2021):

Southwest 737-700 N713SW flying PHX-VCV as WN8501 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n713sw

Southwest 737-700 N741SA flying PHX-VCV as WN8502 for storage. I would expect to see some more Southwest 737-700s go to VCV as the 737MAX is re-introduced.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n741sa

Alaska A320 N621VA flying GSO-VCV as AS9801 for return to lessor according to skyliners.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n621va
https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb. ... av4&page=1

Delta 757-200 N550NW exited storage VCV-VQQ as DL9936.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n550nw

Another wave of VCV movements today (January 5, 2021):

Southwest 737-700 N706SW flying LAS-VCV as WN8504 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n706sw

Southwest 737-700 N739GB flying LAS-VCV as WN8505 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n739gb

Alaska 737-700 N607AS flying SEA-VCV as AS9461 for repaint.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n607as

Swift Air 737-400 N440US flying DEN-VCV as WQ3515 on their usual charter route.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n440us

Delta MD-90-30 N908DA filed BYH-VCV 4:30PM - 6:15PM as DL9939.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n908da

Looks like Cavok Air had a late start today, finally taxiing out to the runway at SBD as I type:
Cavok Air AN-12 UR-CKL flying SBD-IAH as CVK7149.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ur-ckl

Looking at the arrivals boards for SBD, it looks like we'll have quite a few Delta 717 storage/retirement flights in the coming days, I'll post those once they are 'firm' (aka in the air and en route to SBD).
https://flightaware.com/live/airport/KSBD/enroute

One final note, China Airlines has announced the retirement of their 747-400 fleet by February 6, 2021, so expect them to start ferrying to VCV (at least I think) in the coming weeks.

MHV news dump:
Virgin Orbit has announced their launch date, which is currently scheduled for Sunday January 10, 2021 between 10AM and 2PM. I will (hopefully) be out there if everything looks good to go from the team.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJrTT_qhJJj/

Additionally, keep an eye on Lufthansa 747-400s D-ABVR and D-ABVT, which are marked to exit Lufthansa's fleet in January and February 2021 respectively. They should be ferrying to MHV.
https://sites.google.com/site/lhgroupfleet/lufthansa

Delta 737-900ER N889DN exited storage VCV-ATL as DL9950.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n889dn

Looks like Delta's N908DA wanted to stay at BYH another day, her flight to VCV was cancelled.
Delta MD-90 N908DA filed BYH-VCV 2:10PM - 3:23PM as DL9937 tomorrow (January 6, 2021).
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N90 ... /KBYH/KVCV

Aeroflot 777-300ER VQ-BFO exited storage VCV-PAE as BOE856.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE856

Wave 1 of Delta 717s to SBD (Jan 6, 2021):
Delta 717-200 N938AT flying DFW-SBD as DL9963 for retirement.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n938at

Delta 717-200 N923AT flying DFW-SBD as DL9962 for retirement.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n923at

Delta 717-200 N930AT flying DFW-SBD as DL9964 for retirement.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n930at

Delta 717-200 N932AT flying DFW-SBD as DL9965 for retirement.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n932at

Wave 2 of Delta 717s to SBD (Jan 7, 2021):
Delta 717-200 N892AT flying DFW-SBD as DL9961 for retirement.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n892at

Delta 717-200 N891AT flying DFW-SBD as DL9962 for retirement.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n891at

Delta 717-200 N895AT flying DFW-SBD as DL9963 for retirement.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n895at

LOT 787-9 SP-LSI flew CHS-VCV as BOE751 for storage.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/sp-lsi

VCVSpotter wrote:

LOT 787-9 SP-LSI flew CHS-VCV as BOE751 for storage.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/sp-lsi

End of Lease?

marinc wrote:

VCVSpotter wrote:

LOT 787-9 SP-LSI flew CHS-VCV as BOE751 for storage.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/sp-lsi

End of Lease?

No its just going into storage until to airline is ready to take delivery of it

According to this (usually accurate site), Aeroflot 777-300ER VQ-BFN will exit VCV storage tomorrow (Friday, Jan 8).

http://kpae.blogspot.com/2021/01/paine- ... 6.html?m=1

Movements for Jan 8, 2021:
Delta 717-200 N922AT flying DFW-SBD as DL9961 for retirement.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n922at

Delta 737-900ER N835DN exited storage VCV-QRO as DL9937.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n835dn

From the 2020 thread:

ryanflyer wrote:

dougbr2006 wrote:

Have all the Interjet Airbuses gone now? Also the Latam aircraft B787s etc. where are they parked up now and are the A320s still in the same location. I note you said all the B787's are in the center area near the ex LH 7478. If that's the case how have they parked them since the last reorganization as the markings that the made will not accommodate the number of 787s there now. Anyone got new aerial photos since start of December. Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I’m @diecastryan from Instagram and have a lot of photos from my aerial flight over MHV and VCV. The 787s are in the middle next to the 747. The southwest 737-700s are now lined up on the taxiway across, while delta still occupies most of the runway. Latam birds are stored across runway 35. I have some photos I’ve posted on Anet, and a few on Instagram as does Vin.

Thanks a lot for posting some of your photos on Anet, ryanflyer. This is an amazing shot.

As we come back to the topic of aircraft being scrapped at VCV on this thread regularly, I would really appreciate if you happen to have similar shots of the area around the scrapping pads (see below for an example of what I have in mind), and if you could post them on Anet.

a2b7 wrote:

From the 2020 thread:

ryanflyer wrote:

dougbr2006 wrote:

Have all the Interjet Airbuses gone now? Also the Latam aircraft B787s etc. where are they parked up now and are the A320s still in the same location. I note you said all the B787's are in the center area near the ex LH 7478. If that's the case how have they parked them since the last reorganization as the markings that the made will not accommodate the number of 787s there now. Anyone got new aerial photos since start of December. Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I’m @diecastryan from Instagram and have a lot of photos from my aerial flight over MHV and VCV. The 787s are in the middle next to the 747. The southwest 737-700s are now lined up on the taxiway across, while delta still occupies most of the runway. Latam birds are stored across runway 35. I have some photos I’ve posted on Anet, and a few on Instagram as does Vin.

Thanks a lot for posting some of your photos on Anet, ryanflyer.

This is an amazing shot.

As we come back to the topic of aircraft being scrapped at VCV on this thread regularly, I would really appreciate if you happen to have similar shots of the area around the scrapping pads (see below for an example of what I have in mind), and if you could post them on Anet.

So glad you like them! I will try and upload some more. A few the screeners didn’t like but I can’t for the life of me figure out how to post pictures so I apologize for that.

ryanflyer wrote:

a2b7 wrote:

From the 2020 thread:

ryanflyer wrote:

I’m @diecastryan from Instagram and have a lot of photos from my aerial flight over MHV and VCV. The 787s are in the middle next to the 747. The southwest 737-700s are now lined up on the taxiway across, while delta still occupies most of the runway. Latam birds are stored across runway 35. I have some photos I’ve posted on Anet, and a few on Instagram as does Vin.

Thanks a lot for posting some of your photos on Anet, ryanflyer.

This is an amazing shot.

As we come back to the topic of aircraft being scrapped at VCV on this thread regularly, I would really appreciate if you happen to have similar shots of the area around the scrapping pads (see below for an example of what I have in mind), and if you could post them on Anet.

So glad you like them! I will try and upload some more. A few the screeners didn’t like but I can’t for the life of me figure out how to post pictures so I apologize for that.

Yeah Anet has got a high standard for its photo database.
No need to apologize. On Anet, one can only embed pictures from the photo database, or pictures that are hosted on services like imgur, flickr, etc., as attaching images to posts is not possible, see for example viewtopic.php?t=1385435 . Many of the photos you can see on the forum are hosted on such an external service.

I also would love to see some more shots from ryanflyer

Aeroflot 777-300ER N5512A (future VQ-BFN) exited storage VCV-PAE as BOE350. Interestingly enough, it appears that she used runway 3 for departure (one of the crosswind runways). That would mean that VCV has done a LOT of moving around to shift all of the remaining Delta aircraft, one Qantas A380, and the undelivered 777s to another location on the airport. Wonder what VCV looks like now.......
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE350
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n5512a

The converted ex Jet Airways 737-800F N67TC (now listed as owned by DHL by planespotters) has filed SBD-SBD 12PM - 12:46PM as a test flight.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N67TC

Finally, there are two Southwest 737-700s scheduled into VCV later today, which I will cover when they’re in the air and the registrations are known.

Southwest 737-700 N742SW flying PHX-VCV as WN8502 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n742sw

Southwest 737-700 N704SW flying PHX-VCV as WN8501 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n704sw

VCVSpotter wrote:

I also would love to see some more shots from ryanflyer

Aeroflot 777-300ER N5512A (future VQ-BFN) exited storage VCV-PAE as BOE350. Interestingly enough, it appears that she used runway 3 for departure (one of the crosswind runways). That would mean that VCV has done a LOT of moving around to shift all of the remaining Delta aircraft, one Qantas A380, and the undelivered 777s to another location on the airport. Wonder what VCV looks like now.......
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE350
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n5512a

The converted ex Jet Airways 737-800F N67TC (now listed as owned by DHL by planespotters) has filed SBD-SBD 12PM - 12:46PM as a test flight.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N67TC

Finally, there are two Southwest 737-700s scheduled into VCV later today, which I will cover when they’re in the air and the registrations are known.

Wow that certainly is a major development at KVCV. There was a lot of aircraft parked up on that runway, agree would be interesting to see what they did with them all. Hopefully someone will get some aerial shots of where they parked everything up.

VCVSpotter wrote:

I also would love to see some more shots from ryanflyer

Aeroflot 777-300ER N5512A (future VQ-BFN) exited storage VCV-PAE as BOE350. Interestingly enough, it appears that she used runway 3 for departure (one of the crosswind runways). That would mean that VCV has done a LOT of moving around to shift all of the remaining Delta aircraft, one Qantas A380, and the undelivered 777s to another location on the airport. Wonder what VCV looks like now.......
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE350
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n5512a

The converted ex Jet Airways 737-800F N67TC (now listed as owned by DHL by planespotters) has filed SBD-SBD 12PM - 12:46PM as a test flight.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N67TC

Finally, there are two Southwest 737-700s scheduled into VCV later today, which I will cover when they’re in the air and the registrations are known.

A NOTAM that just came out a few days ago shows that from January 7th to July 30 RWY 17/35 is closed. Must be doing a resurfacing project on it.

VCV 01/009 (KVCV A0014/21) VCV RWY 17/35 CLSD 2101071400-2107302359

FX1816

FX1816 wrote:

VCVSpotter wrote:

I also would love to see some more shots from ryanflyer

Aeroflot 777-300ER N5512A (future VQ-BFN) exited storage VCV-PAE as BOE350. Interestingly enough, it appears that she used runway 3 for departure (one of the crosswind runways). That would mean that VCV has done a LOT of moving around to shift all of the remaining Delta aircraft, one Qantas A380, and the undelivered 777s to another location on the airport. Wonder what VCV looks like now.......
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE350
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n5512a

The converted ex Jet Airways 737-800F N67TC (now listed as owned by DHL by planespotters) has filed SBD-SBD 12PM - 12:46PM as a test flight.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N67TC

Finally, there are two Southwest 737-700s scheduled into VCV later today, which I will cover when they’re in the air and the registrations are known.

A NOTAM that just came out a few days ago shows that from January 7th to July 30 RWY 17/35 is closed. Must be doing a resurfacing project on it.

VCV 01/009 (KVCV A0014/21) VCV RWY 17/35 CLSD 2101071400-2107302359

FX1816

Some of the best news I've heard in a long time, that means that spotting should be MUCH easier, especially for runway 21 arrivals.
Can't wait to catch some stuff arriving on that runway (hopefully the 779.....)

RAF A330-200MRTT ZZ332 flew BZZ-VCV as RRR2136.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zz332

The newest aerial photo (although it can only be seen with an Instagram account), shows at least 24 Delta aircraft (mainly narrowbodies) lined up in a row on the taxiway next to runway 17/35. The actual runway itself is not used, nor are there any construction equipment or anything else on it as of yet.

If the runway is getting resurfaced, one has to wonder how they will access an aircraft in the back if a need for it urgently comes up....will they seriously have to tow all of those DL aircraft away?? Seems like a major hassle to say the least.

Very annoyingly for spotting, the taxiway leading to runway 21 is also packed with nine aircraft, which means spotting arrivals on that runway will be challenging to say the least

https://www.instagram.com/stories/spott ... 235771580/

Southwest 737MAX8 N8728Q exited storage VCV-PHX as WN8701.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n8728q

Southwest 737MAX8 N8730Q exited storage VCV-PHX as WN8702.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n8730q

DHL 737-800F N67TC filed SBD-SBD 12PM - 12:46PM as a test flight.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N67TC

RAF A330-200MRTT ZZ332 flying VCV-??? (looks like BZZ).
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zz332

Uzbekistan 787-8 UK-78706 filed VCV-PAE 12PM - 2:08PM as BOE990.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE990

VCVSpotter wrote:

Southwest 737MAX8 N8728Q exited storage VCV-PHX as WN8701.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n8728q

Southwest 737MAX8 N8730Q exited storage VCV-PHX as WN8702.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n8730q

I think you meant VCV-HOU 'cause that's what FR24 is showing for their destination

B777lover wrote:

VCVSpotter wrote:

Southwest 737MAX8 N8728Q exited storage VCV-PHX as WN8701.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n8728q

Southwest 737MAX8 N8730Q exited storage VCV-PHX as WN8702.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n8730q

I think you meant VCV-HOU 'cause that's what FR24 is showing for their destination

Oops yup Was up til 4AM so still waking up over on the west coast lol. Used to seeing PHX from the 737-700 storage flights.

Samaritan’s Purse DC-8 N782SP flying GSO-PMD!
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N782SP

DHL 737-800F N67TC filed SBD-MEX 6PM - 11:03PM.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N67TC

VCVSpotter wrote:

Samaritan’s Purse DC-8 N782SP flying GSO-PMD!
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N782SP

Weird, I checked PMD this morning and they didn't show anything. Click PMD and they still don't...

Newark727 wrote:

VCVSpotter wrote:

Samaritan’s Purse DC-8 N782SP flying GSO-PMD!
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N782SP

Weird, I checked PMD this morning and they didn't show anything. Click PMD and they still don't...

I encountered the same thing. Strange.

Anyways, this is why they’re here:
https://mobile.twitter.com/Franklin_Gra ... 7260715009
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article ... es-county/?

On another note, 2 more WN 737s went to VCV:
Southwest 737-700 N723SW flew LAX-VCV as WN8501 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n723sw

Southwest 737-700 N710SW flew LAX-VCV as WN8500 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n710sw

Samaritan’s Purse DC-8F N872SP headed back to base this afternoon, PMD-GSO.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N782SP

Are all the TAM/LATAM aircraft still resident, that includes the Buses' and Boeings' Where are they located now?

dougbr2006 wrote:

Are all the TAM/LATAM aircraft still resident, that includes the Buses' and Boeings' Where are they located now?

All of the TAM/LATAM aircraft that flew into VCV are still here. I'm like 90% sure that they haven't moved from there (see photo):
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJjkQf0BESC/

VCV News (1/12):
Singapore Airlines 787-10 9V-SCQ flying CHS-VCV as BOE17 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/boe17

Alaska 737-800 N557AS flying SEA-VCV as AS9460 for repaint.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n557as

DOJ 737-700 N738A flying LAS-VCV-??? as DOJ061, probably prisoner transport.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n738a

Delta MD-90 N908DA (unconfirmed but most likely) filed BYH-VCV 1PM - 2:43PM as DL9936 tomorrow (Wednesday January 13).
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/dl9936

VCVSpotter wrote:

Delta MD-90 N908DA (unconfirmed but most likely) filed BYH-VCV 1PM - 2:43PM as DL9936 tomorrow (Wednesday January 13).
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/dl9936

Looks like I was correct, Ex Delta MD-90-30 N908DA is now indeed filed to fly to VCV later today (writing this at 12:51AM). This will be her third attempt to fly to VCV, maybe 3rd time's the charm??
Sadly, it looks like her livery has been removed :/
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n908da

Ex Alaska A320 N621VA filed VCV-SAT 8:30AM - 1PM as AS9521. This aircraft is now in the Volotea livery.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n621va

At least 2 Delta A220s should be flying into SBD later today, posts will be up when they're in the air to avoid 'fake' postings.

SBD Movements January 13, 2021:
Cavok Air AN-12 UR-CKL flew IAH-SBD as CVK7152.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ur-ckl

Delta A220-100 N111NG flying DTW-SBD as DL9960 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n111ng

Delta A220-100 N114DU flying DTW-SBD as DL9961 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n114du

Delta A220-100 N125DU flying DTW-SBD as DL9962 for storage. (Using FlightAware link as FR24 is buggy with this one for some reason).
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N125DU

Also, confirmation that Delta MD-90-30 N908DA is en route to VCV:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n908da

MHV News Dump January 13:
ANA 777-200 JA705A is at ANC, should be ferrying to MHV soon according to skyliners.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JA705A
https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb. ... av4&page=3

Now to probably the biggest news of today:
A 707-351 (N707CA) was spotted getting towed to the ASB hangar at MHV this morning after being stored longer than I've been alive lol. (Need to be logged in and part of the group to see the link):
https://m.facebook.com/groups/338719443 ... browse#_=_

The last flight for this bird was on July 20, 2001. Absolutely INSANE.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N707CA

I put the pictures below, all credit goes to Timothy Kutzbach on Facebook.

VCV/SBD Movements (Jan 14):
ANA 777-200 JA705A flew ANC-MHV as NH9432 for retirement, many more will be coming...
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ja705a

Future Eastern Airways 767-200 N509KW filed VCV-MCI 10:30AM - 3:03PM.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N50 ... /KVCV/KMCI

Delta A220-100 N107DU flew MSP-SBD as DL9961 for storage.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N107DU

Any idea what they are doing to the 707?

Tn55337 wrote:

Any idea what they are doing to the 707?

No one I’ve talked to has any solid info regarding its future, but we agree that it’ll either be full scrap for parts (as it’s owned by Omega), or they’ll rework it, put engines on, and fly it out. Wishful thinking promotes the 2nd idea more, but no one knows for sure. I might be going up to MHV on Sunday for Virgin Orbit’s test so I’ll try to see what’s up with the 707 as well.

Side note: On my last post I said N509KW was a 762, it’s a 763. FlightAware got me mixed up :/

American 787-8 N874AN filed PAE-VCV 8:30AM - 10:45AM as BOE17 for storage.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE17

Looks like this managed to escape me yesterday:
HiFly Malta A330-300 9H-HFE flew BRU-VCV for return to lessor according to skyliner.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/9h-hfe
https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb. ... av4&page=2

Some more VCV movements earlier in the afternoon today (Jan 15):
Alaska 737-700 N607AS exited paint VCV-SEA as AS9461. Folks over in the Alaska repaint thread confirmed that it was in the regular Alaska new livery.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n607as

Southwest 737-700 N790SW flew IND-VCV as WN8700 for storage.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n790sw

Delta 737-800 N389DA exited storage VCV-LAX as DL9965.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n389da

RAF A330-200MRTT ZZ331 flew BZZ-VCV as RRR2138.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zz331

RAF A330-200MRTT ZZ331 flying VCV-BZZ as RRR2139.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/zz331

Virgin Orbit looks to be on track for their launch tomorrow morning, window 10AM - 2PM Pacific.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKHfSw1hncg/

GECAS 777-300ER N557CC filed SBD-SBD 1PM - 3:36PM as a test flight.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N557CC

A TON of people were out at MHV today for Virgin Orbit, here are a few shots from various different locations for those of you who couldn't make it:
Mine: https://www.instagram.com/p/CKKCqoGhp42/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKKjrzKBcd-/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKKbm86B6XM/
https://twitter.com/TuckerWelker/status ... 5026869248

Official Photos:
https://twitter.com/Virgin_Orbit/status ... 8855521280

Video of the launch:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKKrwNQBKux/

Secondly, I was able to take a quick look at the 707 (my pics below) and I've heard that she has a new owner (NOT Omega Air). Now what that new owner does with her (scrap or a new life) is still unknown (by me at least). But it looks like they'll be working on her as the stairs are attached and they moved her to the 'active' part of the airport after being stored for 20 years. If she was going to be scrapped, I don't think that she would be moved at all (to the 'active' area at least), but who knows. I guess we just have to keep an eye on her for a bit to see what happens. If anyone knows her fate, please reach out.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKKe_WDhShM/

FedEx 777F N840FD filed ARA-VCV as FX9035 for paint into the FedEx livery.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/FDX9035

This is ex Etihad Cargo 777F A6-DDA, but she is NOT in the Etihad livery. She's all white (as evidenced by the image below, taken in early December 2020 when FedEx was using her for the holiday peak):
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIjXYK8BOr6/

For those who are curious, N840FD was at ARA for conformity maintenance.

VCVSpotter wrote:

Tn55337 wrote:

Any idea what they are doing to the 707?

No one I’ve talked to has any solid info regarding its future, but we agree that it’ll either be full scrap for parts (as it’s owned by Omega), or they’ll rework it, put engines on, and fly it out. Wishful thinking promotes the 2nd idea more, but no one knows for sure. I might be going up to MHV on Sunday for Virgin Orbit’s test so I’ll try to see what’s up with the 707 as well.

Side note: On my last post I said N509KW was a 762, it’s a 763. FlightAware got me mixed up :/

Could be using parts off of this jet to assist N707GF which is under conversion to tanker for them. Would obviously be nice to see this jet make it's way out of the desert also.

CX747 wrote:

VCVSpotter wrote:

Tn55337 wrote:

Any idea what they are doing to the 707?

No one I’ve talked to has any solid info regarding its future, but we agree that it’ll either be full scrap for parts (as it’s owned by Omega), or they’ll rework it, put engines on, and fly it out. Wishful thinking promotes the 2nd idea more, but no one knows for sure. I might be going up to MHV on Sunday for Virgin Orbit’s test so I’ll try to see what’s up with the 707 as well.

Side note: On my last post I said N509KW was a 762, it’s a 763. FlightAware got me mixed up :/

Could be using parts off of this jet to assist N707GF which is under conversion to tanker for them. Would obviously be nice to see this jet make it's way out of the desert also.

I didn’t know about the storied history behind 707GF, but it’s very interesting, for those who didn’t know. This article was quite informative and very interesting

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/3 ... eling-firm

gdavis003 wrote:

CX747 wrote:

VCVSpotter wrote:

No one I’ve talked to has any solid info regarding its future, but we agree that it’ll either be full scrap for parts (as it’s owned by Omega), or they’ll rework it, put engines on, and fly it out. Wishful thinking promotes the 2nd idea more, but no one knows for sure. I might be going up to MHV on Sunday for Virgin Orbit’s test so I’ll try to see what’s up with the 707 as well.

Side note: On my last post I said N509KW was a 762, it’s a 763. FlightAware got me mixed up :/

Could be using parts off of this jet to assist N707GF which is under conversion to tanker for them. Would obviously be nice to see this jet make it's way out of the desert also.

I didn’t know about the storied history behind 707GF, but it’s very interesting, for those who didn’t know. This article was quite informative and very interesting

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/3 ... eling-firm

It seems very plausible, however I’ve been told that N707CA (the one at MHV) is NOT owned by Omega anymore. Not sure if the new owner will harvest her for parts or actually fly her out.

The reason I initially dismissed the idea of scrapping (or at least put less weight on it than usual) was that they could’ve easily scrapped her in the yard; however, they towed her out after 2 decades of storage. Maybe I’m reading too much into that but only time will tell.