N771PA. Boeing 747-121. c/n 19661-70.

Was also registered as: N819FT; N628FE; N681UP.

 

This aircraft was ordered new by Pan American World Airways - ?

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Everett) - 1970

Powered by Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7A engines

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N771PA - June 1970

Registered to Pan American World Airways

First flown as N771PA - July 24, 1970

Accepted by Pan Am at Seattle - August 04, 1970

The aircraft was named 'Clipper Donald McKay'

Converted to series 121F (Freighter) with a side cargo door - March 1975

Observed at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) in the standard Pan Am livery with additional 'Qantas' titles - 1976

Qantas entered into a cagro capacity agreement with Pan Am using joint flight numbers ex Sydney

Qantas purchased cargo space on the main and lower deck for weekly freight service

Route: Sydney - Nadi - Honolulu - Los Angeles - Chicago - New York return

This aircraft was substantially damaged on landing at London (Heathrow) Airport - December 29, 1979

The fuel pipe to Number 4 engine ruptured on landing due to a fatigue failure of pylon forward of the bulkhead

A high volume of fuel was released which caught fire under Number 4 engine unbeknown to the crew

As the crew turned off the runway they were made aware of the fire and initiated an engine fire drill

The airport fire services brought the engine / wing fire under control when the aircraft stopped on the taxiway

The aircraft had flown 34,615 hours with 9,505 cycles at the time of this accident

Repaired on site and returned to service - 1980

Sold to Flying Tiger Airlines - February 1983

Reregistered as N819FT - February 24, 1983

Ownership was transferred to Federal Express (Fedex) when Flying Tigers was sold - December 1988

Sold to Polaris Aircraft Leasing and leased back to Fedex - June 24, 1989

The aircraft was registered as N628FE - January 29, 1990

Registered to Polaris Aircraft Leasing

Leased to Federal Express (Fedex) as the registered operator

Returned to Polaris Aircraft Leasing at the end of the lease - May 31, 1991

Sold to United Parcel Services Company - May 31, 1991

Reregistered as N681UP - June 14, 1991

The aircraft sustained slight damage at Louisville - March 19, 1992

The right wingtip struck a blast fence whilst taxiing under the direction of ground marshallers

It was repaired and returned to service

It was observed stored at Roswell, New Mexico - November 15, 2007

The aircraft was observed stored at Roswell - September 11, 2010

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - December 08, 2011

Scrapped at Roswell by Stewart Industries Inrtenational - 2012

 

 

N771PA. Pan Am Cargo - 'Clipper Donald McKay' in the standard livery with additional 'Qantas' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1976.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4630-585.)

N771PA. Pan Am Cargo - 'Clipper Donald McKay' in the standard livery with additional 'Qantas' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1976.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4630-586.)

N771PA. Pan Am Cargo - 'Clipper Donald McKay' in the standard livery with additional 'Qantas' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1976.

From left to right: Jim Cunliffe (Qantas Cargo Operations Controller, Sydney), Jack Guy (Qantas Cargo Terminal Manager, Sydney), Jim Ledger (Qantas Cargo Manager, Australia), Peter Langdon (Qantas Cargo Sales Manager, N.S.W.), Bill Morgan (Qantas Cargo Sales Manager, Chicago).

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4630-587.)

N771PA. Pan Am Cargo - 'Clipper Donald McKay' in the standard livery with additional 'Qantas' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1976.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4630-589.)

N771PA. Pan Am Cargo - 'Clipper Donald McKay' in the standard livery with additional 'Qantas' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1976.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4630-588.)

N771PA. Pan Am Cargo - 'Clipper Donald McKay' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 10, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-481.)

N771PA. Pan Am Cargo - 'Clipper Donald McKay' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 10, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-331.)

N771PA. Pan Am Cargo - 'Clipper Donald McKay' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 10, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-806.)

N819FT. Flying Tigers - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, circa 1987.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4631-582.)