JACK McKILLOP COLLECTION
No. 5664. Boeing 720-048 (EI-ALA c/n 18041) Aer Lingus "St. Padraig"
Photograph from Aer Lingus, taken in the 1960s

Lockheed 382U-17J EC-130J Hercules

09/15/2006. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "This aircraft was ordered by Aer Lingus Teoranta (Air Fleet Ltd.) and registered EI-ALA on September 28, 1960, the same day it rolled off the assembly line. It made its first flight on October 14, 1960 and was delivered to Aer Lingus on October 25, 1960 and named "St. Padraig" (St. Patrick). Since it primary use was for transatlantic flights, it was leased during the winter months, first to Braniff Airways of Dallas, Texas, between 15 November 1965 and 15 May 1966 registered N7083 (restored as EI-ALA on 15 May 1966) and later to El Al Israel Airlines of Tel Aviv in Aer Lingus markings between November 1, 1968 and April 27, 1969.

The aircraft was sold to Trans Polar Airlines of Oslo, Norway, named "Roald Amundson" and registered LN-TUU on October 16, 1970. Trans Polar was a charter airline offering flights from Norway to the Mediterranean but it was repossessed by Aer Lingus on May 18, 1971 and Trans Polar declared bankruptcy on June 23. This 720 was restored to the Irish registry as EI-ALA and returned to service on October 18, 1971 named "St. Pappin".

On October 18, 1972, the aircraft was sold to Club International and operated by American Aviation Services of Seattle, Washington, USA between October 26, 1972 and May 1, 1973 on behalf of American travel clubs and charters. The aircraft was registered N734T. It was leased to Pioneer International as N1776Q between May 1 and July 26, 1973 named "City of Niagara Falls", but operated by American International.

In April 1974, it was sold to Hana Industries then resold to Aeroamerica (the new name of American Aviation Service) in June 1974. Leased to Egyptair of Cairo, Egypt, in September and October 1976, it was later stored at Dublin Airport, Ireland, originally for scrapping but it was returned to service with Aeroamerica. It was again placed in storage at Tegel Airport, Berlin, Germany between September 27,1977 and July 17, 1978 and then moved to Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington. Aeroamerica's operating certificate was revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration on November 19, 1979 and the registration was cancelled in November 1983. This 720 was later scrapped for spare parts."


Created September 15, 2006