P&W Canada Boeing 720 C-FETB and 747SP N747UT 5/14/08

Hello,
Heres a few shots from a trip back to PBG to get a shot of Sistership to Retired Blue B720 N720PW. Pratt&Whitney Canada Boeing 720 C-FETB at PBG (Plattsburg Intl) This Engine Testbed has been on my top 5 aircraft to photograph for a while now and I finally got my chance. I was going to Canada to get it but it flew to PBG for maintenance witch changed all my plans around. The experience was one that I wont ever forget. To actually get inside of a Boeing 720 (and I dont mean 707) was just awsome. The only disappointment was the lack of space around the aircraft in the hanger made it impossible to get a full aircraft shot. Its ok as I will be going back soon to get some better shots and will post when I get them. I ended up using a smaller camera for the full body shot and had to piece 2 shots together around the nose. The P&W Canada 720 is the last 720 flying in the world. The other two were P&W N720PW and Honeywell N720H both of which have been retired and will be scrapped soon any day now.
Many thanks to P&W Canada for their assistance and thank to Youri Thonon (Montreal Aviation Photographer) for helping me with info about my possible trip to CYHU.
The last 2 shots are of plaques and stickers pertaining to events and programs C-FETB has participated in.
BTW check out the Arabic written on the Lavatory door indicator light; "VACANT". It has both Arabic and English as both B720s are ex MEA 720s. (The Picture with the stickers)

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Congrats on finally catching it, Senga. Nice shots as well! :)

I remember seeing that aircraft overflying YUL back in November and I had no idea what the hell it was!

That's just incredible Senga. I am VERY jealous. Great spread!

Awesome shots, Senga! :shock: And what a unique opportunity! Were you able to get some more shots of their 747SP?

Greets,
-Omar S.

Thanks :)
Omar yes I was just about tp post the SP shots. This is my 3rd of 4th time shooting it.
Here it is from this morning being pushed out for engine runup and a short flight over Maine.
Luckily they backed it out litterally as I got in front of it.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...hotog/ut02.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...hotog/ut03.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...hotog/ut01.jpg
C-FETB sister ship N720PW now stripped and will be broken up next month. The parts stripped off will be used used for C-FETB for the next year before it is retired.

Senga

Amazing shots Senga - congrats on getting such a unique view! I'm like Kenny - very jealous!

senga, you suck! nice shots though!

HOLY CRAP!!!! BRAVO!

Great shots Senga and congrats!

it's a shame that these airplane are no longer going to be flying, but i can understand the need to both upgrade to a larger airplane to carry larger-diameter engines and upgrade the test equipment inside them.

senga, you still suck and i'm immensly jealous of you right now.

Senga, simply amazing group of photos. Wow, not your typical Boeing interior, incredibly imaculant looking cockpit, and love the window view of engines number 3 and 4. What a great photo op you got.

It sounds sadly to late for the birds about to be scrapped but I wonder if there is anyway this one could be donated to a museum when it is retired, maybe at BFI, for example ?

Congrats

LGA777

Quadrupal thanks!,
I think this is my 4th 707 type in a years time.

Matt,
That's true. I am glad they didn't upgrade too far ahead like the Honeywell 720 did to a 757. P&W went to a 747SP..so its not as big of a loss. P&W has another 747SP out in the desert ex Korean Air that is being prepped for service and will replace this B720. P&W is going to buld a new facility in Montreal at Mirabel (CMX) It will be hard to get shots there as they airport is almost unshootable.

Ron,
It would be nice if someone tried toput them into a museum. I mean I dont know how many 720 shells are laying around but I hope SOMEONE wants to save at least one boeing 720.

Senga

Great shots, Senga! Glad to see you could catch her up close. Nice work!

Thanks John,
Now I have to get it far away!
Senga

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SengaB

That's true. I am glad they didn't upgrade too far ahead like the Honeywell 720 did to a 757.

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i'm curious, is there going to be a hardpoint installed on the side of the airplane or are they going to replace one of the engines with the one being tested? i thought that the point of using a four-holer is so that they have the availability of other engines and didn't have to depend on the test engine to power the airplane.

BIG congrats Senga. Looks like you got the tour of a lifetime.

I wouldn't mind taking the tour of B720 myself. Good job Senga.

Rafal

Thanks and Thanks :)

It will be another good memory of my aviation photography.
Senga

Senga,
I think I'm falling in love in this mighty red beauty :P :borat:

Yes I fell in love with it 4 years ago. And still can't stop looking at it!
:)
Senga

Simply beautiful aircraft Senga. Looks like they keep it very clean or only recently re-applied the scheme? Reminiscent of Air Mauritius or old LTU - nice to see a classic airliner in airliner colors, even if its no longer serving an "airline" function.

Tom

I agree, Evertime I see it I keep thinking it was some old airlines' colors that were never painted over. It was MEA it looked kind of like this but its a total repaint.
No it wasnt reapplied. I think they might have washed the plane over the last few days though so it looks really clean.
Senga