"JAWS" (1974)

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

This's a subject worked up for the POSKY V4 B747-100 SF .... by our very own Erik INGRAM (some of our guys do like painting "other things" too and which is "good")

The FLYING TIGER LINE took delivery of its first B747 freighter on August 28th 1974 .... N800FT, C/N # 20100, L/N # 46.

This particular aircraft was one of the original AMERICAN AIRLINES B747-123's .... N9661 .... and which had been delivered to the airline on June 18th 1970.

It was converted to a pure freighter during August 1974 .... then delivered to/sold to FTL. Upon its delivery to FTL N800FT was adorned with shark mouth and eyes nose art (McDONNELL-DOUGLAS had also once temporarily applied something similar to an FTL DC-8 SUPER 63CF) .... reminiscent of that once supported by P-40 fighters operated by the US AVG corp/group, based in China, and fighting the Japanese advance there, prior to the outbreak of WW2.















Sadly (maybe) this nose art was removed from the aircraft (as had been the case with the DC-8 too) prior to it entering commercial service with FTL .... apparently in consideration of the fact that whilst the airline serviced Asian ports there was a perception, by some, that the artwork might offend "certain nations of the region"

FTL leased B747 N800FT to PAN AM CARGO (N903PA, Clipper Express) from January 8th 1978 until July 31st 1979. It was then sold to the FIRST SECURITY BANK OF UTAH on May 2nd 1981 .... then leased to AMERICAN AIRLINES (N9661) .... and sold to the airline during December 1984. It was then sold to UPS (N674UP) on during December 1984 .... and re-registered "N674UP" on February 1st 1985. It was next sold to BANKERS TRUST COMPANY during February 1987 .... then leased back to UPS .... then sold to the airline again on December 29th 1995. It was withdrawn from service during September 2002 and stored at Roswell, New Mexico. Then it was finally sold to STEWART INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL LLC on July 11th 2004 .... and scrapped later that same year.

I'll let Erik take up this thread from here and within which he might later like to announce the file name, and FS service location, to which he eventually uploads this finished texture subject .... whenever he's ready to do so

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Couple of rare photos of the actual aircraft.


"RARE" .... because, as I mentioned above, this nose art was applied to the aircraft (N800FT .... FTL's first B741F) for it its delivery ceremony, but, promptly removed prior its is entry to commercial service with FTL .... apparently for the reason stated above.





Mark C
AKL/NZ

[alex94]

Sorry, would it have offended due to military aircraft having the shark mouth?

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

would it have offended

It was "A PERCEPTION" rather than a fact

I suspect it's just that some parties didn't like to be reminded of certain past events .... whereas others "choose" not to remember.

Some feelings/sentiments, within some places, and among some levels of societies within those places, were still pretty raw during the late 60's/early 70's period.

Time (since) may have mellowed this to some extent by now though (?).

It (perhaps) needs to be remembered that this B747 nose art appeared "48" years ago .... and a similar version applied to a DC-8 appeared "53" years ago.

Perceptions and tolerances can change with the passage of time

Mark C
AKL/NZ