Hi all

Been doing some googling and it would seem that N720JR hasn't been seen since 20 Jan 2005 when it was at Malta.

It was reported at Beirut 13 Sep 2005 but this report is now in question as it apparently never moved from Malta since its arrival on 11 March 2004.

Does anyone (at Malta?) have any recent sightings and/or info re this bird please?

R

I was able to find a picture of it dated Sept 2005, still at the same stand in Malta. The interesting thing is that the FAA shows:

ATTENTION!
This aircraft's registration status may not be suitable for operation.

Please contact the Aircraft Registration Branch at 1-866-762-9434 for additional information.

It's a shame to see a bird like this sitting around like that.

This aircraft is owned by a Lebanese company called JR Executive. Here's there website:

http://www.jrexecutive.com.lb

I believe N720JR is still in Malta, but I cannot confirm.

Keep in mind that JR Executive has another 720, its registration is P4-NJR, and it is parked in Beirut.

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Photo © Kamal Safa

A few years ago, a routine inspection being conducted by the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) found tiny cracks on the wing and fuselage. They deemed the aircraft not safe to fly, so they grounded and it's been grounded ever since.

It has changed locations on the airport a number of times though. For a while, it was parked in the remote stands next to the terminal, so one could get a very close view of it while driving up the ramp to the departure level of the terminal. Here is a picture:

MyAviation.net photo:

Photo © Richard Adler

I doubt that it will be restored. My guess is it will be made into a restaurant or something.

Regards

There are three other Boeing 720s still operating. Honeywell operates one, N720H and Pratt & Whitney operates two, N720PW and C-FETB. They are all used as engine test beds.

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Photo © Chris Coduto

AeroWeanie is correct. There are some other 720s still in flyable service. The 2 owned by Pratt & Whitney will probably be the last of their kind. That awesome photo above showing the 2 720s flying in formation is truly a classic shot. Too bad Bill Harm's website is retired. He would have shown us which 720s are still here with us. Regards.

Just saw PWC's 720 climbing over Montréal, a few days ago. The sky was just perfect blue.

Aaaaahhhh----

(no camera... sorry)

Quoting FlagshipAZ (Reply 4): Too bad Bill Harm's website is retired. He would have shown us which 720s are still here with us

My friends at airlinerlist.com have the exact same info as what Bill would have had. They too also don't show any recent sightings, hence why I asked the question. I did do some research before asking.

No-one knows for sure of the current status of N720JR then?

R

N720JR is still at Malta, it was towed around the airport but didn't fly since it arrived there 11 March 2004, is seen last month and I am sure we here it as soon as anything happens as there is an active spotters community on Malta.

A sighting at Beirut in 2005 was a mistake, that must have been P4-NJR instead (which hasn't flown for about 5 years).

thanks RobK for refering to us,
Servaas

RobK,

I have done some research for you regarding N720JR.

N720JR was banned from flying by Lebanese authorities in September 2003 after a routine inspection sighted 31 defects.

Here is an excerpt from an article:

Lebanese aviation officials told The Associated Press that the JR Executive Boeing 720 has been grounded at Beirut International Airport since Sept. 12.

The decision was taken according to a directive issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation after inspection showed the jet to have 31 defects, the aviation officials said.

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/Ne...2256E1C003EDDC1?OpenDocument&PRINT

However, it was flown to Malta in March 2004 and has been there ever since, reportedly not airworthy I'm afraid.

There was a rumor that it returned to Beirut last September (in 2005), but the sighting turned out to be false.

I believe it is still in Malta. It is not allowed to fly in Lebanese airspace and in the airspace of many other countries including Switzerland as that article mentions.

Hope this helps.

Quoting MEA-707" class=quote target=_blank>MEA-707 (Reply 7): A sighting at Beirut in 2005 was a mistake, that must have been P4-NJR instead (which hasn't flown for about 5 years).

Correct, it hasn't been flying since 2001 and is not airworthy. I mixed up the two in my earlier post. The routine inspection I mentioned was for N720JR as P4-NJR was grounded by Lebanese civil aviation authorities years before.

In February 2004, the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) also grounded all of TMA's Boeing 707 freighters. They have gotten pretty strict.

Quoting AeroWeanie (Reply 3): Pratt & Whitney operates two, N720PW and C-FETB. They are all used as engine test beds.

Quoting FlagshipAZ (Reply 4): The 2 owned by Pratt & Whitney will probably be the last of their kind.

Nice picture AeroWeanie. Ironically, both are ex-MEA birds from Lebanon.

N720PW was sold to Pratt & Whitney Canada by MEA in December 1995 while C-FETB was sold in January 1986.

N720PW I believe was used as the engine testbed for the PW6000. I remember seeing a picture a couple of years ago.

Regards

Argh, my apologies MEA-707, I didn't notice that you were talking about N720JR and how the sighting in Beirut in 2005 turned out to be false.  

Quoting FlagshipAZ (Reply 4): The 2 owned by Pratt & Whitney will probably be the last of their kind.

   Four engine airframes are just too useful to test engines. I watched one of these two test beds flying around with the original pw6000... looked great! Sigh... Hopefully the pw6000A can redeem the line.  

Lightsaber

Quoting Lightsaber (Reply 10): Four engine airframes are just too useful to test engines. I watched one of these two test beds flying around with the original pw6000... looked great!

Correct, I believe N720PW was the one that did the first PW6000 engine test.

Regards

The sad point here is the fact that all passenger-carrying B720s are now unceremoniously gone from the skies, so there will never be another opportunity to fly on the type.

I would pay real money for the opportunity to fly on a B720 - sad that it will never happen  

Quoting UK_Dispatcher (Reply 12): The sad point here is the fact that all passenger-carrying B720s are now unceremoniously gone from the skies, so there will never be another opportunity to fly on the type. I would pay real money for the opportunity to fly on a B720 - sad that it will never happen

The one in question here, N720JR, is a passenger carrying 720 and it is still around.

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Photo © Joseph Tonna

Quoting BA (Reply 13): The one in question here, N720JR, is a passenger carrying 720 and it is still around

German Airevents.de actually offered a sightseeing flight on it in october 2003 for $250 from Beirut. I wanted to go, booked already to go to Beirut but then the flight was cancelled. We visited the owners and the aircraft though and they told us "if they would have 20-40 people booked, we can fix a date and will fly you" while I believe the aircraft was already grounded then and Airevents couldn't manage to get the appointments fixed, they didn't answer calls etc.