Delivered new 30th Sep 1981 and transferred to Mandarin Airlines Oct 1991

Ex China Airlines, transferred 1st Oct 1991 and withdrawn from use Jan 1997, then returned to lessor (same registration) March 1997.

Ex China Airlines, transferred 1st Oct 1991 and withdrawn from use Jan 1997, then returned to lessor (same registration) March 1997.

Rolling for takeoff on runway 24.

Mandarin Airlines was formed as a subsidiary of China Airlines in 1991 to smooth over complaints from Mainland China. They objected to China Airlines carrying the Republic of China flag on their aircraft to countries which had diplomatic relations with the PRC. Delivered to China Airlines via Wilmington Trust September 30, 1981, this 747SP was transferred to Mandarin in June 1991. Withdrawn and stored in various places in March 1997, the aircraft ended up in Marana, AZ in 1999 and was eventually broken up for parts.

If my memory serves correctly, at that time AMS was the only European destination served by CI so I was happy to get this (even it is somewhat unusually framed).