A Boeing 747 belonging to the Iranian Air Force has suffered significant damage following an engine test run at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. News of this event has broken out this week and it comes after the plane’s six-year-long stint in D check.
An industry veteran
According to aviation website Sam Chui, the test caused it to either suffer a brake failure or jump the chocks. The 747-200B is the force’s only unit of the type. It joined Iran’s military after the country took it on from Iraqi Airways as war reparations at the end of the 1980s.
The plane is currently registered as 5-8106 but it used to hold registration number YI-AGN. It was delivered to the national carrier of Iraq in June 1976, making it one of the veterans of the jumbo.
Lengthy checks
This incident followed the plane’s six-year process in D check. This procedure is also known as a heavy maintenance visit (HMV). It is the most complex and rigorous check for an aircraft. The procedure can take between six and 10 years to complete.
Altogether, the whole plane could be taken apart for checks and overhauls. Moreover, there are instances where even the livery is removed for full analysis of the fuselage metal skin.
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The job is costly and requires tens of thousands of worker hours complete. Ultimately, the cost of such a task reaches over a million dollars.
However, following this incident at Mehrabad International, it looks like the bulk of the efforts have gone in vain. Nonetheless, the 747 may be fitted in with the JT9D engines of Iran Air’s last 747SP-86. This unit arrived at the flag carrier of Iran in May 1977 and it is now in storage.
A rare sight
Altogether, it has been a tough year for the 747. The Queen of the Skies is an aviation icon across the globe but it’s becoming increasingly rare to see one at airports.
Airlines were already starting to prefer modern options that are more efficient. However, this year’s global health crisis has catalyzed its retirement around the world. There are only a handful of commercial carriers that still deploy the jet. If one is spotted in the skies these days, it’s most likely on shipping or military duty.
What are your thoughts about this Boeing 747 incident at Mehrabad International Airport? What do you think will be the next process for the aircraft? Let us know what you think of the situation in the comment section.