With the crew rested from their arrival the night before, and a heavy load of fuel uplifted for the ten-and-a-half hours of nonstop flight ahead, National Airlines’ third visit in a week to Birmingham Airport comes to an end – with ‘Lori’ heading towards Runway 33 for a full-length departure to China’s Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport as N8505, returning after delivering more medical supplies to the UK.

Departing exactly 52 years to the day that the Boeing 747 first entered passenger service – this particular aircraft began service with Japan Airlines, before converting to a full freighter configuration and flying with Evergreen International Airlines until late 2013.
Subsequently owned by the US outfit Global SuperTanker Services (GSTS) as N744ST, the aircraft was modified to conduct aerial firefighting, and due to it’s large capacity for retardant, was a popular tool for combating wildfires both in the US and in many other countries.
Upon GSTS shutting down in 2021, the aircraft was sold to National Airlines, who returned it to freight service in a unique hybrid scheme of the GSTS high-visibility red and white, with golden markings added in celebrating 30 years of NCR’s operations.

Nikon D850, AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR