Omega B707 Tanker at Richmond

[Peter Agatsiotis]

A quick visit to Richmond this morning to log the 2 USAF C-130's that arrived yesterday (74-1692 & 74-1660) revealed an Omega B707 Tanker inside the paint shop.

Reg is N707AR and looks very 'new' as it has just been painted.

There is a N707AR registered to Omega (since 1996) but I have no SBS log of this reg arriving at Richmond recently (I am 12nm from RIC as the crow flies and pick up 99% of any Mode-s/ADS-B traffic in or out of Richmond).

There are 3 RAAF B707's parked at RIC at present and I know one of the RAAF units flew to the UK a few years ago so the question is - is this the existing N707AR or have Omega acquired an ex RAAF machine?

I did hear that the RAAF were trying to dispose of the 707's but an earlier 'deal' didn't proceed.

[Ken D]

Its Omegas exsisting 707, as of yet Omega have not aquired any of the RAAF 707's.

Regards

Ken

[Gerard M]

Hi Peter,

It arrived into Richmond on Thursday afternoon. Its been in Darwin for the last couple of weeks as well.

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Thanks Ken, any idea when it arrived as I would normally have picked it up on SBS?

[Ken D]

Not sue Peter i think i first noticed it about the middle of the week. I know they where looking around for 707 trained guys for an engine change for a FOD'ed engine.

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Cheers Gerard, cross-posts!

[Gerard M]

Trek 902 and 901 now on the way out.

Seems you caught them in time Peter!

[Peter Agatsiotis]

FOD! now that's a term I haven't used for a while (Foreign Object Damage - from memory?)

I used to work at RIC and part of the job was delivering/escorting trucks onto the flightline and would have to stop the trucks and ask the drivers to check all their tyres for nails, stones etc. Caused a few 'blue's' but rules are rules.

As the main store we received many 707 engines back from overhaul (UK mainly) and always nervous guys unloading as you had RAAF F/Sgts and Officers watching you.

One came back and the transport company hadn't adhered to the strict 'air-ride suspension only' rule and you would have heard the yelling and carry on all over the base when the tarps were pulled back and there was this very sorry looking engine with fluids leaking all over the trailer floor.

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Yes Gerard, just noticed they were airbone.

[Chris Q]

spotted the 707 too friday night when driving to Mudgee, wondered whose it was, cheers!