EOTPP 60th ANNIVERSARY - THE FOURTH BRANIFF 720 EL DORADO SUPER JET - Braniff International Boeing 720-027 registered as N7079 is taxiing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, on June 10, 1967. The sleek Super Jet is painted in the 1967 Alexander Girard/Harper and George Beige Solid Color Scheme with Alexander Girard Sky Font and BI Tail Logo in Black. This was the fourth of five Series -027s delivered new to Braniff beginning in 1961. Ship N7079 was the fourth of five new Series -027s delivered to Braniff between 1961 and 1963, and it was also the fourth of nine 720s delivered to the Dallas-based luxury carrier from 1961 to 1972.

Braniff bought five new Boeing 720-027 El Dorado Super Jets with delivery beginning in January 1961, through August 1963. The aircraft were registered as N7076 through N7080 and featured a passenger capacity equal to Braniff's Boeing 707-227 aircraft but without a First Class Lounge. The 720 aircraft began replacing Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop aircraft on longer-haul routes such as Minneapolis/St Paul to Mexico City via Kansas City, Dallas, and San Antonio, Texas.

An additional used 720 was purchased from Aer Lingus in September 1964, and registered as N7081. During the winter of 1965 and 1966, Braniff leased N7082 and N7083 from Aer Lingus and in June 1972, and N7224U was leased from United for six months to operate the hourly service between Dallas and Houston in an all First Class Configuration at Coach pricing to compete with Southwest Airlines. All 720s were retired by 1973, and were replaced by McDonnell Douglas DC-8 aircraft.

Ship N7079 was delivered to Braniff International Airways painted in the El Dorado Super Jet Red and Blue Color Scheme on May 10, 1962, and it first flew at Boeing's Renton, Washington, plant on April 27, 1962. After 1965, the aircraft was painted in the Alexander Girard Beige Solid Color Scheme and after 1967, the updated 1967 Alexander Girard/Harper and George Orange Solid Color Scheme was applied. After 1971, the new Geddis/Harper and George Two Tone Green over Olive Green Color Scheme was applied, which was the last Braniff color scheme painted on the Boeing airliner.

Braniff operated Ship N7079 for eleven years before retirement in 1973. On October 8, 1973, Braniff sold the aircraft to American Aviation Services, which reregistered it as N731T. The other four non-leased 720s were also disposed of in 1973 to American Aviation Services. American Aviation was a Seattle, Washington-based charter airline owned by Joel Eisenberg.

Joel Eisenberg and his then wife, June Eisenberg, operated several travel-related businesses, including a non-profit air travel club known as Air Club International, a travel agency known as International Travel, Inc., and American Aviation Services, Inc., which later merged into Aeroamerica, Inc., an air charter company founded by Mr. Eisenberg. Ship N7079 saw service with all of these companies with service at Air Club International commencing on October 30, 1973.

Air Club International leased the aircraft from sister company American Aviation Services until October 1975, and then returned it to the American Aviation. The aircraft was leased to Ambassadair, a travel charter company owned by George Mikelson (still in business in 2016) in December 1975. Ambassadair operated the aircraft until May 1976, and then returned it to American Aviation. The aircraft was leased to sister company Aeroamerica for only four months from May 1976 until September 1976. During that same month, Aeroamerica subleased the aircraft to EgyptAir who flew the airliner until June 1977.

In June 1977, Ship N7079 was subleased to Cyprus Turkish Airlines or KTHY Kibris Turk Hava Yollari, an airline formed in 1975, by Turkish Airlines. Cyprus Turkish Airlines flew the aircraft until April 1979, and then leased it directly from American Aviation Services. The Cyprus carrier operated the aircraft until March 1980. American Aviation sold the jet to Eastern Orient Airlines, Inc., of Seattle, Washington, during that same month. Eastern Orient bought the aircraft on June 19, 1980, and reregistered it as N321E. Eastern Orient Airlines, Inc., was the last recorded owner of N7079, and the FAA registered address in Seattle was a residential address belonging to Joel Eisenberg.

Eastern Orient Airlines, Inc., never flew N7079, and the big jet was retired from service in April 1980. Two years later, in April 1982, Ship N7079 was scrapped at Bournemouth Hurn, England, where the original BAC One-11 Plant was located.

Braniff Airways Foundation
Copyright 1926 2024

Photo: Photographer Jon Proctor, Copyright
Braniff International Heritage Archives
Now Associated with The University of Texas at Dallas System
Braniff Airways Space Sciences Endowment