The demise of ATA Airlines, the former American Trans Air saw the end of regular Lockheed Tristar operations across the Atlantic. ATA had operated the aircraft type under contract to the USAF and were a regular visitor at Shannon using the REACH call sign. With the demise of the airline in early 2008, the Tristar had all but vanished from the North Atlantic. Today Shannon had what is now an increasingly rare visit from a Lockheed Tristar in the shape of former ATA machine N163AT. The aircraft was making a return journey home in one sense. Originally built in 1982, the aircraft, a 500 series msn 1229 has a very short registration history. It was originally delivered to Alia, the forerunner of Royal Jordanian as JY-AGD before being bought by American Transair in July 1998. Following the failure of ATA the aircraft was ferried to Victorville in California for storage. In March of this year the aircraft was acquired by Jordanian operator Barq Aviation. Today's visit began in the early hours when the aircraft departed Phoenix, Arizona for Shannon. Pictured above, N163AT in basic ATA colours is seen on the roll, departing Shannon's R24 for Aqaba in Jordan.
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