Boeing 707 Nose Section Preserved at PAF Base Nur Khan, Chaklala, Rawalpindi

[Abbas Ali]

While watching August 20, 2010 PTV News report about arrival of relief goods by aircraft, I noticed nose section of an aircraft sticking out from wall of a building at PAF Base Chaklala, Rawalpindi.

Apparently it's nose section of a scrapped PAF Boeing 707 because it has PAF Boeing 707 blue & gold cheatline. The nose section is missing nose cone.

Most probably it's PAF Boeing 707-340C (air force serial# 68-19866) which was broken-up/scrapped at Chalala Air Base in or around year 2009. This particular Boeing 707 airframe (construction number 19866 and line number 738) was built in 1968 and was delivered brand new to PIA as AP-AVL on August 26, 1968.

Here's brief history of Boeing 707 airframe construction number 19866 and line number 738.

Aircraft Type: Boeing 707-340C
Construction Number: 19866
Line Number: 738
Year Built: 1968

Brief History: Construction number 19866. Registered in Pakistan as AP-AVL for PIA. Delivered on August 26, 1968. Registration AP-AVL removed from Pakistan Aircraft Register on April 15, 1972. Aircraft to leased out to JAT Yugoslav Airlines (Jugoslovenski Aero Transport ). Registered in Yugoslavia as YU-AGD, April 14, 1972. Aircraft returned to PIA in April 1973. Aircraft registered in Pakistan as AP-AWY. Transferred to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in September 1989. PAF aircraft serial number 68-19866. Registration AP-AWY removed from Pakistan Aircraft Register on October 21, 1986. PAF aircraft serial number 68-19866 at Chaklala Air Base, Rawalpindi, scrapped/broken-up around year 2009.

Here video still from August 20, 2010 PTV News report. Sorry about the quality but aircraft's nose section can be seen in it.



and here's October 5, 1993 photo of Pakistan Air Force Boeing 707-340C (air force serial# 68-19866)


Click here to see large photo.

Abbas

[raihans]

a few days back, i also noted a nose section while viewing the footage on Kuwait news channel when the KAF Lockheed went to Chaklala airbase for the aid.

Anyhow, interesting details. Thank you Abbas for the info.

[Abbas Ali]

Saw it again today, number is painted on nose section but it was not clear in PTV News video footage.



Abbas

[imiakhtar]

Hi Abbas

According to the PAF wiki article, the air force operated 3 B707s, 2 freighters and the aforementioned AP-AWY in the VIP config. Would you happen to know the history of the freighters and whether they're still active or were broken up?

Thanks

Imran

[Abbas Ali]

Imran, ex-AP-AWY was not used as VIP aircraft by PAF. The PAF Boeing 707 used as VIP aircraft was ex-AP-BAA.

Here I would like to add that AP-BAA during its years of service as passenger airliner with PIA also performed VIP duty for Pakistani leaders including President Zia-ul-Haq, Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo and Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Here's brief info about three PIA Boeing 707s that were transferred to PAF in 1980s. These three PIA Boeing 707s were registrations:

AP-AWU
AP-AWY
AP-BAA

Out of these three PIA Boeing 707s, ex-AP-BAA was converted as VVIP transport and ex-AP-AWY became a freighter for PAF. AP-AWU returned to PIA in 1992.

1) PIA Boeing 707-373C - AP-AWU
Transferred to PAF in 1986 & issued air force serial# 68-18991. Aircraft returned to PIA in 1992 as AP-AWU and served PIA Cargo till the end of 1993. Aircraft scrapped/broken up at Karachi Airport by the end of December 1993. This Boeing 707 had main deck side cargo door.

2) PIA Boeing 707-340C - AP-AWY
Transferred to PAF in 1986 & issued air force serial# 68-19866, it remained in service with PAF as freighter. Scrapped/broken-up at Chaklala Air Base, Rawalpindi, around year 2009. I believe nose section of this Boeing 707 is preserved at Chaklala. This Boeing 707 had main deck side cargo door.

3) PIA Boeing 707-351B - AP-BAA
Transferred to PAF in 1989 & issued air force serial# 68-19635, it remained in service with PAF as VVIP transport aircraft. Aircraft dismantled and broken up at Lahore Airport, Pakistan, by the end of 2008. This Boeing 707 was without main deck side cargo door.

The induction of Boeing 707 as freighter offered better facility to PAF for transporting military hardware on routes like for example to/from China over Karakoram mountains when compared with slower Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

Abbas

[nd]

1) PIA Boeing 707-373C - AP-AWU
Transferred to PAF in 1986 & issued air force serial# 68-18991. Aircraft returned to PIA in 1992 as AP-AWU and served PIA Cargo till the end of 1993. Aircraft scrapped/broken up at Karachi Airport by the end of December 1993. This Boeing 707 had main deck side cargo door.

2) PIA Boeing 707-340C - AP-AWY
Transferred to PAF in 1986 & issued air force serial# 68-19866, it remained in service with PAF as freighter. Scrapped/broken-up at Chaklala Air Base, Rawalpindi, around year 2009. I believe nose section of this Boeing 707 is preserved at Chaklala. This Boeing 707 had main deck side cargo door.

3) PIA Boeing 707-351B - AP-BAA
Transferred to PAF in 1989 & issued air force serial# 68-19635, it remained in service with PAF as VVIP transport aircraft. Aircraft dismantled and broken up at Lahore Airport, Pakistan, by the end of 2008. This Boeing 707 was without main deck side cargo door.

[Abbas Ali]

Saw that preserved PAF Boeing 707 nose section again at the air base now known as PAF Base Nur Khan, Chaklala, Rawalpindi, in a news video footage made today (October 15).



Number '866' on nose section confirms it as PAF Boeing 707-340C serial# 68-19866 (airframe construction number 19866).

Text painted on cabin door and above cabin windows looks like "NO. 12 VIP COMM SQN". And, apparently they have painted nose section in colour scheme currently sported by PAF Gulfstreams with green & gold cheatlines on fuselage painted in off-white colour. Near cockpit windows is probably No. 12 Squadron emblem displayed. Three Boeing 707s were part of PAF No. 12 VIP Communication Squadron.

The PAF Boeing 707 (serial# 68-19866) at the time of its retirement had white radome and sported blue & gold cheatlines on fuselage painted in white colour above cheatlines and in light grey colour below cheatlines like seen in photo posted by forum member 'nd' in this topic.

Abbas

[Hamad]

I just saw it also here on German TV - the Nose Section looks cool

[nd]

[Abbas Ali]

Saw it again in PTV News programme today.


Nose section of Boeing 707-340C serial number 68-19866 of PAF No. 12 "Globe Trotters" VIP Communications Squadron preserved at PAF Base Nur Khan, Chaklala. The lady is Yashfeen Jamal who was presenting PTV News progamme on PAF No. 6 "Antelopes" Squadron based at PAF Base Nur Khan.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Seen today at now PAF Base Nur Khan, Chaklala.

Seems now it's painted with grey paint applied on PAF transport aircraft like C-130s and CN-235s.



Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Nose section of retired Pakistan Air Force Boeing 707 (aircraft serial number 68-19866) preserved at PAF Base Nur Khan, Chaklala, Rawalpindi, seen on March 3, 2022.



Apparently, now they have restored color scheme the aircraft was wearing at the time of retirement.



Abbas