[Due credits up front: B744 SIM used is by iFly and FSX/P3D Repaint is by our Steve D.]

In many respects, the life of a plane resembles that of any living being....so, find here, one such story, that of the two (and only two, the Airline had) Air Pacific B747-400s (DQ-FJK and DQ-FJL). The Air Pacific livery is strikingly colorful, and I recall this livery since my earliest days of exposure to the FS. DQ-FJL, subject of the screenshots, below, was born, as Line Number 722 (out of the total 1557 B747s built), at Everett (PAE), first flew on February 6 (1989), and after a distinguished service of 24 years, would be finally (and sadly), sent to Tupelo Regional Airport (KTUP), Mississippi, U.S.A, in July 2013, to be scrapped (thereby meeting its end of life). Tupelo is the place, btw, where many 747s go to die (or, maybe we should say, to live again in bits and pieces from their re-usable parts!). Air Pacific's (only) other B747 (DQ-FJK) was born, at Everett, as Line Number 755, and took to the sky, 7 months later, for its first flight on September 26 (1989). After (also) same 24 years of cumulative service, it would end up at Tupelo too, in late 2013, for dis-assembly and disposal. Curiously, both these B747 siblings, during their lives, would pass through identical chain of ownerships as follows: (Singapore Airlines -> Ansett Australia -> (back to) Singapore Airlines -> Air Pacific).

In June 2013, Air Pacific, the national carrier of Fiji, would rebrand itself and (officially) re-assume its (historic) name last used in 1971 - Fiji Airways. So, these two (cited) 747s would end their useful life in the Fijian Aircraft Register - in the warm South Pacific Ocean (it's said Fiji is among the first to receive the first rays of sunlight each day!) and amidst the renowned hospitality of the Fijians. Fiji is a stunningly beautiful archipelago of more than 330 islands (think island hopping in a BN2!), of which the two major islands are, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, here, DQ-FJL and DQ-FJK, proudly (and respectively) carrying these two names (Steve D has faithfully recreated the imprint "Island Of Viti Levu" in the front fuselage of DQ-FJL (you can see it in some of the close-up shots)).

Focusing back, now, on the subject aircraft of this post: DQ-FJL operated its final Air Pacific revenue service flight (FJ410) from Auckland to Nadi on July 08, 2013 (I've made it (i.e. NZAA-> NFFN) the subject flight of this post - see route screenshot). From Nadi, within days of this arrival, DQ-FJL was then ferried to Los Angeles on the way to its final destination (Tupelo) reaching there on July 18, 2013.

The equipped engine model on this B747 was Pratt & Whitney PW4056 (iFly has provided it as one of the Engine options in their SIM Configuration tool).

And, if interested, you may search the following keywords, on the internet, for some (nostalgic) images of this (DQ-FJL) B747 (i.e. the same plane in different uniforms):

1. "b747 9v-smb images" for Singapore Airlines
2. "b747 vh-ana images" for Ansett Australia
3. "b747 dq-fjl images" for Air Pacific (Side Note: In this group of images, if you look hard, you may also spot a couple of images, of DQ-FJL, with the engines removed, Fiji logo erased, and gaping holes on the fuselage (where the exits were)....end of a fruitful life...!)

So, here, below, are representative (SIM) screenshots, to reminisce, maybe, at least, just a bit, the memory of Air Pacific B747 DQ-FJL, (btw, I've eyed this iFly SIM for about a year, and was recently tipped to its SALE on the Bargain Hunter's shack). While my good-old (but dated) PMDG 747 continues to work fine for me (had made a couple of posts on it), this new (and excellent) SIM will surely keep me busy for quite some time with lots of things still to learn and explore! I'm barely scratching the surface!).

Thanks for your interest, and hope you enjoy this account and these pictures - as much as I enjoyed flying it for the first time! Comments are always welcome. [iFly/Orbx(NZ)/REX]

[Note to Painter Steve: Sorry, no PBR, here, in FSX! But, I have used your "Install Bonus Envmap" step for the Metallic look...not sure if it shows up properly in my FSX...]

Thank you for a well written and informative article. I  often observed the Ansett derivation on the Apron at Sydney, who then, would have guessed what lay ahead for it.

Nice images, and equally well-informative historical look-back.

Ansett, again, nostalgic memories of flights Perth-Melbourne-Canberra-Perth in 767s/737s. Just as lif can be at times, unpredictable, so with airlines, viz the entire Thomas Cook chain, Jet Airways, etc, etc of recent times

***Excellent*** Long Reign ***The Queen***

Excellent article, and the metal parts of the 747 look very "metal" in your FSX shots 

Another great series of pics and wonderful aviation history lesson!

I painted that one years ago, and still to this day one of my favorites.  I loved the colors on the tail, and seeing them in real life at KLAX as I was taxiing in on my boring domestic flight from Dallas....I always envisioned the wonderful trip to a beautiful Polynesian island she was either prepping for or just came in from. 🙂

Keep the great posts coming and thanks for showcasing some of my paints. 😉

 

Thanks, folks, for the contributory notes!!

Steve S and Rick: Yes, those quoted Airlines will be missed, surely, created some good times (and memories) in RL, and hopefully, will continue to do so in our SIM world...! The rebranded Fiji Airways..seems to be going strong (a good sign)...(2000 miles to Sydney and 1000 miles to Auckland (1100 in my route here)), Fiji has a good position, for itself, in the South Pacific...)

Patrick: Long Reign...it will be...!

Mark: Agree, although this, here, is not a bare-metal livery, as I look again, especially, the wing-view shot does appear a bit metallic...(with whatever Steve D has done for this paint)...poor man's "PBR"...🙂...

Steve: Welcome! True, some liveries stick with you, due to "some" reason....this is one! Yes, it would be so nice to visit Fiji...(And, btw, I noted PMDG Queen II already has a DQ-FJL (by another painter), so, thanks for doing this repaint for iFly, it seems like a great and quite enjoyable SIM too...!)