VARIG
In 1970, VARIG began with the evaluation for a new widebody aircraft and as the Lockheed L-1011 did not offer the required range, VARIG became the first South American airline to choose the Mc Donnell - Douglas DC-10 in November 1972, placing an order for two aircraft with an option of further two. VARIG planned to standardize the long-range fleet to this type and until the first 747s came to supplement the DC-10, the DC-10 was VARIGs flagship. VARIG was more than satisfied with its DC-10 fleet and ordered eight more DC-10s, bringing the total fleet with two ex Singapore Airlines aircraft and a lot of leases to aircraft to 15 DC-10s. Two of these aircraft were converted to DC-10-30CF and are used mainly as freighters now. In the middle of the 1990s, the replacement of the DC-10 began with the introduction of the MD-11 and finally a crisis in VARIGs own finances brought the DC-10 era to an end. All full-pax aircraft were withdrawn from use, sold or leased out. Now, long-range services are operated by MD-11 and 767-300ERs, while the 737 and 767-200 fly the shorter routes.
The two remaining DC-10 are used as freighters and were transferred together with a newly acquired ex-British Airways aircraft in early 2001 to a new division called "VarigLOG" which also operates the 727 freighter fleet.
Photo:
Right: VARIG DC-10 - BY DOUG BULL
Left: VarigLOG DC-10 in Los Angeles on February 18th 2001 - BY CHRIS CODUTO
Registration | Aircraft | Fleetnr./Name | Operated from - to | Where is it now? |
PP-VMA | 46944/ 133 | 29.05.1974 - 02.1999 | -stored- | |
PP-VMB | 46945/ 156 | 18.06.1974 - 14.12.1998 | -stored- | |
PP-VMD | 46916/ 202 | 12.06.1975 - 02.1998 | SCRAPPED | |
PP-VMO | 46540/ 268 | 05.04.1979 - 02.04.1980 | Centurion Air Cargo | |
PP-VMP | 46541/ 281 | 21.07.1979 - 14.06.1980 | -stored- | |
PP-VMQ | 46941/ 176 | 07.11.1974 - 01.05.1999 | SCRAPPED | |
PP-VMR | 47817/ 300 | 01.12.1979 - 24.11.1980 | Bangladesh Biman | |
PP-VMS | 47818/ 305 | 25.01.1980 - 13.01.1992 | DAS Air Cargo | |
PP-VMT | 47841/ 329 | 31.08.1980 - 2005 and 2005/2006 - now | ACTIVE | |
PP-VMU | 47842/ 332 | 06.09.1980 - 12.2002 and ???? - now | ACTIVE | |
PP-VMV | 47843/ 335 | 09.10.1980 - 06.1999 | Cargo Italia | |
PP-VMW | 47844/ 336 | 10.11.1980 - 01.07.1994 and ???? - 12.1997 | -stored- | |
PP-VMX | 47845/ 356 | 09.06.1981 - 1993, 27.01.1994 - 06.04.1994 and 30.06.1994 - 02.09.1999 | -stored- | |
PP-VMY | 48282/ 355 | 30.04.1980 - 06.04.1994 and 30.06.1994 - 16.06.1999 | -stored-||
PP-VMZ | 46999/ 289 | 05.04.1979 - 02.04.1980 | Arrow Air | |
PP-VQY | 46949/ 179 | 2001 - now | ACTIVE | |
PR-LGO | 46921/ 214 | 2007 - now | ACTIVE |
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