New life for Global SuperTanker

It may no longer be fighting wildfires, but the unique 747-400BCF will take to the skies again, but this time as a freighter aircraft with National Airlines. It will join National's other five 747-400Fs, and that fullfils the proficy we mentioned before.

N744ST (msn 25308, Spirit of John Muir) was delivered to Global SuperTanker Services in January 2016, who converted it to a flying airtanker for fighting (forest) fires.

The Queen of the Skies was withdrawn from service in November 2020 and spent four months at Moses Lake (WA) earlier this year (from 18 January till 28 May), before being ferried to San Antonio (TX) on 28 May 2021, as GST944 (944 was its tanker ID).

The Jumbo Jet will be converted back to a freighter again (it was a freighter for its previous operator Evergreen) and once completed will join National's B747-400 fleet.

Photo: Global SuperTanker Services