It was initially reported that N707MQ in various media circles was the 707-300B involved, but the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated in their preliminary report that it was N707AR.
20029/790 was originally delivered to Pan American Airways (PA/PAA) in March 1969 as N892PA, named "Clipper Star King". In March 1983, it was leased to Global International Airlines, and re-posessed six months later. In May 1984, it was acquired by Falcon Aircraft Conversions, and re-registered as N729Q, where it was leased to Skystar International (June 86 - June 87), National Express (June 87 - June 88), and PLUNA (June 88 - June 95). JARO, a Hungarian airline, acquired it in June 95, and registered it as EL-AKS. Finally, it was sold to Omega Tanker in June 96, and registered as N707AR, and modified as a drogue-type aerial refueler, that was commonly seen accompanying US Navy and US Marine fighter aircraft.
On a personal note, I was privileged to take a tour of N707AR, back in November 2004, when it was parked on Hard Stand A (South Ramp). The above photo was taken before we boarded the 707. Except for the drogue release port and the hush-kitted JT3Ds, it looked like a 707 from back-in-the-day. The interior had been re-fitted with the '70s-'80s style overhead bins, and most of the coach seats were removed, though a several first class seats were still there. It was definitely a "chicken-skin" moment to set foot on a 707 again after 32 years after my first flight as a nine-year-old, too bad we weren't able to go up with it while it was here ...
Article by NYC Aviation.
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