Boeing 747 Aer Lingus Aviation Painting Art Print by Aviation Artist Chris French FGAvA
Aer Lingus received its first 'Jumbo' in December 1970, with this scene, showing one of the initial 747-148 bought by the airline taking off from Shannon. Two aircraft were initially bought and a third added soon after, but it was found that the route was not sufficiently profitable to warrant the third aircraft, which was subsequently regularly leased to other airlines.
The aircraft would gain a new scheme in 1974 and the two initial aircraft would serve into the 1990s, though both had extended periods under lease to other airlines when passenger numbers did not warrant multiple 747s on the transatlantic route.
