5. Vanguard Airlines Boeing 747-200 '1981-1992'

After the success of the 747-100, Vanguard Airlines was looking to expand it's widebody jet operations in the United States. The demand for longer range on the 747 with increased payload quickly led Boeing to the improved -200, which featured more powerful engines, increased MTOW, and greater range than the -100. The 747-200 rolled out in 1971 and by 1973 Vanguard had accumulated a fleet of 15 with a further 15 on order. These aircraft, along with the Douglas DC-10 became the backbone of the airlines' widebody jet operations. After deregulation of the airline industry in 1978 and the years following, Vanguard Airlines was one of the first to transition it's domestic only 747 to international service with routes acquired from Pan Atlantic Airlines, and routes opened to the pacific via it's hub in Guam. The 747-200 fleet also found a niche in another market flying the airlines’ Latin America routes from Houston, Texas. The 747-200 was retired in 1998 when the 747-400 and 777-200ER replaced it on it's final route from Washington DC to Paris, France.

N287VG was the first 747-200B that the airline received in 1972, which was christened "Queen of the Delta" after the Mississippi River Delta region which runs from just south of Memphis to the Gulf of Mexico. It was later renamed "The City of Detroit." Ship 287 was retired in 1997 and was stored in Victorville, California until it was broken up in 2002.

Livery History:
By 1980, the airline was looking to refresh it's look following trends of vibrant colors in the 1980s. By 1981, the airline had released a new look which would become one of the most colorful liveries in the skies. The mix of company greens adorning the fuselage was unprecedented at the airline and quickly became a hit, making the airlines slogan even more coherent. This new look, popular with both the public and employees would later be revised in 1992, continuing the tradition of lush green colors.

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