Rich International's N304EA

Our June edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Rich International Airlines' L-1011-385-1 "TriStar1", N304EA (msn 193A-1005). It's seen above at HNL's Gate 14 in August 1994. This was our TriStar that took us to LAS for a company incentive trip, and taken before we boarded N304EA. It had a 2-5-2 seating arrangement in coach, and I sat a couple of rows in front of the third doors.

In the mid-90s, Rich International (JM/RIA) flew tour package charters between HNL and LAS for Creative Holidays, a local travel agency.

N304EA was originally delivered in July 1972 to Eastern Airlines (EA/EAL). It was acquired by IAL, then leased to  Air America, in July 1987, and during it's stint there, it was used in the film "Last Flight Out", painted in Pan Am colors. In May 1991, Air Atlanta Icelandic (CC/ABD) leased it from IAL, and registered it as TF-ABG. Kabo Air (QNK) [Nigeria] subleased for four months (June-October 1992). In May 1993, it regained the N304EA registration, and five months later, it joined the Rich International fleet. The airline folded in 1996 after it filed for bankruptcy protection, and N304EA went into storage in various locations. The last known sighting was two years ago at ROW, but is presumed that this TriStar has since been scrapped.