【53】C CAAC B767 PM’s New Start

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C Model B767-2J6ER CAAC B-2553
Manufactured by PandaModel

The Boeing 767 with the registration number B-2553 was delivered to CAAC on March 4, 1987. It was one of the four Boeing 767-200ER aircraft introduced by CAAC that year (the other aircraft in the same batch were numbered B-2551, B-2552 and B-2554). After the separation of government and enterprise functions and the restructuring of airlines in China's civil aviation sector in 1987, all these four aircraft were transferred to Air China, becoming one of the core aircraft types for Air China to operate medium-and long-haul international routes.

During its service period, B-2553 mainly operated medium-and long-haul international routes from Beijing to Dubai, Hong Kong of China and other destinations. It was an important carrier for Air China to open up air route networks in the Middle East and Southeast Asia in the early days, and had frequently appeared in the operation records of hub airports such as Beijing Capital International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport.

On July 1, 2007, when B-2553 was undergoing boarding procedures at Capital Airport for Flight CA941 from Beijing to Dubai, its nose landing gear retracted unexpectedly, causing the nose to crash directly into the ground and injuring 8 people (2 seriously). Although maintenance personnel assessed that the aircraft was still repairable, Air China decided to scrap it directly considering its 22-year service life and the extremely low cost-effectiveness of repair. Notably, the aircraft was originally scheduled to be sold to Emirates Airlines after completing this flight, and the accident directly led to the collapse of this deal.

The Boeing 767-200ER series, to which B-2553 belonged, was Boeing's first wide-body airliner equipped with a two-person glass cockpit, and also one of the iconic aircraft types marking CAAC's transition from Soviet-made airliners to US-made civil aircraft. After B-2553 was scrapped in 2007, the remaining Boeing 767-200ER aircraft of Air China were also gradually phased out of operation, and the entire series was fully grounded by 2008, completing its service cycle in the Chinese civil aviation market.

 

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Further Pictures

 

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First of all, congratulations to PM on moving to a new factory! The product quality of PM has been greatly improved after the relocation, especially in terms of assembly, and the long-standing problem of engine tilting has finally been resolved.

After a six-month delay, the satellite event of the 2025 HEC Beijing Model Show has finally taken place. PM's 767 models are among the best in the industry, and the newly launched 767-200 series mold this time still delivers excellent results with high shape accuracy.
In the meantime, PM provides a generous amount of clear coat, giving the model a glossy finish right out of the box.
In terms of detail printing, PM's printing is sharp, with moderate depth and a natural visual effect. The handling of the cargo compartment doors is particularly impressive, as can be seen from the comparison pictures.

Of course, there are still some minor flaws, such as insufficient printing details on the engines, slightly overlong nacelles, and slightly flattened and constricted windshields.

Unfortunately, even with the move to a new factory, PM's quality control still needs improvement. All three of the 767 had quite serious defects. After requesting replacements, I finally got this one. Here I really want to express my sincere gratitude to my retailer. In terms of assembly, issues such as misaligned parts and stuck landing gear are still common occurrences.

Even so, PM's 767 models can still stand out among a host of brands in the market.

Pic shows the annoying defect(the grey marks on the white paint surface), and it happens even my retailer selected the model.
Pic shows a 767 with a 787 wing.