Did you know the Shah's Iran bought second-hand 747s from TWA and Continental?

On 1 February 1975 TWA announced the sale to the Iranian government of six of its nineteen Boeing 747s for a price of $99 million. At that same date the Iranians were also negotiating for six more of the company's jumbos. The airline was forced to sell nine of its 747 fleet to the Imperial Iranian Air Force in order to cover payroll commitments. Those aircraft left the fleet between March and December 1975.

Of the twelve 747s the IIAF bought, nine came from TWA and three from Continental. Only ten of them had the SCD modification.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, formerly the Imperial Iranian Air Force, was the only air force in the world with a dedicated fleet of 747 freighters. The 747 also served as the basis for several government and military variants, such as the VC-25, the aircraft known as Air Force One. These versions are typically used to transport government officials and other dignitaries, although the United States Air Force has given them other uses with purpose-built variants, such as the E-4B airborne command posts.