Back in 1988, JetFlix Founder Henry Tenby contacted the Los Angeles office of VARIG Airlines to inquire about doing an article on their Lockheed Electra L-188 Ponte Aerea “Air Bridge” operation for Airliners Magazine. VARIG management were more than happy to assist with the request, and a 24 year old Henry Tenby spent the better part of the summer of 1988 in Brazil, travelling in connection with the pursuit of the article, visiting many cities within the country, meeting with airline management, taking photos and compiling information for the article.

A key component of the article was the desire to stage an air-to-air photo shoot of the VARIG Lockheed Electra, so that very high quality kodachrome images could be taken specially for the front cover of Airliners magazine.