Virgin Atlantic a result of a High Court action, this additional payment was received shortly before Fields' death in 1997. On 22 June 1984, Virgin Atlantic operated its inaugural scheduled service, flown between Gatwick and Newark using a leased Boeing 747-200 (registration ), christened "Maiden Voyager", which had been formerly operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas. From the onset, its activities were augmented by leveraging existing Virgin Group resources, such as tickets being sold at Virgin Megastores record shops. Part of Richard Branson's declared approach to business is to either succeed within the first year or exit the market; this ethos includes a one-year
Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy Atlantic Challenger's" record. The Virgin Atlantic Challenge Trophy is a three-foot silver sculpture, modelled on the Bishop Rock Lighthouse, chosen as the finishing line for many of the Blue Riband crossings, and of the successful 1986 voyage. The model depicts the lighthouse and the rock itself. Branson's first attempt on the record, in 65 ft twin-hull " Virgin Atlantic Challenger", departed New York in June 1985. After surviving rough weather and the threat of late icebergs "Challenger" was fatally damaged 100 miles from Bishops Rock, the intended finishing line, and sank in heavy seas. All the crew were saved. The