VP-BAP

VP-BAP (c/n 19260, l/n 412), a 727-21 owned by Malibu Consulting, is making a brief fuel stop at HNL from NAN, and will continue onto VNY. This 727 began its journey on 04 October, as it flew from VNY to CNX [Chiang Mai International Airport, Chiang Mai, Thailand], via TRM, CDB, and HND. Its return to VNY is routed from CNX, via DMK, ROR, NAN and HNL.

19260's History:

May 1967: Delivered to Pan American World Airways as N358PA "Clipper David Crockett". Also was named "Clipper Berlin", "Clipper Wuchtbrumme", and "Clipper Flotte Motte".

Sep 1981: Acquired by International Executive Aircraft as N727SG.

Jun 1984: Acquired by Funair Corp. as N727LA.

Sep 2004: Sold to Malibu Consulting Corp as N727GP.

Feb 2007: Re-registered as VP-BAP.

N289MT

Raytheon’s heavily-modified 727-223, N289MT (c/n 22467, l/n 1765), is making a stop at HIK as it transits from DNA to LAX, via AWK and HIK. Known as Voodoo One, it is the avionics and radar testbed aircraft for Raytheon.

22467's History:

Jly 1981: Delivered to American Airlines as N710AA (f/n 710), under lease from the Connecticut National Bank, then WFBN (date unknown)

Jan 2001: Withdrawn from service, and stored at TUL.

Mar 2002: Acquired by the Raytheon Corporation, and converted to a testbed aircraft.

Asia Pacific Airlines' N86425 Sold

Asia Pacific Airlines sold N86425 (c/n 21459, l/n 1329) to JR Aviation Services [Miramar, FL] this past August. This 727-212F is scheduled to ferry to OPF, to prep for delivery to Astral Aviation [8V/ACP](Kenya), where it will join former Asia Pacific N705AA (now 5Y-NIV). Its Kenyan registration has not been issued.

The flight to OPF was diverted back to IGM 20 minutes after departure.

30 Dec 2022 UPDATE

N86425 ferried from IGM to OPF.

04 Jan 2023 UPDATE

N86425 ferried from OPF to BGI [Grantley Adams International Airport, Bridgetown, Barbados]

Asia Pacific Airlines Retires N705AA

Asia Pacific Airlines is ferrying N705AA (c/n 22462, l/n 1751) from GUM to IGM (via MAJ, HNL, and OAK) as MGE900. This 727-223F/Adv is being retired, and headed for storage. It's making its final stopover at HNL tonight. Before departing GUM, N705AA received a water-cannon salute from the airport's fire/rescue department. The future for N705AA is uncertain, as it underwent a heavy maintenance check two years ago.

With N705AA's departure from the Asia Pacific fleet, this effectively ends 727 operations at HNL, though the airliner had been relegated to its GUM base since late 2018. Boeing 727 began with Continental Airlines' Air Micronesia in the 1970s.

01 Feb 2021 UPDATE

N705AA was acquired by Astral Airlines (Kenya).  It was ferried from IGM to NBO (via OPF, BGI, and DKR), from 19 -21 Jan 21. The Kenyan registration is not known.

Weststar Aviation's N800AK

N800AK (c/n 20045, l/n 596), a 727-23 most recently with Weststar Aviation Services [Malaysia], is ferrying from SZB [Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia] to TOL [Toledo, OH], via SPN, JRF, and MCC [McClellan Airbase, Sacramento, CA]. It's being ferried by Jet Test as JTN9127, and making an overnight stop at JRF this evening. This 727 is now owned by Aircraft Guaranty Corp Trustee [Onalaska, TX], and due to be parted out and scrapped.

20045 was originally delivered to American Airlines in July 1968 as N2913. In December 1980, it was sold to Parker Drilling as N2913. In April 1987, it was sold to Moorgate Inc. Westfield Aviation purchased this 727 in October 1988 as N727WF. During its time with Westfield, it was re-engined with Rolls-Royce Tays, and winglets installed. In July 1999, it was sold to Bombardier Capital, and leased back to Westfield. In September 2003, it was leased to Peninsula Aviation LLC as N800AK. It was also sold to the Bank of Utah (August 2012), then Aircraft Guaranty Corp (June 2013). It was leased to Weststar in May 2014, and re-painted to match Weststar's other 727-23, VP-BDJ.

Asia Pacific Airlines' N705AA Ferried

Asia Pacific Airlines is ferrying N705AA (c/n 22462, l/n 1751) to MCI [Kansas City, MO] from GUM, via TKK, PNI, HNL, PHX and IGM [Kingman, AZ] for a "C" Check.

On another note, sister ships N319NE (c/n 21349, l/n 1289), and N86425 (c/n 21459, l/n 1329), both 727-212Fs, had their registrations canceled by Asia Pacific Airlines, and being used for parts for 705.

N727RE

Our October edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to 2004, and this 727-282/Adv, N727RE (c/n 22430, l/n 1715), owned by Imperial Palace Air, as it made a stop at HNL.

22430 was originally delivered to Transportes Aéreos Portugueses [TP/TAP] (Portugal) in March 1981 as CS-TBY "Amadora". In February 1990, it was sold to Blenheim Aviation, then leased back to TAP. Later that December, it was leased to Somali Airlines [HH/SOM] as 6O-SCG, and subleased to Carnival Airlines [KW/CAA] (USA) in June 1992 with the same registration.  In January 1993, the leased was transferred to Carnival as Somali Airlines shutdown, registered as N6167D, and flew until February 1998. Imperial Palace Air acquired this 727 in May 1998, and re-registered as N727RE in February 1999. The cabin was reconfigured to a VIP layout, winglets were installed, and the JT8D-17 engines were replace with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217s. It flew with Imperial Palace until April 2005, when it was sold to the government of Burkina Faso (Africa) as XT-BFA. It was withdrawn from service in December 2016, and now sits in storage at QLA [Lasham, UK].

Aloha ‘Oe N319NE

Asia Pacific Airlines is ferrying their 727-212F/Adv, N319NE (c/n 21349, l/n 1289), from GUM to IGM [Kingman, AZ], via HNL. According to sources, it's scheduled to be put up for sale, and is due for a heavy check.

Al-Anwa Establishment's HZ-AB3

Our June edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to November 1994, and this 727-2U5, HZ-AB3 (c/n 22362, l/n 1657) owned by the Al-Anwa Establishment (Saudi Arabia). It's seen on HNL's South Ramp.

22362 was originally delivered to the Royal Jordanian Government in August 1980 as JY-HNH, as VIP transport. In June 1985, it sold to the Brunei Government as V8-HM1, and re-registered in April 1987 as V8-HM2. In February 1989, it was transferred to Royal Brunei Airlines as V8-BG1. In August 1994, it was bought by the Al-Anwa Establishment as HZ-AB3. A year later, it was converted to a Super 27 with winglets and Valsan conversion kit. It was last photographed in August 2016, and FlightRadar24, has tracked its most recent flight this past February.

Asia Pacific Airlines Retires N86425

Asia Pacific Airlines ferried N86425 (c/n 21459, l/n 1329), a 727-212F/Adv, from GUM to IGM [Kingman Airport, Kingman, AZ], via HNL, as MGE901. This is the first of their three 727-200Fs to be retired.

Asia Pacific Airlines' N705AA Modified Livery

Asia Pacific Airlines' N705AA (c/n 22462, l/n 1751) is the first of their 727-200Fs to receive the livery similar to their 757-200F, N757QM. It was flown to OPF (via PHX) in August for maintenance and repainting, and returned to service this month.

Asia Pacific's N86425 Emergency Landing At GUM

Asia Pacific Airlines' 727-212F, N86425 (c/n 21459, l/n 1329), had to make a successful emergency landing at GUM today, after it's nose gear failed to deploy. None of the three aboard were injured.

Further information and video clip in this Aviation Herald article.

Sky One's N211DB

Our June edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features the Sky One Express Airlines [SYF] 727-2J4/Adv, N211DB (c/n 20766, l/n 993). It's seen above on Taxiway RT in August 2005. Not much is known about Sky One, except that it was a short-lived carrier.

20766 was originally delivered to Sterling Airways [NB/SAW] (Denmark) in in October 1973 as OY-SAT. In May 1984, it was sold to Boeing Equipment as N729BE. In February 1986, it was sold to Federal Express as N223FE, then leased back to Sterling (in their new livery), until the airline's demise in September 1993. In February 1994, it was then acquired by Royal Airlines [QN/ROY] (Canada) as C-GRYP. In June 1998, 20766 was purchased bey Riverhorse Investments, then leased out to a variety of airlines over the next several years, all registered as N211DB: Laker Airways [6F/LKR] (February - September 1999); Star Air Tours (September - November 1999); Sky Trek International Airlines (January - March 2000); Sun Country Airlines [SY/SCX] (July 2000 - May 2002); DB Air (May 2002 - January 2003); Miami Air International [BSK] (January - December 2003); Sun World (December 2003 - June 2004); Falcon Air Express [6F/FAO] (June 2004 - April 2005); and Sky One (May 2005 - May 2006). After Riverhorse repossessed N211DB, it was placed in storage at VCV, and its fate looked it was destined to be scrapped. However, OK Consultants purchased the airframe, in May 2008, and the airframe was partially scrapped. The forward part of the fuselage was sold to the China Lantian Trade Company, where it was shipped to Beijing, and is now part of children's center in an Air China livery.

Kitty Hawk's N252US

Our February edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to 1998, and Kitty Hawk's 727-251F, N252US (c/n 19971, l/n 655), seen above on HNL's Cargo Ramp.

N252US was originally delivered to Northwest Airlines in November 1968, with their fleet number 2252. It remained with the airline until it was stored at Smyrna, TN in October 1994. It was picked up by Nations Air in June 1997, but never saw service. Kitty Hawk acquired this 727-251, and converted it to freighter in September 1997, then leased to Ansett Air Freight (Australia), but it was returned to Kitty Hawk, where it was placed into inter-island air cargo service at HNL for a short period of time. The airline took a try at hauling cargo, but the venture was short-lived. It was then sent to the mainland for their cargo operations, and was painted into their blue and white livery. N252US was withdrawn from service, retired, and stored at ROW in July 2011.

Weststar Aviation's VP-BDJ

Weststar Aviation Services 727-23 (c/n 20046, l/n 605), formerly belonging to Donald Trump found its way back to Honolulu this morning. VP-BDJ was previously captured here back in early 2013 and still retains the basic livery of its previous owner.

Asia Pacific To Add A 757F

Asia Pacific Airlines will add its first 757-29JF, N757QM (c/n 27203, l/n 588) by May of this year. It was purchased from Aircastle, and is currently undergoing freighter conversion. No word was given as to how many more 757-200Fs the Guam-based cargo carrier will get, nor how long their 727-200Fs (above) will remain in their fleet.

Further details in this CH-Aviation article.

727 Celebrates 50 Years Of Service

This month, the Boeing 727 celebrates 50 years of service. The tri-jet, the second of the Boeing airliners 7_7 series, was a top seller among US carriers in its day, until it was unseated by the 737 series, and replaced by the 757 series.

With respect to Hawai‘i, Continental Airlines' Air Micronesia division used both the 727-100 and 727-200 series on their "Island Hopper" service from the 1970s until they were replaced by Continental's 737-800s in the early 2000s. Earlier this month, our "HNL RareBirds Classic" featured Kitty Hawk's N252US. Kalitta Charters II brought in N720CK to fly inter-island cargo for Pacific Air Cargo in 2005, but the service lasted only a few years. Asia Pacific Airlines continues to fly cargo between HNL, GUM, and Micronesia with three 727-200Fs.


On a personal note, I got to ride the 727-200 with Trans World Airlines (TWA) in the 1970s, and Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) in the 1980s on a few intra-California flights.

Weststar Aviation's 727-23

Weststar Aviation's 727-23 arrived this afternoon on 4R. VP-BDJ (c/n 20046, l/n 605) was previously owned by real estate mogul and "The Apprentice"'s Donald Trump.

20046 was originally delivered to American Airlines in July 1968 as N2914. In December 1981, it was acquired by Diamond Shamrock. In May 1982, it went to Harbor Land Co as N927DS. In April 1987, Donovan Enterprises acquired the 727-23 as N725DT, and became the Trump Shuttle in three years later, with an executive interior. Theberton was the next owner in May 1991 as VR-BSA. DJ Aerospace (Trump Enterprises) was the owner in April 1994. Weststar acquired VP-BDJ in May 2011.

Donald Trump replaced VP-BDJ with a 757-200.

Southwest Jetʻs N727CF

The May edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to August 2000, with Southwest Jetʻs 727-22, N727CF (c/n 18323, l/n 136). The Boeing tri-jet is seen above on the South Ramp, with a now-retired ANA 747-281 across the field on the North Ramp Hardstands.

18323 was originally delivered to United Airlines as N7031U in April 1965. It spent over 13 years with UAL, before it was sold to Korean Airlines as HL7337, in August 1978. ATASCO Leasing was the next owner, purchasing the 727, and registering it as N1187Z in September 1985. Four months later, it was sold to World Airways (with the same registration), then sold to Air Atlanta [CRB] another four months later. After Air Atlantaʻs demise, it went to Ladeco Airlines (Chile) [UC/LCO] as CC-CIW in August 1987. ATASCO Leasing re-purchased the 727 in July 1992, and registered as N863SY. Three months later, 18323's interior was converted into a VIP transport as VR-BMC. Southwest Jet then purchased it in February 1999. Executive Jet Services (Democratic Republic of the Congo) was the next buyer to use the 727-22 as a VIP transport around Africa and Europe. It was registered as 3D-BOC (Swaziland) and S9-DBM (Sao Tomé & Principe), and wore the same livery as N727CF. In February 2010, Hewa Bora Airways [EO/ALX] (Democratic Republic of the Congo) purchased the jet, and converted back to a passenger (C12Y139) configuration, and registered as 9Q-COP. Sadly, this airliner and its passengers and crew were lost in a crash at FKI (Kisangani-Bangoka, DRC) on 08 July 2011, as it tried to land in bad weather.

Peter Nygård 727-100

Here's a shot of a rare aircraft not seen in HNL before. This shiny 727 belongs to Peter Nygård (As if you couldn't tell by the HUGE name across the fuselage).

VP-BPZ, a 727-17(RE) Super 27 (c/n 20327, l/n 797), arrives on Runway 04R for parking at the Air Service Hangar. Note: this aircraft has two different designs on it's tail on each side.

Peter Nygård is the chairman of Nygård International of Winnipeg, Manitoba, a company that makes women's wear. His was rated the 70th richest Canadian by Canadian Business magazine in 2009 with a net worth of US$817 million.

20327's original owner was CP Air, delivered in March 1970 as CF-CPN. In May 1977, it went to National Aircraft Leasing, and leased to Nigeria Airways as N115TA. In November 1977, it became N4002M and acquired by Fluor Corp. The Amway Corporation was next owner in November 1982, as N529AC. In September 2000, Enterprise Aviation LLC picked up the 727, and became N624VA. Its current owner, Peter Nygård, purchased the jet in May 2005 as N727PN. Three years later, it was re-registered as the current VP-BPZ.