Hurricanes Lowell And Karina

With Category 4 Hurricane Lowell to the south of the main Hawaiian Islands, and Category 4 Hurricane Karina approaching to pass northeast of the islands, by Sunday night, the US Air Force and National Hurricane Center has deployed two WC-130J Weatherbirds from the 53rd WRS to fly into the storms.

97-5304 (msn 382-5474), flying as TEAL81, and 99-5309 (msn 382-5501), flying as TEAL82, are based out of KOA, after arriving from SUU this afternoon.

Hurricane Hunters Base At LIH

With Tropical Depression 2-C approaching the islands, three WC-130Js from the 53rd WRS "Hurricane Hunters" arrived at LIH today. 96-5302 (msn 382-5453) arrived as TEAL81, 97-5305 (msn 382-5475) arrived as TEAL82, and 98-5308 (msn 382-5487) arrived as TEAL83.

21 August 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Depression 2-C has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Moke today.

Tropical Invest 93C

To get a handle of the storm systems southeast of Hawai‘i, NOAA has dispatched its G-IV, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246), and one of its WP-3Ds, N42RF "Kermit" (msn 285A-5266) to the islands to monitor the storm. N49RF arrived yesterday as NOAA49, and N42RF will arrive later today as NOAA42. Both aircraft will be based out of JRF for this deployment.

The US Air Force is sending 97-5305 (msn 382-5475) from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. This WC-130J Weatherbird is flying from MHR to KOA as TEAL83. 

The National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Invest 93C, a system southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Invest is the NHC term for Investigating for potential tropical development, 93C is the location designator, and would be named Lala in the event of it developing into a tropical depression.

National coverage with this Fox Weather report; and local coverage with this KHON2 report.

12 August 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Invest 93C has been upgraded to Tropical Cyclone 1C. Two more WC-130Js arrived, 96-5302 (msn 382-5453) and 97-5303 (msn 382-5473) to fly into the storm.

13 August 2026 UPDATE
Tropical Cyclone 1C has now been upgraded to Tropical Storm Lala.

Follow updates on the National Hurricane Center advisory.

15 August 2026 UPDATE

Tropical Storm Lala has been upgraded to a Category 1 Hurricane.

Both N42RF and N49RF departed JRF this morning for SDM [Brown Field, San Diego, CA]. 

Hurricane Fausto

With Hurricane Fausto approaching the Hawaiian Islands, four US Air Force WC-130Js from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, and NOAA's G-IV, N49RF "Gonzo", have made their trips to Hawai‘i to gather storm information. KOA's Big Island Jet Center posted on their Instagram page that they are handling the "Hurricane Hunters". Usually the WC-130Js will position at JRF when deployed to Hawai‘i.

N49RF has been positioned at OGG for this storm gathering flights. Normally, "Gonzo" is handled by Castle & Cooke Aviation at HNL.

Coulson Aviation's N130CG

Coulson Aviation's N130CG (msn 382-4339) is making its way back to YXX from its Australian fire season base at BQB. This C-130H is making stops at QPE, OOL, APW, KOA, SMX, and YYJ, flying as CUL140. It's making its KOA overnight stopover today.

05 March 2026 UPDATE

N130CG departed KOA for SMX this morning.

New York Air National Guard's 92-1095

92-1095 (msn 382G5405), an ski-equipped LC-130H Hercules from the New York Air National Guard's 139th Airlift Squadron / 109th Operations Group, is making a stop at JRF, following its Antarctic deployment. This "Ski-130" arrived from CHC this evening. 92-1095 still has its green protective coating on it, as it awaits new paint.

03 December 2025 UPDATE

92-1095 re-positioned to HIK as SKIER95.

Aeronautica Militare's MM62191

A C-130J from Aeronautica Militare's 50º Gruppo, 46 Brigata Aerea (Italian Air Force's 50 Squadron, 46 Air Brigade) will be making a stop at HIK today. MM62191 (msn 5531, f/n 46-57) departed PSA [Pisa International Airport, Pisa, Italy] on 30 October, with stops at TER, ADW, and SUU.

N4054

Coulson Aviation's N4054 (msn 382-4054) is making its ferry flight from BHE to TRM, with stops at AKL, PPG, and KOA. This C-130H is the last of the four that Coulson acquired from the Royal New Zealand Air Force. 

382-4054's History:

Apr 1965: Built as 64-15096, and delivered to the RNZAF's 40 Squadron as NZ7003.

Feb 2023: Withdrawn from service. 

Jan 2025: Officially retired from service.

Apr 2025: Sold to Coulson Aviation USA.

06 October 2025 UPDATE

N4054 departed for TRM this afternoon.

Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 93-2042

This quarter's edition of "HNL RareBirds "Classic" features 93-2042 (msn 382-5371) of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron / 154th Wing. This Lockheed C-130H Hercules was photographed as it departed from Runway 8R in 2004.

93-2042's History:

___ 1994: Delivered to the 204th Airlift Squadron with the tail code HH.

Sep 2005: Re-assigned to the 169th Airlift Squadron, 182nd Airlift Wing, Illinois Air National Guard based at PIA [General Downing Field, Peoria International Airport, Peoria, IL]; and is still in service.

The C-130Hs of the 204th AS were replaced by Boeing C-17A Globemaster IIIs in 2006.

N4312L

Coulson Aviation is taking delivery of N4312L (msn 382-4312). This C-130H is making its delivery flight from BHE to TRM, via AKL, PPG, and KOA. It's making its overnight stop at KOA tonight.

This is Coulson's third of four former Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H to be ferried from New Zealand to California.

382-4312's History:

Dec 1968: Built as 68-8218, and delivered to the RNZAF's 40 Squadron as NZ7004.

Nov 2023: Withdrawn from service. 

Jan 2025: Officially retired from service.

Apr 2025: Sold to Coulson Aviation USA.

N4053L

Coulson Aviation is taking delivery of N4053L (msn 382-4053). This former Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H is being ferried from BHE to TRM, via AKL, PPG, and KOA. It's making an overnight stop at KOA tonight. This is the second of four ex-RNZAF C-130Hs that Coulson acquired to become aerial firefighters.

382-4053's History:

Apr 1965: Built as 64-15095, and delivered to the RNZAF's 40 Squadron as NZ7002.

Jan 2025: Withdrawn from service, and officially retired from service.

Apr 2025: Sold to Coulson Aviation USA.

N4313L

N4313L (msn 382-4313), a former Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H, has been acquired by Coulson Aviation USA, and is being ferried from BHE [Woodburne Airport, Blenheim, New Zealand] to TRM, via AKL, PPG, and JRF. It's making an overnight stop at JRF tonight.

This is the first of four former RNZAF C-130Hs that Coulson Aviation USA bought from the New Zealand Defence Force. The fleet of five C-130Hs of 40 Squadron was retired in January, and the four were sold in April. The first RNZAF C-130H, NZ7001 (msn 382-4052) was donated to the Air Force Museum at Wigram, NZ.

382-4313's History:

Dec 1968: Built as 68-8219, and delivered to the RNZAF's 40 Squadron as NZ7005.

Jan 2025: Withdrawn from service, officially retired from service, and stored at BHE.

Apr 2025: Sold to Coulson Aviation USA.

Coulson Aviation's N131CG

Coulson Aviation's N131CG (msn 382-4901) is returning from its Australian summer fire season deployment. This EC-130Q is making its ferry flight from BQB to TRM, via XRH, PPG, AND JRF, AS CUL131. It will make its overnight stop at JRF tonight. N131CG stopped through ITO this past November.

Coulson Aviation's N132CG

Coulson Aviation's C-130H, N132CG (msn 382-4338), is returning to its base at TRM, as CUL132. This aerial firefighter is ferrying from BQB [Busselton Regional Airport, Western Australia, Australia] to TRM, via XRH, PPG and KOA.

Lynden Air Cargo's N403LC

Lynden Air Cargo's Lockheed L382G Hercules, N403LC (msn 382-4590), will be making a stop from CHS, via OAK as LYC403.

03 February 2025 UPDATE

N403LC departed JRF westbound this morning as LYC501.

04 February 2025 UPDATE

N403LC arrived at HIK this evening as LYC501.

Coulson Aviation's N382CG

Another Coulson Aviation C-130H, N382CG (msn 382-4336, f/n 138), is making its way from TRM to XRH, via SMX, KOA, PPG, and NLK, as CUL138. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

382-4336's History:

___ ____: Delivered to the Royal Netherlands Air Force as BW-C 954 "Balder", assigned to the 335 Squadron.

Sep 2023: Acquired by Coulson Aviation, and converted to a water bomber.

Coulson Aviation's N131CG

Coulson Aviation's N131CG (msn 382-4901) is making a stop at ITO, as it ferries to Australia for their summer fire season. This C-130H, flying from SMX as CUL131, will also make a stop at PPG.

382-4901's History:

Oct 1981: Delivered to the US Navy as 161495, as an EC-130Q.

___ 1983: Assigned to VQ-3.

Mar 1987: Assigned to VQ-4.

Dec 1991: Converted to a C-130H, with the removal the EW equipment.

___ 1993: Given to NASA as N427NA, and based at Wallops Island, WA.

Oct 2004: Donated to the Kenosha Military Museum for display.

Aug 2012: Acquired by Wells Fargo NA Trustee, and registered as N130FF.

Aug 2013: Leased to Coulson Aviation, and converted to a fire fighting aircraft.

Jan 2018: Sold to the Delaware Trust Co Trustee, and the lease transferred.

___ 2020: Painted in the current livery.

Royal New Zealand Air Force's NZ7014

The Royal New Zealand Air Force is taking delivery of their fourth C-130J-30, NZ7014 (msn 5990). This new Super Hercules, flying as KIW784, departed MGE yesterday for SUU, and will make two-day stop at HIK, before continuing onto PPG then MHB.

NASA's N436NA

NASA's HC-130H, N436NA (msn 382-5104), is making a stop at HIK, from WAL, via RIV, as NASA436. It's bound for CRK.

18 October 2024 UPDATE

N436NA departed for UAM this morning.

28 October 2024 UPDATE

N436NA arrived from UAM today, and will continue onto RIV tomorrow.

NOAA Selects The C-130J To Replace The WP-3Ds

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today that they have awarded a contract to Lockheed-Martin for two C-130Js to replace their aging WP-3D Orion Hurricane Hunters. NOAA is expected to take delivery of the C-130Js in 2030, and will have the options for more aircraft.