Omega Tanker's N235UL

Omega Tanker's N235UL (c/n 46956, l/n 235) is making a stop at JRF tonight, from DNA as OME12. This KDC-10-30CF had been based out of DNA on its first deployment since it entered service, stopped through HNL last month.

07 August 2026 UPDATE

N235UL departed JRF this morning and returned to VCV as OME12.

Omega Tanker's N235UL

Omega Tanker's newest KDC-10-30CF, N235UL (c/n 46956, l/n 235), is making a stop at HNL from VCV as OME21. This is N235UL's first visit to HNL since entering service last month.

46956's History:

Dec 1976: Delivered to Martinair as PH-MBP "Hong Kong" as a DC-10-30CF.

Nov 1977: Leased to Garuda Indonesia for one month.

Oct 1978: Leased to Garuda Indonesia for one month.

Jan 1979: Leased to Philippine Airlines for one year.

Aug 1982: Leased to Caribbean Airlines (duration unknown).

___ 1985: Leased to Air Seychelles (duration unknown).

Feb 1995: Sold to the Koninklijlke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force), converted to a tanker transport, assigned to 334 Squadron, and registered as T-235 "Jan Scheffer".

___ 2004: Tail painted to commemorate 334 Squadron 60th Anniversary.

Dec 2005: Painted in grey camouflage.

Jun 2014: 70th Anniversary tail art added.

Jun 2019: 75th Anniversary tail art added.

Oct 2021: withdrawn from service, and stored at VCV

Dec 2021: Sold to Omega Tanker, and re-registered as N235UL.

Jun 2026: N235UL enters service for Omega.

17 July 2026 UPDATE

N235UL flies out on refueling mission as OME12.

18 July 2026 UPDATE

N235UL departs for DNA as OME12.

DC-10s Included In MD-11 Grounding

The FAA has now included the DC-10s and MD-10s in the grounding of the MD-11 fleet following the crash of N259UP. Though the only current operators of the DC-10/MD-10 are 10 Tanker, Omega Air Tanker, and the Orbis Eye Hospital.

Further information in this Flight Global article.

Omega Tanker's N264DE

Omega Tanker's N264DE (c/n 46985, l/n 264) is making a stop at JRF from VCV today as OME11. It's not known if this KDC-10-30 is accompanying any fighters.

27 October 2025 UPDATE

N264DE departed JRF shortly after midnight headed west-bound.

30 October 2025 UPDATE

N264DE returned to JRF this afternoon.

01 November 2025 UPDATE

N264DE returned to its base at VCV this morning.

Omega Tanker's N264DE

Omega Tanker's KDC-10-30CF, N264DE (c/n 46985, l/n 264), is making a stop at HIK today. This converted tanker arrived from DNA as OME11.

46985's History:

Dec 1978: Delivered to Martinair Holland as PH-MBT "George Gershwin" as a DC-10-30CF.

Sep 1979: Leased to Garuda Indonesia for two years.

Jly 1982: Leased to Caribbean Airways for one year.

__ 1984: Leased to Air Seychelles for one year.

Dec 1987: Leased to Qantas Airways for two months.

Oct 1989: Leased to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for 30 months.

Jly 1982: Leased to World Airways for one month.

Sep 1995: Acquired by the Royal Netherlands Air Force as T-264 "Prins Bernhard", and converted to an aerial refueler.

Aug 2004: Painted in a grey camouflage livery.

Oct 2019: Withdrawn from service, and stored at SAT.

Feb 2020: Acquired by Omega Tanker as N264DE.

Jun 2021: Ferried to VCV for storage and modifications.

Nov 2023: Inducted into service.

04 February 2025 UPDATE

N264DE returned to Omega's base at VCV.

FedEx Express' N313FE

FedEx Express' MD-10-30F, N313FE "Bilal" (c/n 48311, l/n 440, f/n 313), is making a fleet substitution on FDX5025 [MEM-HNL] today. It will continue onto LAX as FDX638. It's been quite a while since HNL has had an MD-10 on the south ramp.

N313FE was delivered to FedEx in May 1988, named "Ameyali", as a DC-10-30F. In October 2009, it was reclassified as an MD-10-30.

10 Tanker Air Carrier's N522AX Return to Base

After another Australian fire season, N522AX (c/n 48315, l/n 436) is returning to home base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "912" passed through in late October last year.

10 Tanker Air Carrier's N522AX

10 Tanker Air Carrier's DC-10-30, N522AX (c/n 48315, l/n 436), is making a fuel stop at HNL while transiting from OSC [Osceola, FL] to YSRI [Richmond, NSW, Australia] to position for Australia's summer forest fire season. It also made stops at ABQ, SBD, and PPG.

10 Tanker Air Carrier's N612AX

10 Tanker Air Carrier's DC-10-30ER is making its way back to the Mainland after another Australian Fire season. N612AX (s/n 48290 l/n 435) arrived this morning from RAAF Richmond, Australia NSW via Pago Pago, American Samoa.

Omni Air International's N630AX

Our March edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Omni Air International's DC-10-30, N630AX (c/n 46596, l/n 301) seen above at HNL's Gate 14 in October 2004, as it prepared to leave for LAS operating for Vacations Hawaii.

45696 was originally delivered to Condor Flugdienst [DE/CFG] in December 1979 as D-ADQO. It was painted white in the late 80s from the original bare metal livery, and flew with Condor until June 1999. Three months later, it was acquired by Omni Air International [X9/OAE] as N630AX, and flew until it was stored at VCV in October 2009. N630AX was scrapped at VCV in September 2011.

Hawaiian's N122AA

Our May edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to April 1994, and this Hawaiian Airlines DC-10-10, N122AA (c/n 46522, l/n 56), that was one of 20 leased from American Airlines. This photo of N122AA was taken while it was parked on the Elliott Street ramp.

N122AA was originally delivered to American Airlines in September 1972. It was delivered to Hawaiian in March 1994, and remained until February 2001. American sold N122AA to FedEx in May 2001, supposed to be registered as N551FE, but was instead sold to ECS Refining for parts, and eventually scrapped at MHV in 2002.

N612AX

After another fire season in Australia, a 10 Tanker Air Carrier's specially converted DC10-30 is making it's way back to the mainland. N612AX (c/n 48290 l/n 435) arrived from Avalon, Victoria via Pago Pago last night, and departed for Albuquerque, New Mexico this morning.

N612AX

N612AX (c/n 48290, l/n 435), a former Omni Air International DC-10-30, is making a brief fuel stop at HNL from ABQ [Albuquerque International Sunport, NM]. It's bound for BNE, with a stop at PPG. The owner is listed as BC Aircraft Leasing LLC of Las Vegas, NV, and its one of the DC-10 firebombers.

This DC-10-30 began service with Thai International Airways in December 1987 as HS-TMB. In April 1998, Northwest Airlines acquired it, and registered as N239NW. In October 2006, Omni Air International acquired this trip-jet, and registered as N612AX, where it flew until January 2012. After it was withdrawn from use, it was placed into storage at GYR. Omni sold it to BC Aircraft Leasing in November 2013.

Project Orbis' N220AU

The Project Orbis Flying Eye Hospital DC-10-10, N220AU (c/n 46501, l/n 2) has made a stop at HNL while making its way from Texas, for a medical mission in Vietnam. Pictured above is N220AU in Orbis' 2014 livery.

This DC-10-10 was the second off of the McDonnell-Douglas assembly line, and was built in December 1970 as N101AA. It was re-registered as N10DC, and became the sales demonstrator in December 1972. In June 1977, it was delivered to Laker Airways [GK/LKR] (United Kingdom) as G-BELO "Southern Belle". In February 1983, it was acquired by American Trans Air [TZ/ATA] as N183AT "City of Indianapolis". Three years later, it went to the UK to fly for Cal Air International [EN/CAI] as G-GCAL. In December 1988, it went to Novair [EN/NGK], Cal Air's successor. In November 1991, it went to Project Orbis to become their newer, larger flying eye surgery center.

Sun Country's N152SY

Our March edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to May 1996, and this Sun Country Airlines DC-10-15, N152SY (c/n 48289, l/n 365) seen above on Taxiway RT returning to the main terminal after an in-flight emergency. This particular flight departed for LAX, but had to return as the main landing gear canted forward, and could not retract. The flight crew made a 500-foot high pass in front of the HNL control tower, along the Runway 8L path, to verify the position of the main landing gear. HNL ARFF trucks from HNL's Station 2, abeam Runway 8R, stood by as the DC-10 flew out to dump fuel before landing on the Reef Runway without incident.

For a short period of time in the mid-1990s, Sun Country had DC-10-10 service between HNL and LAX. The livery seen above is the one prior to the current blue livery.

48289 was originally delivered to Mexicana as N1003W "Tolteca" (f/n 982) in December 1981, and remained with the airline until late 1994. It wore a variety of Mexicana liveries, including the "Ixcamilpa" tail livery, and a dark blue tail section. It was leased to AeroPerú in 1993, from May to October. The Wilmington Trust Company acquired this DC-10-10 in January 1995, and leased it Sun Country as N152SY. It was withdrawn from service in September 2000, and stored at GWO [Greenwood, MS], where it was scrapped in June 2002.

Japan Airlines' JA8542

Here's a bonus "HNL RareBirds Classic" for April.  Pictured above is JAL's DC-10-40,JA8542 (cn 47825/310), being pushed back for the last JAL DC-10 flight from Hawaii.  On October 26, 2005, JA8542 operated as JALways flight JO057 to FUK.  Unlike the last HNL flights of JAL's 747 Classic and 747-400s, there was no special ceremony since this was not the last JAL DC-10 flight.  However, the aircraft was sent off by several of the local JAL staff in addition to the maintenance personnel as seen in the picture below (Sorry for obstructed pictures as the Bradley fuel truck decided to drive by right at the same time the JA8542 was fully in the frame).

JA8542 was delivered to JAL on April 17, 1980 and was sent to Marana (MZJ) after its retirement in 2005 wearing the registration N825VV.  In this picture from airliners.net, you can see JA8542 stripped down sitting on blocks with the N825VV registration.

Northwest's N239NW

Our April edition of "HNL RareBirds Classics" features Northwest Airlines' DC-10-30, N239NW (c/n 48290, l/n 435, f/n 1239), seen above on Taxiway RT, in May 2004. It had received the final NWA livery a month prior to this photograph being taken.

48290 was originally delivered to Thai Airways in December 1987, as HS-TMB. In April 1998, Northwest acquired this DC-10-30, and registered as N239NW. In October 2006, Omni Air International acquired, and registered it as N612AX. Since February 2012, it has been in storage at GYR.

In July 2003, I rode N239NW from SEA to HNL, when it wore the tri-color "bowling shoe" livery.

JAL's JA8538

Our February edition of "HNL RareBirds Classics" takes us to the Keahole-Kona International Airport, where this Japan Airlines' DC-10-40I, JA8538 (c/n 46974), offloads passengers and cargo from JAL70, their flight from NRT in a 2003 photo. I was in KOA for a Japanese TV shoot in January 2003, and saw this from the Aloha Airlines 737-200 we were on as we pulled into our gate. JA8538 is seen above on the KOA wide-body ramp.

After its retirement from the JAL fleet, JA8538 was purchased by Omega Tanker, and re-registered as N974VV. It is a frequent visitor to HNL, as it supports US Navy fighters, and it was most recently seen on 01.30.11 at HNL along with a pair of F/A-18F Super Hornets.

Up until October of last year, Japan Airlines had a daily flight from NRT to KOA, JAL70. The return segment, JAL79, made a stop at HNL. Service initially began with their 747-346s, then changed to the DC-10-40I, then finally to their 767-346ERs.

Omega DC-10 And USN F/A-18Fs

Regular visitor Omega Tanker DC-10-30, N974VV (c/n 46974) with two F/A-18F Super Hornets from the VFA-122 (Fleet Readiness Squadron-FRS, "Flying Eagles", NAS Lemoore, CA) in the evening sun on Saturday.

N910SF

The Raytheon Flight Test DC-10-10, N910SF (c/n 46524), used for missile testing was in town and parked on the south ramp ...

Looks like we finally got a view of the port side of the DC-10, and the flight crew can be seen sitting under the starboard wing.