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]. 

Aero To Launch Seasonal VNY-OGG Service

Ch-Aviation's Business Jets news reports that San Francisco-based Aero announced that they will be starting seasonal G-IV weekly service between VNY and OGG. This schedule private jet charter service is scheduled to begin on 22 November 2025, and will run to 04 April 2026. The G-IV will arrive on Saturdays and depart on Sundays. According to Aero's website, the flight is tied in with the Four Season Resort Maui at Wailea.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's G-IV SP, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246), is making its winter training flight sessions out of HNL. Flying as NOAA49, this G-IV SP, arrived from LAL, via SDL, today.

NASA's N95NA

The National Aeronautic and Space Administration's G-V, N95NA (msn 672), is making a stop at HNL from EDF [Houston Ellington Airport, Houston, TX] this afternoon as NASA5.

672's History:

Sep 2002: Delivered to Transworld Oil as VP-BJD.

Nov 2005: Sold to Nike, Inc. as N225GV.

Jan 2006: Re-registered as N3456.

Oct 2016: Acquired by NASA as N95NA.

03 January 2025 UPDATE

N95NA departed today for BNE.

N706GD

N706GD (msn 87006), the Gulfstream G700 prototype, is making a stop at HNL from SAV [Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport, Savannah, GA]. It will continue onto DAD [Da Nang International Airport, Da Nang, Vietnam].

16 October 2024 UPDATE

N706GD returned from DAD, and will return to SAV the next morning.

NOAA To Receive A Second G550

NOAA announced today that they will receive a second G550, along with the first that is on order, and will replace N49RF "Gonzo" in 2025. This second G550 will be delivered in 2028.

NOAA's N49RF Returns

NOAA's Gulfstream G-IV, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246) is back at HNL for testing and training. It arrived this afternoon from LGB.

NOAA's N49RF

NOAA's Gulfstream IV, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246), is making its winter season flight training at HNL. It's scheduled to be based here for a couple of weeks.

19 Dec 2023 UPDATE

NOAA49 departed for PSP this morning, then will continue onto SAV tomorrow.

NASA's N522NA

NASA's Gulfstream IV, N522NA (msn 1199), is making a stop at JRF from LFI (via MRY), as it heads to CHC. It will overnight then continue onto PPG, then CHC.

03 Dec 2023 UPDATE

N522NA returns from PPG this evening, and will depart for TUS the next morning.

NASA's N522NA

NASA's Gulfstream G-IV, N522NA (msn 1199), is making a stop at HNL while on its way from LFI to PPG as NASA522, with other stops at BJC and MRY.

28 June 2023 UPDATE

N522NA returned to HNL before returning to LFI (seen above).

01 July 2023 UPDATE

NASA522 departed for TUS early this morning.

Qatar Executive's A7-CGD

Qatar Executive's Gulfstream G650ER, A7-CGD (msn 6271), is making a stop at HNL from ICN as QQE263. This G650ER holds the world record for the fastest circumnavigation over both the North and South Poles set in July 2019.

15 Jan 2023 UPDATE

A7-CGD departed for NRT with the same flight number today.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Gulfstream G-IV, N49RF "Gonzo" (msn 1246), is spending a few weeks at HNL for training. This G-IV arrived from LAL (via LGB) as NOAA49, this afternoon.

Korean Air's HL8068

Korean Air Business Jet's Gulfstream G650ER, HL8068 (msn 6199), is making a stop at HNL from DAL as KAL9052. This G650ER is one of three aircraft, also a Global Express XRS, and a Boeing BBJ, in the business jet fleet that offers private charter services.

N515JA

N515JA (msn 1051), a Gulfstream G-IV owned by Aery Aviation LLC [Wilmington, DE], is making a stop at HNL. With one of the port-side windows having a sensor sticking out from it, it appears to be a research jet. According to engelsjk.com, it flew circuits over Minnesota and Michigan.

14 Oct 21 UPDATE

N515JA has been flying circuits over the islands at FL410 as FST707.

22 Oct 21 UPDATE

This G-IV departed HNL this morning for VCV.

NASA's N992NA

NASA's Gulfstream III, N992NA (msn 309), arrived at HNL today. It's mission will be to overfly the the volcanic activity on the east side of Hawai‘i Island. The G-III is equipped with NASA's UAVSAR (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar) pod mounted on the underside.

FlightRadar24.com has the flight track over the Puna side of Hawai‘i Island.

Koloa Aviation Upgrades N820MS To G-V

Koloa Aviation has added a second Gulfstream jet. They upgraded N820MS, from the G-IV (msn 1147) to the G-V (msn 626), and has a new livery. Their G-IV has been re-registered as N820MG.

NASA's 83-0502

Formally flying for the United States Air Force, this G-20A (Gulfstream-III) was acquired by the National Aeronautical and Space Administration in 2003 to become a test-bed/research aircraft. Hanging below 83-0502 (c/n 389) is an Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) array. According to their website, 83-0502 was used to survey Mauna Loa yesterday. For more information click here.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) weather-hunting Gulfstream IV, N49RF, has been based out of HNL since 13 February, probably for the winter weather systems approaching the Hawaiian Islands.

02.24.14 Update
According to FlightAware, N49RF had been flying circuits around the islands, and is heading back to LGB.

NOAA's N49RF

NOAA's G-IV hurricane hunter, N49RF, is at HNL with Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Julio approaching the Hawaiian Islands.

Japan Coast Guard G-V

Japan Coast Guard's JA500A (msn 683), a Gulfstream G-V, on the KOA south ramp for a weekend layover.