Northrop Grumman's N140SC

Northrop Grumman's L-1011 TriStar 100, N140SC "Stargazer" (msn 193E-1067) is making a stop at KOA from MHV this afternoon. It's bound for KWA to launch a Pegasus rocket that is mounted under the belly.

Stargazer has been at HNL twice before en route to KWA in the past.

24 June 2026 UPDATE

N140SC departed for KWA this morning.

03 July 2026 UPDATE

N140SC transited from KWA to KOA today.

04 July 2026 UPDATE

N140SC returned to MHV this morning.

Orbital Science's N140SC

N140SC (msn 193E1067), the Orbital Sciences L-1011-385-1 Tri-Star, named "Stargazer", made a stop at HNL from VBG [Lompoc Airport, Vandenburg AFB, CA]. It's on its way to KWA [Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, FSM] to launch the Pegasus rocket mounted on its centerline pylon.


06.07.18 Update
N140SC returned to VBG without launching the Pegasus rocket today.

ATA's N187AT

Our March edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to January 1998, with American Trans Air's (ATA) L-1011-385-1 Tristar 50, N871AT (msn 193C-1077), seen above taxiing on Taxiway RT to Runway 26L.

This Tristar was originally delivered to Delta Air Lines in May 1974 as N707DA, built as a Tristar 1. In March 1984, it was sold to Boeing, and was converted to a Tristar 50. In July 1985, American Trans Air took delivery of this L-1011 as N187AT. It flew with ATA until October 2001, where it was stored at VCV. It's been reported that this Tristar 50 was scrapped in November 2002.

Delta's N722DA

Our January 2016 edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to January 2005, with this former Delta Air Lines L-1011-385-1 TriStar 1, N722DA (msn 193C-1147), that made a stop at HNL on its way to BKK to join the Thai Sky Airlines fleet as HS-AXA.

N722DA was delivered to Delta in November 1977 from the Lockheed plant in Palmdale, CA, and served with the airline until October 1998, where it was placed into storage at VCV. It was sold to Jet Midwest in April 2004, then J&J Holdings (Hong Kong) seven months later. It made a ferry flight from VCV to CAN (via OAK and HNL) for an overhaul. It joined the Thai Sky Airlines in February 2005, but was withdrawn from use in April 2006, and was stripped for spare parts. It's assumed that this TriStar has been scrapped.

American International's N102CK

Our December edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to November 1995, and this American International Airways L-1011-200F, N012CK (msn 193N-1198), seen above on Taxiway C, taxiing out for departure on Runway 8R.  American International Airways was the precursor to the current Kalitta Air [K4/CKS].

This Tri-Star was originally delivered to British Airways [BA/BAW] in November 1980 as G-BHBM "The Piccadilly Rose". It was also painted in the Landor livery, and re-named "Poole Bay" in the late 80s. It was leased to Kuwait Airways for a short period in 1992. It was acquired by American International in November 1994, after going through its freighter conversion. In May 1999, it was transferred to Kalitta's Kitty Hawk International [CB/CKS] subsidiary. After Kitty Hawk's closure, N102CK was sold to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, and ferried to Jordan. It then was ferried to Greece, where it was supposed to be leased to Freedom Air (Cyprus), with the Greek registry of SX-CVE. Last known photo taken in January 2013, reports are that this Tri-Star remains stored at KVA [Megas Alexandros Airport, Kavala, Geece], still in the Kitty Hawk livery.

Oribital Science Corporation's L-1011

Above, is Orbital Science's L-1011-385-1-15 Tristar 100 on final for Runway 8L. Orbital Science utilizes a modified L-1011 as a mother-ship for the air launched Pegasus rocket. N140SC (c/n 190E-1067) or "Stargazer", is currently on a mission to launch a nuclear spectroscopic telescope array (NuSTAR) into space from the skies above Kwajalein Atoll. It arrived this afternoon from VBG [Vandenburg AFB, Lompoc, CA], along with a Miami Air International 737-800, N738MA, as BSK648.

N140SC is seen above departing for KWA. I was unable to get a photo of N738MA as it departed for KWA before I got to HNL, and it was parked at Castle & Cooke, but a clear photo op was obscured by another Miami Air 737 doing an inmate transfer flight. (BW707)


This Tri-Star was originally delivered to Air Canada as C-FTNJ (f/n 510) in March 1974. During its time with ACA, it did a three week lease stint with Air Lanka, as 4R-TNJ. ACA retired C-FTNJ in October 1990, and stored it at MZJ. Orbital Sciences bought the L-1011-100 in May 1992, and has launched over 40 Pegasus Rockets from its belly pylon.


*** 06.13.12 Update ***
Orbital Sciences launched the Pegasus rocket this morning. NYC Aviation posted the NASA briefing video on their website.

Rich International's N304EA

Our June edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Rich International Airlines' L-1011-385-1 "TriStar1", N304EA (msn 193A-1005). It's seen above at HNL's Gate 14 in August 1994. This was our TriStar that took us to LAS for a company incentive trip, and taken before we boarded N304EA. It had a 2-5-2 seating arrangement in coach, and I sat a couple of rows in front of the third doors.

In the mid-90s, Rich International (JM/RIA) flew tour package charters between HNL and LAS for Creative Holidays, a local travel agency.

N304EA was originally delivered in July 1972 to Eastern Airlines (EA/EAL). It was acquired by IAL, then leased to  Air America, in July 1987, and during it's stint there, it was used in the film "Last Flight Out", painted in Pan Am colors. In May 1991, Air Atlanta Icelandic (CC/ABD) leased it from IAL, and registered it as TF-ABG. Kabo Air (QNK) [Nigeria] subleased for four months (June-October 1992). In May 1993, it regained the N304EA registration, and five months later, it joined the Rich International fleet. The airline folded in 1996 after it filed for bankruptcy protection, and N304EA went into storage in various locations. The last known sighting was two years ago at ROW, but is presumed that this TriStar has since been scrapped.

Saudi Arabian Royal Flight's HZ-HM5

Dating back to 1994, is today's HNL RareBird Classic, a Saudi Arabian Royal Flight L-1011-385-3 "TriStar 500", HZ-HM5 (msn 193G-1250). This TriStar was used by the Royal Saudi Family, and it spent several days on the HNL south ramp. It's seen above wearing the classic Saudia (SV/SVA) colors, and has been re-painted in the current colors.

A few years after this photo was taken, other Saudia airliners have been seen at HNL, once there were a pair of SV 747-300s, along with a Gulfstream G-IV, and a Lockheed L-100 "Hercules", occupying HNL's south ramp. The 743s were actually parked on Taxiway F parallel to Runway 4L (similar to the AQ parkings in March). In August 2006, an SV 777-200 was at HNL for a few days.

Royal Air Force's K1s

The UK's Royal Air Force K1 (L-1011-385 "TriStar 500") air re-fueling tankers have been using HNL as a stopover point during "Exercise Longlook", over the past few days.

Airliners.net photo link

ATA Brings In Hawai‘i Bowl Teams

Both the Boise State University Broncos (Western Athletic Confernce) and the East Carolina University Pirates (Conference USA) chartered ATA Airlines' L-1011s to bring their respective football teams to HNL for the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl on December 23rd at Aloha Stadium (and will be aired on ESPN at 2000EST).

Both teams arrived late yesterday ... The Broncos arrived on AMT6471 from BOI (Gowen Field, Boise, ID), and the Pirates arrived on AMT6469 from ISO (Kinston Regional Airport, Kinston, NC) with a fuel stop at OAK.


Update 12-24-07 (07:00)
The ECU Pirates beat the BSU Broncos 41-38 in the final seconds with a walk-off field goal. Both the Pirates and Broncos returned to their respective cities last night aboard their ATA L-1011 charters after the game. The Broncos returnd to BOI on AMT6472, and the Pirates returned to ISO on AMT6470.

RAF KC1

Parked on the North Ramp this Saturday morning was this U.K. RAF KC1, ZD948. Where it came from or going is currently unknown. This converted L-1011-385-3 Tristar originally was used by British Airways as G-BFCA and sold to the RAF in 1983.

The RAF has 9 Tristars (6 ex-BA, 3 ex-PA) in service. The ex-BA ones were converted to be tankers/transport aircraft with the designation of K1 or KC1. The difference being that the KC1s have been modified with the main deck cargo door. The RAF uses the hose-and-drouge method for air-to-air refuelling and you can see the housing for the system under the tail.

Royal Air Force's ZD948

I got word from a spotter in New Zealand that a Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) Lockheed KC1 (or L-1011-500 TriStar) tanker / transport was headed here. It's here on HNL's north ramp. The RAF registration is ZD948 (msn 193V-1157), and she previously flew with British Airways as G-BFCA "Princess Margaret Rose". ZD948 is based at Brize Norton Air Base in the UK.

Sorry, no HNL photo available.

ATA L-1011

Also on the North Ramp was an ATA L-1011-500 (N164AT). ATA only has painted the L-1011s in partial new colors (no tail logo or stripe on the engines) and only small titles on the front. Not sure what flight this aircraft flew in as, but it most likely came in as a military charter.