Happy New Year!
Our first 2012 edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" is Reeve Aleutian Airways' L-188C(PF) Electra, N178RV (c/n 2010), that paid a visit to HNL in 1996. The Electra, seen above, was photographed on HNL's South Ramp, near the UPS hardstands.
Our first 2012 edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" is Reeve Aleutian Airways' L-188C(PF) Electra, N178RV (c/n 2010), that paid a visit to HNL in 1996. The Electra, seen above, was photographed on HNL's South Ramp, near the UPS hardstands.
The early history of N178RV is somewhat vague, as the dates of delivery are not listed. It was originally delivered to Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), the predecessor to Air New Zealand, as ZK-TEB. It then went on to Transamerica Airlines [TV/TVA] as N33506. It's next owner was Northwest Territorial Cargo as C-GNWC. Reeve Aleutian [RV/RVV] acquired this Electra in September 1988, and remained with the fleet until the airline's closure in December 2000. It was then acquired by Atlantic Airlines (UK), and had the registration changed to N2RK, and the titles changed to "Reeve Illusion". In August 2010, Buffalo Airways [BFL] (Canada) picked up this Electra, and registered as C-FIJX, but still wears the "Reeve Illusion" colors. Buffalo Airways is the subject of the reality TV show "Ice Pilots" that airs in the USA on the National Geographic Channel.
