RIMPAC Maritime Patrol Aircraft Display

Maritime patrol aircraft participating in RIMPAC 2026 were on display this morning at Marine Corps Air Field Kāne‘ohe Bay. A P-8A Poseidon from the US Navy's VP-40 "Fighting Marlins" and a Kawasaki P-1 from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's 5 Kokutai were on display. Commanders from the US Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Republic of Korea Navy were also on hand at the event. There were also P-8As from the US Navy's VP-4 and RAAF's 11 Squadron departing the base for sorties, as a well as an RCAF CP-140 Aurora performing touch and go landings.

Here is a link to our YouTube video of the event.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 330002

330002 (msn 1653), the CC-330 Husky from the Royal Canadian Air Force's 437 Squadron, is making another stop at HIK, from FAI, as CFC3417.

29 MAY 2026 UPDATE

330002 departed for YOW as CFC3417.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 330002

330002 (msn 1653), a CC-330 Husky from the Royal Canadian Air Force's 437 Squadron is making a stop at HNL from YOW, via MEM and PHX, as CFC3467.

18 May 2026 UPDATE

330002 departed for YOW today as CFC3467.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 140117

140117 (msn 285B-5723), a CP-140M Aurora from the Royal Canadian Air Force's 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron, 19 Wing Comox, is making a stop at HNL from YQQ.

On a related note, Air Data News reports that the first CP-8A Poseidon has entered final assembly at RNT last month, been assigned line number 9627. It has yet to be assigned a construction number nor an RCAF serial number.

Royal Canadian Air Force Orders Six Global 6000s

The Government of Canada and Bombardier announced that six BD-700-1A10 Global 6000s will be ordered to replace the current Canadair CC-144 Challenger for the Royal Canadian Air Force's 412 Squadron. The first RCAF Global 6000 is scheduled to be delivered in 2027, and fully operational by 2033.

The 412 Squadron's CC-144s are frequent sites at HNL's South Ramp.

Further information in this Government of Canada press release, and this Bombardier press release. 

Royal Canadian Air Force's 140117

A CP-140 from the Royal Canadian Air Force's 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron / 19 Wing, is making a stop at HNL. 140117 (msn 5723) arrived from YQQ earlier today.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 330002

330002 (msn 1653), an Airbus CC-330 (A330-243) Husky from the Royal Canadian Air Force's 437 Transport Squadron, is making a stop at HIK from YOW as CFC3455.

21 April 2025 UPDATE

CFC3455 departed for GUM this morning.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 15001

The Royal Canadian Air Force's CC-150 Polaris, 15001 (msn 446), is making a stop at HNL as CFC3156. This flight originated from YTR [CFB Trenton / Trenton Airport, Trenton, ON, Canada], and made a stop at PHX.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 140108

A CP-140M Aurora from the 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron / 19 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force made a stop at HNL before returning to YQQ [CFB Comox, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada]. 140108 (msn  285B-5709) arrived as CFC475, and departed for YQQ with the same flight number.

On a related note, the RCAF has ordered 14 P-8A Poseidons to replace the aging CP-140Ms, with deliveries slated to begin in 2026. The RCAF also has options for two more P-8As. Nothing was mentioned as to the possibility of having its own Canadian designation.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 330002

The Royal Canadian Air Force's CC-330, 330002 (msn 1653), is making a brief fuel stop at HNL from YOW, as it transits westward as CFC1. This VIP-configured A330-243 is transporting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During its brief fuel stop, 330002 parked on the south cargo ramp.

1653's History:

Aug 2015: Delivered to Kuwait airways as 9K-APC "Al Sabahiya".

Mar 2019: 65th Anniversary decals applied, and renamed "Al-Jalboot".

Feb 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at BSL.

Aug 2023: Acquired by the Royal Canadian Air Force, to be configured with a VIP cabin, and registered as 330002.

Mobility Guardian 2023

Aircraft, mostly transports, from foreign air forces are stopping through HNL as part of Mobility Guardian 2023, a multi-national air exercise being held at Andersen AFB, Guam.

Le Armée de l’Air has A330-200 MRTTs: F-UJCH (msn 1808, f/n 042) and F-UJCM (msn 1998, f/n 047); and A400M F-RBAR (msn 110, f/n 110).

The Luftwaffe has A400Ms: 54+02 (msn 029) and 54+05 (msn 040).

The Royal Thai Air Force has a C-130J, 60112 (msn 5281).

The Royal Air Force has a C-17A: ZZ172 (c/n 50079, l/n F-78).

The Royal Canadian Air Force has CC-150 Polaris: 15001 (msn 446) and 15003 (msn 425), and C-130J 130605 (msn 5637).

Royal Canadian Air Force's 144620

The Royal Canadian Air Force's CC-144D, 144620 (msn 6152), is making a stop at HNL from YOW, via OAK, as CFC3090. This Challenger 650 is part of the 412 Squadron "Falcons". The 412 is celebrating its 80th anniversary, and 144620 has a commemorative decal affixed on the tail (above photo).

Royal Canadian Air Force's 15003

A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-150 (A310-304), 15003 (msn 425), made a stop at HNL as CFC3184, this evening. It's pictured above departing the next morning.

425 was originally delivered to Wardair Canada in January 1988 as C-FWDX "H.W. 'Harry' Hayter" (f/n 802). When Wardair was acquired by Canadian Airlines International, the former's fleet was transferred. From June 1991 to January 1992, it was leased to Compass Airlines [YM/CYM] (Australia) as VH-YMI. After its return to Canadian Airlines International, it flew with the airline until December, when it was sold to the Royal Canadian Air Force as 15003.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 15001

The Royal Canadian Air Force's CC-150 Polaris 15001(msn 446, f/n 01) has made a stop at HNL. This is the only Polaris in the RCAF fleet that has a VIP interior, and is usually the transport for their prime minister.

446 was originally delivered to Wardair Canada [WD/WDA] in February 1988 as C-GBWD "C.C. 'Carl' Agar" (f/n 806). In January 1990, it was transferred to the Canadian International Airlines fleet, when they acquired Wardair. In 1993, this A310 was purchased by the Royal Canadian Air Force, registered as 15001, and had the cabin configured for a VIP transport. In 2013, 15001 was painted in the present livery, and part of "O Canada" ('True North strong and free') is below the cockpit windows English and French.

Royal Canadian Air Force's 144617

The Royal Canadian Air Force's 144617 (msn 5533), made a stop at HNL. The Bombardier CC-144C (Challenger 604) is used as a VIP transport. When transporting their Prime Minister within Canada, it's call-sign is "CanForce1". This CC-144C was delivered to the RCAF in December 2002.

Royal Canadian Air Force CC-150 Polaris

Also stopping over for a refueling stop was Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the Royal Canadian Air Force's CC-150 Polaris VIP Transport, 15001 (c/n 446).

Royal Canadian Air Force's 15001

An RCAF Airbus CC-150 Polaris (A310-304), 15001 (msn 446), paid a visit to HNL today, and parked at Gate 34. It's one of five CC-150s in the RCAF fleet.

This A310 was originally delivered to Wardair Canada as C-GBWD in February 1988. When Canadian Airlines acquired Wardair Canada, C-GBWD was absorbed into the combined fleet. The Royal Canadian Air Force acquired the A310 in 1993, and had a main deck cargo door installed in 1996.

A big mahalo to team member Aeros for the photo!

This also our 1,500th blog post!

Canadian CF18 Hornets

Seen Saturday morning while taxiing out for the reef runway were this gaggle of RCAF CF18 Hornets, were these associated with Rimpac??