Some Not So HNL RareBirds

I had the splendid chance of attending the 2014 Iruma Airshow in Saitama, Japan this past November 3rd. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the Japan Air Self Defense Force. The highlight of any airshow would be the performance done by the local military groups and Japan was no exception. The JASDF's Blue Impulse, flying Kawasaki T-4s wowed the enthusiastic crowd of more than 200,000 people that attended that day. Other aerial demonstrations where performed by Iruma's 2nd Tactical Airlift Wing flying Kawasaki C-1s and a U-4, the Air Defense Command HQ Flight Group in their YS-11, U-125 and Kawasaki T-4s, JASDF's Air Rescue Wing with their U-125A and UH-60J, and the Base's Helicopter Airlift Corps flying the CH-47J.  I was impressed at how the audience oohed and awed at the maneuvers the various display groups performed. This was one of the main highlights of my Japan trip! I hope to make it out there for more JDM metal soon!

Maui Vacation

My wife, mother-in-law, and I took flew on Island Air for a short trip to Maui this past weekend. Our flight to OGG, Saturday morning, was MKU414.  N941WP (msn 349) "Manawanui" was the ATR72-212 that was used for the flight, seen above before boarding from Gate 77.

Here's a shot of the interior of N941WP from seat 15D ...

Our return flight on Sunday afternoon was MKU407. N420AT (msn 420) "Ho‘olauna" was the ATR72-212 used for the flight. It's seen above taxiing into OGG's Gate 9 from HNL.

ANA 787 At HND

This is the first time I've seen a 787 in person. Sorry all the servicing vehicles clutter the shot. Haneda has some great observation areas for planespotting and this is pre-security so anyone can enjoy the views.

Spotting In Phoenix And Southwest Adventures

I went on a trip in March to Phoenix to catch some Spring Training baseball.  While in Phoenix, I found a great place to do some spotting - Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe.

This picture was taken from Hayden Butte, a small mountain next to ASU's Sun Devil Stadium.  Just half way up the trail, you can see PHX and downtown Phoenix.  The ASU campus in Tempe is located to the east and slightly south of PHX's 2 7-25 runways.  The building in the lower right corner is the headquarters of U.S. Airways.

Once at the top, Hayden Butte is a great place to spot aircraft landing (or taking off depending on the winds) to both sides of PHX.  The US A320 in the picture is landing on the north side of PHX (that's the best zoom on my camera).  Aircraft landing on the south side fly much closer to the mountain.

You don't have to hike up Hayden Butte to watch the aircraft fly by.  You can sit in the shade at the light rail station or Sun Devil Stadium and watch aircraft pass overhead, which I ended up doing as the trail is rather steep and it was a hot day. 

After watching a couple of spring training games, my next stop was Las Vegas. My flight on Southwest was uneventful until we were about to land.  I had a window seat and just as we were passing over the piano keys, the engines spooled up and we started climbing again.  I just experienced my first go-around!  Once we leveled off, the pilots explained that the aircraft that landed before us did not exit the runway in time for us to land.

The night before I was to leave LAS, I got another surprise from Southwest.  My non-stop flight to SJC was cancelled.  My only other option to get to SJC in time for my Hawaiian flight to HNL was fly to BUR and change planes.  It was nice to be able to board and deplane using stairs and walking across the ramp, something I haven't done since I last flew to KOA in 2002.  Luckily, the flights were lightly loaded and I was able to make it to my flight in SJC about 10 minutes before boarding started.

MSP RareBirds

Heading home from MSP on March 17th. Here are some of the Delta airliners that we don't see at HNL taken at Concourse G.

Delta's A320-212, N337NW (msn 358, f/n 3237), parked at Gate G13.

Delta's 757-232, N694DL (c/n 29726, l/n 831, f/n 694), being loaded at Gate G15, wears "The Spirit of Freedom" special markings on the nose section.

Delta's MD-90-30, N908DA (c/n 53388, l/n 2117, f/n 9208), starting its engines after being pushed out from Gate G19.

While taxiing out for departure on Runway 17, we passed by this former Northwest Airlines DC-9-31, N960N (c/n 47256, l/n 326, f/n 9910), that's now a fire/rescue trainer for the MSP ARFF.

EWR RareBirds

Here are some of the photos from EWR on March 11th from Terminal B. We definitely do not see these birds at HNL ...

 Porter Airlines' Dash8-Q402, C-GLQD (msn 4138, f/n 803) at Gate 51.

 American Airlines' MD-83, N9413T (c/n 53188, l/n 2119, f/n 4WW) at Terminal A.

 Jet Airways' A330-202, VT-JWN (msn 932) on Taxiway RC.

United Express' (Shuttle America) ERJ-170SE, N865RW (msn 17000122) on Taxiway B, wearing the final pre-merger United livery.

British Airways' 777-236, G-ZZZB (c/n 27106, l/n 10) on Taxiway A, as seen from Seat 11D aboard N761ND.

ATL RareBirds

Here are some of the photos I took at ATL on March 11th prior to our flight to MSP via EWR. While they may be regulars there, these are birds we definitely don't see at HNL ...

Delta's MD-90-30, N918DH (c/n 53553, l/n 2165, f/n 9218) being pushed out of Gate T5.

Delta's MD-88, N910DE (c/n 53419, l/n 2036, f/n 9010), taxiing down Ramp 1.

Spirit Airlines' A319-132, N522NK (msn 2893) "Spirit of Las Vegas", in the old livery on Taxiway L.

US Airways' ERJ-190AR, N954UW (msn 19000139, f/n 954), on Taxiway L.

United Express' CRJ-700, N716SK (msn 10180, f/n 716) on Taxiway L. This CRJ-700 is operated by SkyWest Airlines.

airTran's 717-2BD, N994AT (c/n 55138, l/n 5104, f/n 766), on Taxiway M, bound for departure on Runway 9L.

LAX RareBirds

Here are a few shots I did manage to get during our LAX stopovers. The three photos below were taken on March 9th, upon arrival at LAX.

Air Pacific's 747-412, DQ-FJL (c/n 24062, l/n 722) at the West Remote Hardstands, as we taxi from North Complex to Terminal 5, on Taxiway AA.

United Airlines' A320-232, N447UA (msn 836, f/n 4247) on Taxiway H, waiting to cross Runway 25R at Taxiway P.

Delta Connection's (SkyWest Airlines) N625CA (msn & f/n 10113), on Taxiway H, about to follow us to Terminal 5.

This photo was taken from DAL1454, N373DA, as we taxied to Runway 25R for departure to ATL.

American Airlines' 777-223ER, N755AN (c/n 30263, l/n 354, f/n 7BP) is holding on Taxiway C. 

The photo below was taken on March 17th.

The Fry's Electronics 727-281 "Super 27", N724YS (c/n 21474, l/n 1378) and the Dubai Air Wing's 747-412F, A6-GGF (c/n 28032, l/n 1224) on one of LAX's FBO ramps.

Mainland RareBirds

I spent last week traveling from HNL to ATL (via LAX), ATL to MSP (via EWR), and MSP to HNL (via LAX) for work. I did manage to snap a few pix at some of the airports, and from the planes, which I'll post when time permits.

Our flights were on:
Delta's 757-351, N590NW (c/n 32990, l/n 1087, f/n 5810) [DAL1150 HNL-LAX], which departed from Runway 26L;
Delta's 737-832, N373DA (c/n 29621, l/n 123, f/n 3703) [DAL1454 LAX-ATL];
Delta's A319-119, N346NB (msn 1796, f/n 3146) [DAL935 ATL-EWR];
Delta Connection's (ExpressJet) CRJ-700, N761ND (msn 10213, f/n 761) [DAL4975 EWR-MSP];
Delta's 757-212, N752AT (c/n 23128, l/n 48, f/n 6904) [DAL1219 MSP-LAX], and
Delta's 757-351, N582NW (c/n 32981, l/n 1014, f/n 5802) [DAL1149 LAX-HNL].

Delta's N373DA shortly after we arrived at ATL. The 737-832 is seen parked at Gate A3. I only had the opportunity to get this shot with my iPhone.

Delta's A319-119, N346NB at ATL's Gate A1, being readied to take us to EWR.

At EWR, Delta Connection's N761ND taxing down the alleyway RD to Gate 47 at Terminal B. This CRJ-700 took us to MSP.

Delta's N752AT at MSP's Gate G17, prior to boarding to take us to LAX. This flight continued onto OGG after our LAX stop. Back in 2009, I got a shot of N752AT at OGG.

I was unable to get photos of N590NW nor N582NW.

There were also several rarebirds that I saw at LAX, but unable to photograph: a former Air China 747-4J6 parked on one of the south ramps. It had the CCA cheatlines, but no logo nor titles. There were also a couple of 727-200 charter jets on the south side. An Aeromexico 737-700 with special markings in the aft section, that was ahead of us as we exited Taxiway H. The University of Washington Huskies Horizon Air Q400 logo-prop, and the United Airlines Friendship A320 were at Terminal 6. At the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), there was an Air Berlin and Aeroflot A330-300. Our two LAX layovers were very brief, under 60 minutes per stop (including the times to disembark, grab food, change gates, and board the next flight), and the windows in Terminals 5 and 6 aren't that photographer-friendly.

At EWR, there was an ElAl 777-200, and an Air India 777-200 at the middle section of Terminal B (see N761ND photo) that I was not able to get shots of.

Greetings from Boston!

Well, not really as I am already back in Hawaii. Boston is one of the most historic cities in the United States and likes to boast about having many of the first/oldest things in the country. Things like the first public park (Boston Common), first subway system, or oldest major league baseball stadium (Fenway Park).

Recently, Boston has added another first, the first U.S. city to receive scheduled service from Boeing's 787. JAL started flying NRT-BOS using the 787-8 on April 22nd. Of course I had to get a picture of the 787, and luckily JAL uses a gate at the end of BOS's Terminal E. This means you can see it from various areas outside of the teriminals.

LAX RareBirds

On Nov. 22nd, we had an opportunity to get a few hours of spotting time at LAX from Imperial Park (Runways 25), the In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda (Runway 24R arrivals), and the Proud Bird Restaurant (Runway 25L arrivals).

While the aircraft in this post may be a common sight at LAX, we certainly do not see them at HNL. The following are several airlines and/or airliners not commonly seen in Hawai‘i.

China Airlines Cargo 747-409F, B-18711 (c/n 30768), taxies on Taxiway A to the LAX International Cargo Ramp after landing on Runway 24R. It arrived from TPE. As you can see in the background, there are three Qantas A380s parked in north hangar area, due to the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine grounding.

Still wearing the old livery, US Airways' A321-211, N171US (msn 1465) taxies westward to Terminal 1. With the renovations to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) going on, Taxiways S and Q have been closed, forcing taxiing traffic to go to Taxiway AA (at the west end of LAX) to get from the north side to the south side (and vice-verse). Two of the three Qantas A380s are seen in the background.

All Nippon Airways' 777-381ER, JA733A (c/n 32648), taxies to the Tom Bradley International Terminal on Taxiway C after landing on Runway 24R. It arrived from NRT as ANA6. The immediate background shows some of the construction to the TBIT extension.

An Emirates 777-31HER, A6-ECX (c/n 38982) rockets off of Runway 25R bound for DXB as UAE218. In the background is the LAX Tower, and the world-famous theme building. Also, at the Delta Air Lines Terminal (T5), is one of their 737-832s in the 2001 colors.

B-2431 (c/n 30761), a 747-409F from Yangtze River Express (Y8/YZR) departs for PVG from Runway 25R. This aircraft was originally delivered to China Airlines in 2000, and acquired by YZR in 2007. Yangtze River Express is part of the Hainan Air Group.

LAN Chile's CC-CDP (c/n 27597), a 767-316ER, taxies on Taxiway H after arriving from LIM as LAN600. In the background is a Cathay Pacific 777-367ER from HKG as CPA882. There's also the ANA 777-381ER, an American Airlines 777-223 and MD-83 at their terminal (T4).

N18112 (c/n 27302) is one of several Continental Airlines 757-224s to receive the new United Airlines titles. It's seen above climbing out from a Runway 25R departure. There was a 737-824 with the new United titles that landed on Runway 25L.

While we had lunch at the In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda Blvd, this Virgin America A320-214, N634VA "mach daddy" (msn 3359), made its approach to Runway 24R. I had one hand on the camera, and the other on the burger.

airTran's N287AT (c/n 32671), a 737-76N, makes a its short final to Rwy 24R. Soon these 737-700s (along with their 717-200s) will become part of the Southwest fleet with the upcoming merger.

Horizon Air's Dash8-Q400, N419QX (msn 4145), passes by In-N-Out Burger.

Air Canada's C-GBIK (msn 831), an A319-114, on short final for Runway 24R.

The last plane I photographed from In-N-Out Burger, was this American Eagle Embraer ERJ-140LR, N853AE (msn 145742).

After lunch, we checked out the Proud Bird Restaurant parking lot to get Runway 25L arrivals, and only managed to get these two, before a lull in the action. 

The first was a United Express (SkyWest) Embraer EMB-120ER, N226SW (msn 120296), still wearing the UA grey livery. The EMB-120 is the smallest airliner serving LAX.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' PH-BFE (c/n 24201) "Melbourne", a 747-406M, arrives from AMS as KLM601, on finals for Runway 25L.