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]. 

US Marshals Service's N311MS

The US Marshals Service flew N311MS (c/n 30670, l/n 1481) from VCV to HNL today. Flying as DOJ361, this 737-8Q8, is making an inmate transfer flight.

N311MS was last seen at HNL in December 2023.

10 July 2025 UPDATE

N311MS returned to VCV as DOJ364.

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.

US Marshals Service's N311MS

N311MS (c/n 30670, l/n 1481), a 737-8Q8, owned by the US Marshals Service (US Department of Justice), is making a stop at HNL from OKC, via VCV, as DOJ96. It's doing a federal inmate transfer flight.

30670's History:

Apr 2004: Delivered to Miami Air International as N739MA (f/n 739), under lease from ILFC.

Jly 2007: Subleased to Martinair for two months.

Apr 2008: Subleased to Transavia Holland for four months.

Jun 2010: Subleased to Arkefly for three months, named "Ely" after return to Miami Air.

Jun 2011: Subleased to Arkefly for two months.

Jun 2012: Subleased to Arkefly for two months.

May 2014: Sold to AerCap, and the lease transferred.

Jun 2018: Operated for Transavia for four months.

Mar 2020: Withdrawn from service, and stored at MIA.

May 2020: Ferried to GYR for storage.

Sep 2020: Registered as N737AS, and painted in a special AerAware livery, for AerSale's AerAware Enhanced Flight Vision System flight test program.

Jan 2022: Leased to the US Marshals Service.

Apr 2022: Acquired by the Department of Justice, and re-registered as N311MS.

13 Dec 2023 UPDATE

N311MS returned to OKC, via VCV, as DOJ98.

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.

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.

Department of Justice's N119NA

The US Department of Justice's 757-223, N119NA (c/n 24487, l/n 236), is making a stop at HNL from MHR as JENA2 today, then continue onto OGG.

24487's History:

Jly 1989: Delivered to American Airlines as N611AM (f/n 611).

Apr 2012: Withdrawn from service, and ferried to ROW for storage.

Aug 2012: Ferried to GVT for storage.

Nov 2014: Acquired by L3 Communications as N119NA.

Mar 2015: Acquired by the US Department of Justice.

US Marshals Service's N738A

N738A (c/n 30182, l/n 690), a 737-7AX, owned by the US Marshals Service (US Department of Justice), is making a stop at HNL to do a federal inmate transfer flight. It arrived yesterday from LAS (via RIV) as DOJ123. It's seen above taxiing out to departure for VCV as DOJ124, on Taxiway RT.

N738A's History:

Oct 2000: Delivered to Saudi Aramco as N738A "Yanbu", with a VIP cabin configuration.

Feb 2018: Stored at GYR.

May 2018: Acquired by ISR Platforms to reconfigure cabin.

Feb 2020: Delivered to the US Marshals Service.

US Department of Justice's N119NA

The US Department of Justice's 757-223, N119NA (c/n 24487, l/n 236), arrived from RIC [Richmond, VA] via ONT as JENA2, and parked on the North Ramp.

24487 was originally delivered to American Airlines in July 1989 as N611AM (f/n 611), and flew with the airline until April 2012. L-3 Communications Advanced Aviation LLC acquired this 757 in November 2014 as N119NA. Four months later, it was purchased by the US DOJ as N119NA.

15 July 2020 Update

N119NA brought over additional FBI Special Agents and a SWAT unit to take down a local man suspected of running a criminal organization and murder.

Further details in this Hawaii News Now report.

DoJ Seeks To Block AA/US Merger

In a 180º turn from past large airline mergers, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) seeks to block the merger between American Airlines and US Airways via lawsuit, due to anti-trust concerns. The DoJ had not intervened in the most recent large mergers that included the United / Continental, Delta / Northwest, and Southwest / airTran mergers. The American / US Airways merger is due to be completed next month, but with this lawsuit, the completion has been put in a holding pattern.

Further information in this NYC Aviation report.

N1

Parked over on the south ramp is N1 (c/n 1071) a Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV belonging to the Federal Aviation administration. This aircraft is also called the "Spirit of America" and serves as the main mode transportation for the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

NOAA's N49RF

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Gulfstream G-IVSP, N49RF (msn 1246), arrived from OKO (Yokota AFB, Yokota, Japan) last Friday, February 25th. It's flying around the Hawaiian Islands today as NOAA49 conducting weather tests. It's seen above being prepped for departure to fly around the 50th State, for a 6-hour weather profiling flight.

In 2009, N49RF had a side-looking Doppler radar installed on the aft of the G-IV, and recently had a new nose installed as well.

N910SF

The Raytheon Flight Test DC-10-10, N910SF (c/n 46524), used for missile testing was in town and parked on the south ramp ...

Looks like we finally got a view of the port side of the DC-10, and the flight crew can be seen sitting under the starboard wing.

NOAA's N49RF

NOAA's Gulfstream G-IV N49RF is in town to keep tabs on Hurricane Felicia.

N910SF

A DC-10-10 used by Raytheon USA, N910SF (c/n 46524) has made a stop at HNL. The former American Airlines wide-body was purchased by the US Government, for the Missile Defense Agency, to use in testing missile defense systems. It's also known as the WASP - Widebody Airborne Sensor Platform.

The left side has an opening in the forward fuselage for the test systems.

There was a truck with armed security guards near the DC-10, as well as those flood lights to keep the aircraft secure. I'm surprised that this aircraft did not park at HIK.

N910SF was here a few years ago on test missions, and proceeded to taxi to HIK after landing on Runway 4R.