Memorial Day

The HNL RareBirds team expresses a big mahalo to all of the American Armed Forces aviators (and all other troops) who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country and protecting our freedoms.

China United's B-7563

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-7563 (c/n 61683, l/n 5928) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA7563, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai's B-7863

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-7863 (c/n 44389, l/n 5923) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH9761, and will overnight at HNL.

SlikAir's 9V-MGP

SilkAir is taking delivery of 9V-MGP (c/n 44232, l/n 5924) today. The 737-8SA is making its delivery flight from RNT as SLK8880, and will overnight at KOA.

Air China's B-7598

Air China is taking delivery of B-7598 (c/n 60850, l/n 5920) today. The 737-89L, their second delivery in three days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA79, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen's B-7560

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7560 (c/n 43887, l/n 5875) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA7560, and will overnight at HNL.

Kamaka's N8CA

Kamaka Air has taken delivery of their third Cessna C208BF Caravan. N8CA (msn 208B2329) arrived on the 19th from SMX, after undergoing freighter conversion. Although freighter flooring was installed, there still are the anchor points for seats. The airline plans to keep the current livery, and add Kamaka Air titles.

Air China's B-7596

Air China is taking delivery of B-7596 (c/n 44913, l/n 5917) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

Shandong's B-7568

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-7568 (c/n 61316, l/n 5919) today. The 737-85N is makings delivery flight from BFI as CDG7568, and will overnight at HNL.

Beech 23 Ditches Off Mākaha

A Beech 23, N6697Y (msn M-2224), with two aboard, ditched about 30 yards from the shore of Mākaha Beach, about 11:30HST. Thankfully, there were no severe injuries were reported, though both were taken to a nearby medical center.

The above photo of N6697Y was taken in the late 1980s, from aviation.hawaii.gov.

Coverage by KHON 2 News.

Skydiving Plane Crashes At PAK, 5 Killed

N2007X (msn 18256107), a Cessna 182H, owned by D&J Air Adventures [Koloa, Kaua‘i], with five aboard crashed at PAK [Burns Field / Port Allen Airport, Hanapēpē, Kaua‘i] around 09:30HST. All five aboard perished. The aircraft, operated by Skydive Kauai, experienced engine trouble and a fire, and tried to return to PAK, but crashed short of the airport.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those lost in this accident.

Coverage by Hawaii News Now.

VietJet Orders 100 737 MAX 200s

VietJet [VJ/VJC] (Viet Nam) placed an order with Boeing today for 100 737 MAX 200s, with deliveries beginning in 2019. The MAX 200, a 200-seat high-density version of the MAX 8, has an extra door between the overwing exits and the aft door (similar to the -900ER).

We are not sure if these deliveries will stop through Hawai‘i, but there is a 50% chance that they will.

Further details in this Boeing MediaRoom press release.

China Eastern's B-7393

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-7393 (c/n 41490, l/n 5914) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9002, and will overnight at HNL.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPH

Virgin Australia's E190, VH-ZPH "Honeymoon Cove" (msn 19000199), is making its maintenance ferry flight from BNE to BNA (via APW, HNL, and VNY) as VOZ9901, and will make its HNL stopover today.

Virgin Australia's VH-VOZ

Virgin Australia's VH-VOZ "Palm Beach" (c/n 35302, l/n 745) made a medical emergency stop at HNL early this morning. The 777-3ZGER, was flying from SYD to LAX as VOZ1, when the flight diverted to HNL. After the ill passenger was taken off, the flight continued to LAX.

Shanghai's B-7636

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-7636 (c/n 41586, l/n 5910) today. The 737-89P, their fourth delivery this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHS9762, and will overnight at HNL.

Hainan's B-7175

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-7175 (c/n 43414, l/n 5906) this morning. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH7175, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai's B-7637

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-7637 (c/n 42054, l/n 5904) today. The 737-89P is makings delivery flight from BFI as CSH9761, and will overnight at HNL. This is the airline's third 737-89P within the past 11 days.

Kingdom Holding's HZ-WBT7

Kingdom Holding's HZ-WBT7 (c/n 25880, l/n 926) made a visit to Honolulu from San Francisco on May 13th. The former Air China 747-4J6 then departed on the 15th to Shanghai.

Donghai's B-7100

Donghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-7100 (c/n 41810, l/n 5594) today. The 737-8Q8, leased from ILFC, is making its delivery flight from GYR as EPA291, and will overnight at HNL. B-7100 was ferried to GYR, and placed in storage, after it was built in September 2015; and held the registration of N418AR.