Cheers VH-XBA!

VH-XBA, the 707-138B in the Qantas 1959 colors departed HNL this morning for NAN (Nadi, Fiji). "XBA" is seen here departing Runway 8R. Got there just as it was about to taxi into position, great timing.

Watching the those four JT3D powerplants spool up, and belch out that black smoke was quite a nostalgic sight! Too bad it didn't depart from Runway 8L (or 8, as it was pre-8R), that would have truly been an HNL RareBirds Blast From The Past!

Qantas' first jet - VH-XBA

Here's Qantas' first jet aircraft, a 707. It arrived in HNL on Tuesday, Dec 12 at 1405. This aircraft is currently parked on the North Ramp with a lot of company. Behind VH-XBA in the picture is a NW 757-300. On the other side (behind me) was a NW 747-400, APA 727-200F, AA 757-200 with winglets, and a DL 767-400. According to the website about this QF 707, it is scheduled to depart HNL at 0800 on Dec. 14. Hopefully I will be able to get out there again tomorrow to get more pictures.

http://www.707.adastron.com/flyhome/diary-3.htm

Billabong's N121FB Returns

The Grumman Albatross, N121FB, owned by Billabong (a surfwear company), is back @ HNL. The seaplane had been using HNL as a base for its promotional flights and surf flights. With the winter high surf due for O‘ahu's North Shore, we could see this RareBird circling above North Shore surf spots.

The photo above was taken back in February when N121FB arrived from the mainland the month before.

Air China's B-5178

Air China has a second "Fuwa Beijing 2008" logojet, B-5178 (c/n 32682). This 737-86N has the same "Five Friendlies" decals as B-5176 (see the 08 & 09 Nov 06 entries) on both sides. B-5178 arrived from BFI on Friday, midday as CCA058.

Aloha's Warrior N740AL

Aloha Airlines (AQ) has affixed a University of Hawai‘i Warriors logo on a 737-76N(W), N740AL "Kamohoali‘i" (c/n 28640) [top]. This is the same "H" logo as the ones that are on the nationally-ranked football team's helmet [above]. AQ is the official airline of the Warrior football team, and handled the road game charters this season. Go Warriors!

"Kamohoali‘i" is seen here arriving today, from OAK as AAH441 on Runway 26R. Also, the helmet of Warrior Defensive Lineman #99 Lawrence Wilson (Senior), rests on the FieldTurf® of Aloha Stadium, during pre-game warm-ups before their victory over the Purdue University Boilermakers (42 - 35).

On a personal note, I rode N740AL on a flight to SNA (AAH482) back in October 2004, and was the subject of a "Coach Flyer" column published in an issue of "Airways" magazine. I also was the field videographer for the Purdue - Hawai‘i game.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The HNL RareBirds team wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are truly thankful for all of the RareBirds that have been through HNL during 2006.

Air Tahiti Nui's 2nd appearance at HNL

Air Tahiti Nui flew in again today from PPT as TN706. It arrived a little after 12:30pm and parked again at Gate 25. It left just before 4:00pm back to PPT as TN561. Sorry, no pictures this time.

HP Arizona Livery 757

HP/US had N90AW, with the Arizona livery, parked at the hard stands on the North Ramp. I'm not sure if it had mechanical problems, but it went out for a flight and when it landed, headed straight back to the hard stands.

China Southern's B-5236

China Southern Airlines' latest 737-71B (c/n 35362) made its way to HNL from BFI as CSN236. It's scheduled to depart HNL at 0800L.

Sorry, no photo available.

COMCO 757

Also seen in HNL today is a COMCO 757-22L, N610G (c/n 29304). This rarebird was parked at Gate 28.

According to their website, COMCO is "an aviation and engineering services company. Although we conduct a variety of aviation related business, COMCO specializes in providing engineering testing services in the areas of avionics, aircraft structure and airframe modifications, power-plant, aircraft systems integration, long-range communications, aircraft instrumentation, and other research and development programs specifically dealing with aircraft systems, maintainability, and habitability."

So, why it was parked at a gate rather than a hard stand? It's a mystery since this 757 is supposed to be a test bed. I'm not sure if they also do passenger charter work. I think it is currently parked on the South Ramp since I saw it crossing the airfield instead of heading towards to the end of the runway.

Departure of Air Force One

After spending 16 hours in Hawaii, Air Force One took off at 10:08 am taking the President back to Washington D.C. All the airspace over Hawaii was shut down for about an hour and all ground movements at HNL stopped for about 30 minutes. With not much to do, many people on the ramp (including me) were just sitting and waiting to watch Air Force One leave. Once it took off, everyone started getting back to work.

Xiamen Airlines B-5161

Xiamen Airlines has another 737-85C(W) on its way from BFI. B-5161 (c/n 35046) stopped off at HNL, as seen here being readied to continue on to MAJ.

Japan Airlines' JA301J

Japan Airlines' first 737-846(W), JA301J (c/n 35330), has made its appearance at HNL on its way to NRT. It's seen here on Hard Stand 5, being prepped for its next leg to MAJ as JAL7901.

Updates for JAL's 737-800 delivery and other things

Well, JAL's first 737-800 has left HNL for MAJ today, Nov. 17. JL7901 had a scheduled departure of 9:00am, but left a little later at 9:17am.

Also, pictures of the RNZAF 757's and TN's A340 in HNL have been added.

Delivery of JAL's first 737-800

JAL's first 737-800 is scheduled to stop over at HNL on November 16. The flight number is JL7901 and has an ETA of 3:20pm. It will most likely park on the North Ramp.

Air Tahiti Nui!

A real rarebird at HNL...Air Tahiti Nui flew in today from PPT with one of their A340-300s (F-OJGF). What a surprise to find a big blue bird sitting at Gate 25 when I stopped at the security checkpoint. Arrived from PPT a little before 12 noon with a scheduled departure of 2:00pm. This flight is most likely a charter since most of the people I saw at and around the gate was using the same shirt.

RNZAF 757's

Both RNZAF 757's were at HNL today and parked by the CO hangar. NZ7571 was the first to leave, around 9:18am, while NZ7572 stayed a couple hours longer.

A Salute To Our Veterans

On this Veterans' Day, the HNL RareBirds team salutes the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, both who are currently serving our country, and those who have previouly served. We also salute those allied forces who fought along our warriors. We thank you for serving our country, and putting your lives on the line to protect our land. A special salute goes to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedoms that only the US has.

The next time you see one of our warriors in uniform, tell them "thank you for serving our country."

Two Hawai‘i Air National Guard F-15As from the 199th FS in the photo above, perform an overhead break above Runway 26L.

Hainan Airlines' B-5182

Hainan Airlines (HU/CHH) received another of its 737-808s, B-5182 (c/n 34708). The arrived at HNL today from BFI, and parked on the AirService Hawaii ramp.

This is the first one with Hainan titles I've seen in a while. The last several HU 73Hs have had subsidiary titles (Chang An, Shan Xi, & China Xinhua), instead of its parent company.

HNL RareBirds

Can anyone help out on these two "incidents?" According to an airport employee, Aloha Airlines had a 737 with two smoking engines on the reef runway the other day, and it was closed down for two hours. This caused a bit of an inconvenience to the other operators who had to detour or alter taxi patterns.

Today, Thursday November 9, there was an Air Force (AFRC to be specific) C-5 Galaxy parked(?) about 100 yards Ewa of the turn on the taxiway at the end of Lagoon Drive. From about 4:30 to 6:30 pm, I watched as some neat flatbed lift-trucks unloaded about 6 to 8 large palleted loads, three truckloads full. Then, two tanker trucks labelled JP-8 (typical military jet fuel) either filled or off-loaded the big bird. Next, a crew bus from Hickam took 8 or 10 pax/crew back to the base. Never in my 26 years of hanging out there did I ever observe such an activity, especially in the middle of a taxiway! Neither did the FedEx guy that hung out with me for a while. Does anyone know what was going on? Was there an abort, then was the plane lightened so that it could make its way back to the Hickam tarmac? Was this some "special" procedure? I'd be really interested in finding out. Sorry, no pix, no camera and the sun was really backlighting the whole scene anyway.