Hainan's N574GE

In this edition of HNL RareBirds Classic, we return to 1998, when Hainan Airlines took delivery of N574GE, which was re-registered as B-2636 (c/n 28574), a 737-86N, that was leased from GECAS. B-2636 still wears the colors above, and has yet to receive the current red and yellow Hainan colors.

Note the Hawaiian Air DC-9-50 departing Runway 8L behind N574GE's tail, and the Continental Airlines DC-10-30 parked on the north ramp hardstands in the background right of the nose. N574GE was parked in the area now occupied by Nui Air.

Mandarin Airlines' B-1862

Todays' HNL RareBirds Classic is Manadarin Airlines' 747SP-09, B-1862 (c/n 21300), which is seen above at Gate 24. This photo was taken in 1996, when we could spot in the terminal. Mandarin Airlines (AE / MDA) is a subsidiary of China Airlines.

21300 has also served with China Airlines, Air Gulf Falcon (QL / GLN - Swaziland), and Kinshasa Airways (KNS - Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Icelandair 757

An Icelandair 757 visited HNL today, October 11, for a fuel stop. This aircraft is being used on an around-the-world tour for Abercrombie & Kent. The tour started in LAX and arrived in HNL as ICE1440. The flight arrived around 12:45 and was scheduled to leave around 14:00 for PPT. However, it looks like it left around 16:20. Not sure of the registration, but apparently the fuselage is all-white with Abercrombie & Kent titles and the tail is a dark blue with a white "&".

Sorry, but no pictures of it in HNL.

Details of the tour can be found here:
http://www.abercrombiekent.com/index.cfm?navid=4.13.11&tab=4

Shenzhen's B-2633

As promised, I will be posting some classic HNL RareBirds shots from my film camera days (my Canon point-n-shoot).

This one dates to ten years ago this month, when Shenzhen Airlines took delivery of B-2633 (c/n 29190), a 737-79K. It's seen above parked fronting the former Circle Rainbow Air (now Castle & Cooke Aviation) building.

Ten years later, B-2633 is still with Shenzhen, and now wears the current red and gold Shenzhen colors.

Republic Airways / Mokulele Partnership?

Updating yesterday's post ....

The Honolulu Advertiser reports that Republic Airways and KOA-based Mokulele AIrlines will be forming a partnership where Republic will supply flight and cabin crews, and the ERJ-170s to compete against go! and Hawaiian Air.

Shuttle America To Serve Hawai‘i?

Regional carrier Shuttle America (S5 / TCF - Windsor Locks, CT) is proposing inter-island service here in Hawai‘i. On the Airliners.net Civil Aviation Forum, there is a thread series entitled Shuttle America In Hawai‘i?". The formal annoucement is expected in a week, or so. A copy of their formal letter to employees is posted on Reply #30. They are choosing to use Embraer ERJ-170s on this proposed inter-island operation.

Will update this as it develops ... This is news to me, and will definitely check my sources around town.


Shuttle America's fleet info from PlaneSpotters.net

Shuttle America flies the Embraer ERJ-170 for United Express and Delta Connection, and is a subsidiary of Republic Airways, Inc.

Picture of HA's "new" 717-22A

Here's the first of Hawaiian's "new" 717-200s, N483HA, `Anianiau. This aircraft isn't actually new to Hawaiian's fleet. A check of the FAA registry, shows this aircraft's serial number as 55128. If you look up this serial number in the airliners.net photo database, you will find this aircraft in Hawaiian's livery back in 2002-2003.

This aircraft was one of the two returned back to Boeing and had the same registration. It originally entered Hawaiian's fleet as N483HA, `Akiapola`au. In 2003, it was returned back to Boeing and then went to AirTran as N604AT. AirTran then returned the aircraft back to Boeing in August 2008 when the leased ended. Now, it is back with Hawaiian with the same registration, but a new name.

The next three 717s will be ex-QantasLink aircraft

Air Pacific To End HNL Service

Fiji's Air Pacific has announced that they will be terminating the NAN - HNL - YVR route (FJI820 / FJI821) at the end of November, citing rising fuel costs.

The Fiji Times coverage of this announcement.

In the above photo from 2005, Air Pacific's DQ-FJF (c/n 28878), a 737-7X2, is seen during its push back from Gate 29, to leave for YVR.

Hawaiian's New 712s

Hawaiian AIr received the first of four "new" Boeing 717-200s that were formerly with QantasLink.

KHNL News8's article link to the new 712.

New Aloha Air Cargo Livery

Saltchuk is finally coming out with a new livery for Aloha Air Cargo. The first aircraft to have the new livery is N840AL. This aircraft arrived in HNL this morning after heavy maintenance in Costa Rica. And here it is:

Just kidding...They are being really careful to keep the new livery a secret. The whole aircraft is white to hide the livery.

So far, what is known is that the main color is lime green with the dark blue and orange from the AQ livery. "Aloha" in orange and "Air Cargo" in the lime green is written across the whole fuselage as well as the engines. The tail was covered in black plastic, but appears to be mostly lime green with the dark blue making some kind of design.

If you look closely, you can see a lime green mast/antenna on the tail cone that wasn't painted white. They even painted over the titles on the engines.

For a sneak peek, check out the picture from the airliners.net forums:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/4162212/

It Doesn't Look Like This Anymore

Over the years HNL has evolved to accommodate millions of passengers and an increase in traffic that far exceeded what the original airport was designed for. Here we see a view form 2000 with the Ewa, Main, and Diamond Head Terminals.

The classic view of HNL in the 1960's with the dominant carriers, Pan American and United. The roof of the Y shaped gates was the best location to view the new jets that were increasing in frequency to the islands.

In this view facing west, we see the main John Rodgers Terminal at Honolulu International Airport as well as the Inter Island terminal around 1963. Three Pan American 707's and one United DC-8 are at their gates. No, it doesn't look like this anymore.

Mainliner Kona

United's Boeing 377 Stratocruiser Mainliner Kona departing for the mainland from the John Rodgers Airport on Lagoon Drive in the mid- 50's. What I love about this photo are the spectators viewing the Stratcruiser's departure. A true "Blast From the Past". United named various Stratocruisers with Hawaii names. Mainliner Hana Maui, Mainliner Hawaii, and Mainliner Waipahu after the birthplace of United's chariman William A. "Pat" Patterson. Click for larger image.

SunState Airlines' C-FRLP

A Dash8-Q402 being delivered for SunState Airlines (SSQ - QantasLink) arrived earlier today from YYZ, via YYB, GRR, and CCR. It is being delivered with its Canadian regitration, C-FRLP (msn 4218).

Unfortunately, I did not check any of the online flight trackers this morning, and was at HNL until 1230HST, and missed the arrival of C-FRLP, which arrived a bit after 1300HST. It will continue early tomorrow morning to MAJ, before arriving at BNE.

Boeing Strike

Since September 6th, the machinists at Boeing have been on strike, and no aircraft are being assembled. No one knows how long the strike will last. All those that were built prior to the strike have been delivered.

Here's the link to Boeing's press release concerning the strike.

Hopefully, there will be other deliveries, or ferry flights, that will pass through HNL in the mean time.

I should make use of my flatbed scanner, and scan some shots of delivery flights I got before going digital.

This Week's Blast From the Past

HNL had a wonderful open air concourse just above the central gates and garden area fronting the old control tower. From this viewing deck, passengers and visitors to the airport could spend the time watching aircraft arriving and departing. It was a great location to get that first view of a loved one, or the last chance to literally wave goodbye as passengers climbed the stairs onto their Pan Am 707, United DC-8, BOAC VC-10 or a Western 707. In the photo are two Pan American 707's, one of which is N408PA Clipper Morning Star. In the distance you see a BOAC 707 taxiing as well as a Japan Airlines DC-8 climbing off of runway 8. Click the image for a larger size.

MacAir's VH-UYN

MacAir Airlines PTY (CC / MCK) of Townsville, Queensland, Australia (TSV), took delivery of VH-UYN (msn 340B-348), a Saab 340B. It's seen in the photo above, taken yesterday, as it taxied to Runway 8R.

VH-UYN originally began with American Eagle Airlines (MQ / EGF) as N906AE, then as N348SB. It was later taken up by Chicago Express Airlines (C8 / WDY) which flew all of their flights ATA Connection, and re-registered as N316CE.

Another HNL RareBirds Blast From The Past

A fine mix of 747’s, DC-8’s and DC-10’s surrounding the Diamond Head terminal in the mid 1970’s. You don’t see stairs being used for 747’s and DC-10’s these days let alone in the area seen here. Two of United’s aircraft do not yet have the "stars and bars" livery on their fuselage. The Japan Airlines 747 is likely inbound from LAX and continuing on to Tokyo. Visible also is the tail of a Korean Air 747. Photo credit State of Hawaii Archives

MLW Air / Pace Airlines N767MW

This 767-277 (c/n 22694/32) was seen at Kahului today. No info about it's mission.

Ex-Spirit Airlines N520NK

Another ex-Spirit Airlines A319-132 is on its way to Indonesia. This one was the "Spirit of Atlantic City". Now in Manadala colors, it landed here on a tech stop at about 9:10 AM.

N520NK (msn 2784) flew from VCV to HNL, then onto GUM and CGK. Like N521NK that stopped through HNL a few days ago, N520NK is owned by ILFC, and leased to Mandala.

Evergreen International 747-273C - N470EV

Parked on the Hazardous Cargo Pad today was Evergreen's N470EV. This aircraft was modified by Evergreen into the experimental Supertanker to fight wildfires. However, they never received certification to actually use the aircraft to fight wildfires and reconverted back into a normal freight. Evergreen did leave the red tail with the number 947 instead of repainting it back into the normal Evergreen colors.