F-16s in HNL

Took this slightly blurry shot while taxiing for the "Reef Runway", on the morning of 24 Oct.

JAL 50th Anniversary Livery

This pre-blog classic, features one of JAL's 747-400s, JA8906. Back in February 2, 2004, JAL celebrated its 50th anniversary of international flying. To commerate, JAL had a special livery which consisted of a full size decal of the aircraft that flew that flight, the DC-6B, as well as a special Hawaii decal. They also flew a special charter flight from HND to HNL on that day as well as a special tour flight around Oahu. Even with the Hawaii decals, JA8906 was never a regular visitor to HNL during the time it wore this special livery. JA8906 no longer carriers passengers as it has been converted to a 747-400BCF and flies with JAL Cargo titles.

(The pictures above were taken on August 25, 2004)

China Southwest's B-2856

Today's edition of HNL RareBirds Classics is a China Southwest Airlines (SZ/CXN) 757-2Z0, B-2856 (c/n 29793), that's seen above when it made its stop over at HNL during its delivery flight from BFI.

In 2002, Air China acquired China Southwest, and in mid-2004, B-2856 received its CA colors.

B-2856 was also leased to Royal Nepal Airlines, but the China Southwest livery was kept, with only a change of titles.

Ex-Singapore A310

In today's pre-HNL RareBird blog post (I'm leaving the classic title to Bluewave since my pictures only date from 2004)...Back at the end of March 2004, an ex-SQ A310 stopped over on its way to the mainland. It had all its titles painted over. Sorry, I couldn't see the registration as I was in the middle of working a flight and it wasn't clear enough to make out on my 2MP camera.

Hainan Airlines 767-300ER

A Hainan Airlines 767-300ER made a stop at HNL from HAK/ZJHK (Haikou, China). Not sure where this 763 is headed.

Sorry, no HNL photo available ...

This the 600th post for the HNL RareBirds blog.

China Xinjiang's B-2851

Today's edition of HNL RareBirds Classics is a China Xinjiang Airlines (XO/CXJ) 757-28S, B-2851 (c/n 29215), which is made its HNL stopover on its delivery flight.

China Xinjiang was bought out by China Southern Airlines in 2003, and B-2851 currently wears CZ colors.

ANA's Pokemon Jet

This pre-HNL Rarebird blog post features ANA's International Pokemon Jet, JA8962, a 747-481. This aircraft visited HNL on January 22, 2004 and was an extra section flight. I was lucky enough to be working outside and at the next gate when it landed and taxied in. Starting from the nose is Jigglypuff, Pikachu, Psyduck, Squirtle, and Blubasaur. The other side features different Pokemon with Pikachu.

ANA had 4 aircraft wearing 4 different Pokemon liveries. 2 747-400Ds and 1 767-300 for domestic routes, and 1 747-400 for international routes. JA8962 no longer wears this livery.

Hainan's B-2576

Today's HNL RareBird Classic is B-2576, a Hainan Airlines 737-44P (c/n 29915), that was delivered in April 1999. It's seen above on the Circle Rainbow Air ramp in the Plum Blossom special livery. As of May 2008, B-2576 is still in this livery.

Note the tail of a Mahalo Airlines F-27A that had been parked there for quite a while, before being ferried to the mainland, after Mahalo had shutdown.

JAL's 15th 737-846

After a long delay due to the Boeing strike, JAL is finally taking delivery of it's 15th 737-846. JA315J arrived in HNL on October 17 and left for MAJ on October 18. This aircraft is wearing Japan Airlines titles.

China Airlines Special Livery A330-302

Today, CI's flight was operated by B-18311, which is in a special livery called "Fruit Sweet." This livery features various fruits and the word "Sweet" on the rear half fuselage.

Sorry, no picture of it in HNL, but here's a link to airliners.net with pictures of B-18311 in this livery.

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=B-18311&distinct_entry=true

Korean Air 777-3B5 HL7533

Here's a RareBird Classic from my files. Korean used to fly their 777-3B5's on their ICN-HNL flight twice a week (Wednesdays and Sundays). This is HL7533 back in January 2004. I don't exactly remember when Korean stopped using the 777-300 on this route, but want to say that it was in mid to late 2005 as I have a picture of HL7573 and HL7714 from April 2005.

China Airlines' B-18601

Today's edition of HNL RareBirds Classic features China Airlines' 737-809, B-18601 (c/n 28402). It's seen above resting at HNL's south side during its delivery flight from BFI.

From November 2000 to October 2001, B-18601 flew with China's subsidiary, Mandarin Airlines.

In 2006, B-18601 received a set of Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets.

Aloha Air Cargo Unveils New Look

Aloha Air Cargo has revealed their new corporate image with N840AL being the first to receive the new colors. The new look was unveiled before the employees, corporate partners, and the media in the Aloha hangar.

Because I was an invited guest, I am precluded from posting any of the event photos for 30 days ... and they are asking the same for my fellow Hawai‘i photographers.

Mokulele Formally Announces Expansion

Representatives from Mokulele Airlines and Republic Airways announced today, of their new inter-island venture using Embraer ERJ-170s.

The Honolulu Advertiser's coverage the Mokulele announcement.

Good to hear that quite a number of former AQ employees were hired!

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.