JAL's JA701J

It has been awhile since a JAL 777-246ER has visited HNL. JA701J arrived from FUK as JO8818 and departed to HND as JO8059.

Xiamen's B-5533

Xiamen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5533 (c/n 37152), their second 737-85C this week.  It's flying as CXA5533 from BFI to XMN, with a stop at HNL.

Sorry, no HNL photo.

Garuda's PK-GFG

PK-GFG (c/n 37819) is Garuda Indonesia's second 737-800 delivery this month.  The 737-8BK, leased from CIT, is making its delivery flight as GIA8011, and due to stop at HNL today.

Virgin Blue's VH-VUW

Virgin Blue took delivery of VH-VUW (c/n 39449), a 737-8KG leased from Dubai Aerospace Leasing.  It delivered through LIH as VBH9082.

Mahalo to team member Drewski2112, who got a shot of VH-VUW at BFI.

Xiamen's B-5532

Xiamen Airlines is taking delivery of B-5532 (c/n 37151), a 737-85C.  It's making its trek from BFI to XMN as CXA5532, and will make a stop at HNL today.

Sorry, no HNL photo ...

Volga-Dnepr Airlines "20 Years"

Volga-Dnepr Airlines An-124-100 RA-82042 (c/n 977305055093) is seen here wearing special markings to commemorate 20 years of service.

It was passing through HNL as VDA4290, on a fuel stop from NGF to NYL to transport USMC CH-53Ds for deployment in Afghanistan.

Hawaii News Now blurb.

Southern Air 747-341F

Southern Air's all white 747-341F (c/n 23394 LN:627) is seen here taxing to Hickam. N789SA has been flying in and out of HNL for the last couple of weeks.

It was originally delivered to VARIG as PP-VNH in the original livery in December 1985, and was repainted in the second generation livery.

Like most 747-300s, this one was converted to a -300M(SF) in 2000, and registered as N354MC with Polar Air Cargo and Atlas Air from August 2000 to March 2004. Prior to joining the Southern Air fleet, it was previously N354FA and N354FC with Focus Air from January 2005 to October 2006.

Hainan's B-5540

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-5540 (c/n 35761), their newest 737-84P, and is flying from BFI as B5540.  It's their second delivery in two weeks.

Sorry, no HNL photo.

Delta To Shift From NRT to NGO

Beginning December 22nd, Delta Air Lines is switching its flight DAL612/611 from NRT to NGO, and down-sizing the aircraft from a 747-400 to a 767-300ER.  The NRT flight is will be re-numbered as DAL608/607, and will use a 767-300ER.

The Delta news release regarding the NGO-HNL flights.

China Airlines "Dreamliner"

Today, China Airlines used their "Dreamliner"-liveried 747-409 (B-18210, c/n 33734) for the charter flight from Taipei as CI 2001/2002.

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau Island Air!

Island Air celebrated their 30th anniversary today with an orchid lei given to each passenger departing HNL, and were given special music CD single recorded by Island Air employees.  There also was live Hawaiian music and hula in the holding area for a few hours.

In a special blessing ceremony at the Island Air hangar yesterday, each of the four Dash8-100s were give a Hawaiian name and blessed to mark the anniversary.

N805WP: Holomua

N806WP: Niau

N809WP: Hokū-pa‘a

N829EX: Kūmakani

A big mahalo to Island Air for allowing us to attend the events!

Hawaiian Codeshares With Delta

Hawaiian Airlines announced today that they will begin a codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines for inter-island flights beginning on September 15, 2010.

Garuda's PK-GFH

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GFH (c/n 36850), a 737-8U3.  It's delivering from BFI to CGK as GIA8011, with stops at HNL, MAJ, and BIK.

Sorry, no HNL photo.

JAL To Delay 747-400 Retirement

Japan Airlines is delaying the retirement of their 747-446 fleet until the end of February 2011.  All of the Japan-HNL flights were to be switched 767-346ERs from November 1st.  However, JAZ76/75 from NRT is being kept as a 747-446 until next March, when it will switch to the 767-346ER.

The JAL news release of the revised winter changes.

It will be interesting to see if JAL subs 777-246ERs during peak traffic times like the Honolulu Marathon, New Year's holiday season, and Golden Week, on top of the additional charter flights.

Aloha ‘Oe Eagles

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron bid a fond aloha ‘oe the last three McDonnell-Douglas F-15C Eagles today.  Flying as "Zesty97", the three fighters (seen above taxiing on Taxiway M) departed for the US mainland accompanied by a HI ANG KC-135R from the 203rd ARS, "Adobe47".

78-0509 (top), 78-0522, and 78-0528 departed the "Reef Runway" for the last time under partly cloudy Hawaiian skies.  Ground crew, other HI ANG pilots, the media, and social media lined up along Taxiway RG as the fighters took off one by one with afterburners lit.  57-1508 (above) followed a few minutes after to replenish the three Eagles 5.5 hour flight across the Pacific.

While the HI ANG pilots are undergoing F-22A training, the 120th FW of the Montana ANG is assuming the air defense role for Hawai‘i, until there are enough F-22As in the 199th's hands.

A couple of dozen 199th FS's pilots and ground crew came out to witness the departure, and bid farewell to the three Eagles.  They're watching 78-0528 begin it's "Hang Ten" climb over the channel to Ke‘ehi Lagoon.

HNL RareBirds extends a warm mahalo to Pacific Air Forces, the Hawai‘i Air National Guard, the 154th Wing, and the 199th Fighter Sqaudron for your service to our country and state, plus allowing us to attend today's momentous and bittersweet event.

N522PT

An ex-Japan Airlines MD-81, N522PT (c/n 49821), is making its way to IGM (Kingman, AZ) from Japan.  The MD-81 was registered as JA8925, and delivered to Japan Air System (JAS) in August 1989.  When JAL took over JAS, the MD-81 was painted in the current JAL colors.

It's scheduled to make a fuel stop this evening, and continue to IGM.  N522PT is owned by Sunrise Asset Management of Las Vegas, NV.

Sun Country's N809SY

Sun Country Airlines' N809SY (c/n 30683) made another appearance at HNL today as SCX8700.  The 737-8Q8 was a federal prisoner transfer that brought inmates to the Honolulu Federal Detention Center.  The flight originated at DFW, then went to IWA and VCV.

***09.01.10 Update***
N809SY returned to VCV, IWA, and DFW today as SCX8701 with another set of inmates mainland-bound.

Hainan's B-5538

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of their second 737-84P this week.  B-5538 (c/n 36783) is flying as its registration, and will overnight at HNL.

B-5538 is seen above taxiing to Rwy 8R to depart for MAJ.

ANA9402

An All Nippon flight arrived this evening as ANA9402 from HND as an extra charter flight operated by one of their 777-281ERs.

Final HANG F-15 Sortie

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron held its final F-15C Eagle training sortie today. Eagles 78-0509 and 78-0522 took on the 199th's F-22A, 03-4046. The last three of 14 F-15Cs will be officially retired by the 199th next week.  The other 11 have already gone onto new homes or AMARG.

HNL RareBirds was privileged to watch the Raptor (seen above, piloted by Lt. Col. Kristoff "Jag" Sills, Steek11) and two Eagles (Mytai12) depart Runway 8R, up close from Taxiway RM, a mere 50 yards away from the centerline. Not only did we hear the roar of the engines as the fighters passed us by, but we felt it as well, as they all took off with full afterburners.



After performing their last F-15 left overhead break, the pair of F-15s landed on Runway 8L, and taxied back to the 199th's ramp. The two Eagles (seen above) return to their clamshells after their final HANG training sortie. The top photo shows F-15C 78-0509, piloted by Lt. Col. Jeffrey "Saw" Sage, and the above photo shows F-15C 78-0522, piloted by Lt. Col. Mark "Odie" Ladtkow, taxiing in. Also, both the "HH" tail code, and the "Hawai‘i" tail flash have been painted over. These two Eagles are destined for Nellis AFB, NV.


Upon deplaning, both "Eagle Drivers" were hosed by junior pilots, as a sign of the end of the F-15 era with the HANG. After being hosed, "Odie" and "Saw" posed for photos and interviews by the press, and social media. "Saw's" wife provided the lei for the pilots. They will go on to complete F-22 training with the retirement of the F-15s.

HNL RareBirds extends a warm mahalo to Pacific Air Forces, the Hawai‘i Air National Guard, the 154th Wing, and the 199th Fighter Sqaudron for your service to our country and state, plus allowing us to attend today's event.