GE Propulsion Test Platform

General Electric's "Propulsion Test Platform" N747GF (c/n 23655, l/n 1024) is doing warm weather engine testing out of KOA during the week of 09 December 2019.

23655's History:

Mar 1994: Delivered to Japan Airlines as JA8910.

Mar 2010: Withdrawn from service and stored at HND for nine months.

Dec 2010: Acquired by AerSale, registered as N356AS, and ferried to ROW, then VCV for storage.

Jan 2011: Acquired by General Electric to use as a testbed.

Dec 2011: Re-registered as N747GF.

Kalitta Air's N284DH

Kalitta Air is sending a 767-300F, N284DH (c/n 28040, l/n 613), to HNL from LAX as CKS366 as a proving flight for supplemental service for Pacific Air Cargo. The DHL logo-clad 767-304ER, will make an overnight stop before returning to LAX as CKS367 tomorrow.

photo to follow ...

Asia Pacific Airlines' N888LT Flying For UPS

Asia Pacific Airlines has wet-leased N888LT to UPS for supplemental holiday service. It's flying between BFI, PDX, MHR, and ONT.

Swissair's HB-IWU

Our December edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to September 2005, and this Swissair MD-11, HB-IWU (c/n 48538, l/n 533), that made a stop at UPS's ramp at HNL, as it ferried to Singapore for freighter conversion.

48538 was originally delivered to LTU [LT/LTU Germany] in March 1993 as D-AERZ. In October 1998, it was sold to Swissair [SR/SWR] as HB-IWU. In January 2005, it was sold to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, then sold to UPS four months later as N281UP. It was put into service in early 2006, and continues to haul packages for UPS.

San Diego State Aztecs Team Charter

The San Diego State Aztecs football team is chartering a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 for their road trip to HNL to face the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. N821SY is making the trip this afternoon as SCX8644. It will return to SAN flooding the game as SCX8645.

American Airlines' N736AT

American Airlines' 777-323ER, N736AT (c/n 33538, l/n 1377, f/n 7LW), made a diversion to HNL as it flew from LAX to HKG as AAL193.

United Airlines' Star Wars Logo Jet

United Airlines' Star Wars-themed 737-824, N36272 (c/n 31590, l/n 987, f/n 0272), is making an appearance at HNL today. The "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" special liveried 737 arrived from LAX as UAL1224 this afternoon; and will return to LAX a couple of hours later as UAL1636.

Sriwijaya Air's PK-CMJ

Sriwijaya Air's PK-CMJ "Kesayangan" (c/n 28381, l/n 250) is making a ferry flight from CGK to VCV, via BIK, MAJ, and HNL, as JTN9215. It's being returned to its lessor, Aircastle.

28381 was originally delivered to Air Europa in May 1999 as EC-HBL, under lease from Itochu. In June 2011, it was leased to Orenair as VQ-BLW. In June 2015, it was leased to Sriwijaya Air as PK-CMJ, and withdrawn from service in October 2019.

2-RLBR

2-RLBR (msn 2148), a former Air New Zealand A320-232, is making its lease return ferry flight from CHC to MZJ, via APW and HNL.

2148 was delivered to Air New Zealand in January 2004 as ZK-OJE, leased from RBS. It was sub-leased to Freedom Air International from April 2006 to March 2008. It continued with Air New Zealand until it was withdrawn from service this past September. It was painted into the current livery in late 2014.

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau Hawaiian Airlines!

Today, Hawaiian Airlines celebrated its 90th anniversary of its first commercial inter-island flights.

As part of the celebrations, the airline held a 717-200 plane pull at Castle & Cooke Aviation, that benefitted local charities. The airline also held a commemorative flight from HNL to OGG and ITO as HAL1111.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Southwest Launches SMF-HNL Service

Southwest Airlines is launching daily 737-800 service between SMF and HNL today.  N8303R (c/n 36681, l/n 3993), made the inaugural flight as SWA1789/1807.

Makani Kai Rebrands Princeville Ops

The Pacific Business Journal reports that Makani Kai Air is rebranding its Princeville, Kaua‘i operation as Princeville Air. The name pays tribute to the name of Island Air's first identity, Princeville Airways.

San José State Team Charter

The San José State Spartans chartered a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 for their road trip to play the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. N809SY (c/n 30683, l/n 1669), a 737-8Q8, made the trip to HNL as SCX8648, and will return to SJC as SCX8649 following the game.

NAMBP Faces Eviction

The Naval Air Museum at Barbers Point (NAMBP) is facing eviction by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT-A) over lack of compliance of liability insurance and failure to comply with environmental practices. The museum refutes these claims with the paperwork to prove compliance with both claims. However, it seems that HDOT-A is set on moving ahead with the eviction.

Further details on this is on NAMBP's Facebook page.


Editorial Note
In all of the years HNL RareBirds has been associated with the Naval Air Museum at Barber's Point, we have not seen any non-compliance of environmental practices. We've known the museum to be good tenants of the Kalaeloa Airport, and vital place to keep the history of this former Naval Air Station. Each aircraft has its own place in history.

US Air Force's 85-0829

Our November edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to August 2003, and this US Air Force Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, 85-0829 (msn A.4051), that was on display at the Hickam Air Force Base Air Show. This is also our Veteran's Day tribute post.

This F-117A was assigned to the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, NM, and retired in 2008. It now sits in storage at the Tonopah Test Range Airport.

Taxiway Collision

A FedEx Feeder (operated by Corporate Air) C208BF, N926FE (msn 208B0026) collided with a Cessna 172S, N274MM (msn 172S9320) on Taxiway C, as both were taxiing to depart from Runway 26R. The C172S, owned by George's Aviation, was ahead of the C208BF on "Charlie", and sustained prop damage to the tail, port side fuselage and elevator. No one was injured in the incident.

N926FE was operating as CPT8974 to depart for LIH.

Coverage by KHON2 News.

Fresno State Bulldogs Team Charter

The Fresno State Bulldogs football team chartered a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 for its road trip to Honolulu to play the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors on Saturday evening. N804SY (c/n 30689) made the flight as SCX8600. The team will return to FAT following the game as SCX8601 with N804SY.

Lāna‘i Air Adds N699LA

Lāna‘i Air is adding a fourth PC-12 to their fleet today. N699LA (msn 1734) joined the fleet today, after ferrying from MMV.

Antonov Airlines' UR-82072

Antonov Airlines' An-124-100-150, UR-82072 (c/n 9773053359136, l/n 07-05), is making an overnight fuel stop at HNL from CLT (via DEN and SFO) as ADB2805, and will continue onto NAN tomorrow.

photo to follow ...

HIANG's C-17 Flyover

A C-17A Globemaster III from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, 05-5147 "The Spirit of Daniel K Inouye" (c/n 50155, l/n F154), made a pre-game flyover for the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors home game versus the Air Force Academy Falcons.  At the controls were Major Britton Komine, a former Warriors tight end, and Captain Nate Dreblinski, a former Falcons tight end. 

The C-17 is part of shared unit of the 204th Airlift Squadron "Nā Pueo" (154th Wing, Hawai‘i Air National Guard), and the 535th Airlift Squadron "Tigers" (15th Wing, US Air Force).