HIANG Retires 60-0329 To Museum

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard retired one of its KC-135Rs, 60-0329 "Kape‘a" (c/n 18104, l/n 443) today, after 25+ years with the 203rd ARS. It made its final flight to the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB, in Dayton, OH, where it will be inducted into the museum upon arrival.

During the Vietnam War in 1967, 0329 was involved in the first-ever tri-level air refueling, where it connected with a US Navy A-3, which then refueled a pair of US Navy F-8 Crusaders, then a pair of F-4 Phantoms, and another A-3. The crew was awarded the 1967 Mackey Trophy for meritorious service.

Delta Air Lines' N501DA

Delta Air Lines is sending their first A321-271NX, N501DA (msn 10437, f/n 5001), to HNL from SEA as DAL9959. This is the aircraft's first long-distance over-water flight since its delivery flight in March, and is being used for test and proving flights, as well as ground training (especially since Delta's A321s do not fly here). It's not known when Delta will implement their A321Ns into Hawai‘i service, but the airline currently has only two in their fleet, with another 150+ on firm order.

02 May 2022 UPDATE

N501DA returned to SEA under the same flight number.

04 May 2022 UPDATE

N501DA made another trip to HNL, and will return to SEA the next day.

N28883

N28883 (c/n 28883, l/n 737), a 767-304, owned by AerCap, is being ferried from GYR to SIN (via PHX and HNL) by Nomadic Aviation as OMD132. It will be converted to a freighter, and leased to Icelandair.

28883's History:

Feb 1999: Delivered to Britannia Airways as G-OYBH, under lease from ILFC.

Mar 1999: Subleased to Britannia (Germany) as D-AGYH.

Apr 2001: Subleased to Britannia (Sweden) as SE-DZO.

Apr 2002: Returned to Britannia Airways.

Dec 2003: Subleased to Garuda Indonesia until Mar 2004.

Nov 2004: Airline rebrands as Thomsonfly.

Nov 2005: Subleased to Garuda Indonesia until Feb 2006.

May 2009: Airline rebrands as Thomson Airways.

May 2014: Aircraft sold to AerCap, and lease transferred.

Oct 2017: Airline rebrands as TUI Airways.

Apr 2021: Withdrawn from service.

Nov 2021: Ferried to DGX for storage.

Jan 2022: Ferried to GYR for storage.

Mar 2022: Re-registered as N28883.

N803AC

N803AC (msn 210), a Dassualt Falcon 50 owned by Black Sand Aviation, is the newest business jet to be based at HNL.

Honolulu Fire Department Seeks A New Helicopter

KHON reports that the Honolulu Fire Department is seeking funds for new twin-engine helicopter to replace one of its three aging MD520N helicopter. No specific replacement model has been announced, nor has any potential candidates.

Batik Air's N282AV

The last of the trio of former Batik Air A320s that Nomadic Aviation is ferrying from ASP to MLB for the Aviation Capital Group, is N282AV (msn 8082), flying as OMD575.

8082's History:

Jan 2018: Delivered to Batik Air as PK-LZG, under lease from ACG.

Jun 2021: Withdrawn from service.

Aug 2021: Ferried to ASP for storage, and registered as VP-CKC.

Mar 2022: Registered as N282AV.

Batik Air's N417AV

The second of the three A320-214s ferried by Nomadic Aviation for the Aviation Capital Group, is N417AV (msn 7421), flying as OMD574.

7421's History:

Dec 2016: Delivered to Batik Air as PK-LUM, under lease from ACG.

Jun 2021: Withdrawn from service.

Aug 2021: Ferried to ASP for storage, and registered as VP-CJZ.

Mar 2022: Registered as N417AV.

Batik Air's N623AV

Nomadic Aviation is ferrying three former Batik Air A320-214s from ASP to MLB (via CNS, MAJ, JRF, and PHX) today, for lessor Aviation Capital Group. These A320s will be prepped and leased to Avianca. The first of the trio is N623AV (msn 6823), and is flying as OMD523.

6823's History:

Nov 2015: Delivered to Batik Air as PK-LAS, under lease from GECAS.

Apr 2017: Acquired by ACG, and lease transferred.

Jun 2021: Withdrawn from service.

Aug 2021: Ferried to ASP for storage, and registered as VP-CJP.

Mar 2022: Registered as N623AV.

VP-COS

VP-COS (msn 4347), a white-tail A320-214, is making a stop at HNL, as it transits from CTU to SNN on a lease return to Avolon. It also made stops at ICN, GUM, PNI, TUS, BGR, and KEF.

4347’s History:

Jun 2010: Delivered to Nouvelair Tunisie as TS-ING, under lease from GECAS.

Nov 2011: Leased to Chengdu Airlines as B-6850.

Jly 2016: Sold to Avolon, and lease transferred.

Dec 2021: Withdrawn from service, and stored at CTU.

55 Years Of The 737

On this day, 55 years, ago, the first Boeing 737-100 made its first flight. Since then, nearly 11,000 models have been built over the years from the -100 to the -9MAX, and over 4,000 airframes are on order (including the new -7MAX and -10MAX variants).

Hawai‘i continues to play a pivotal part in the 737 program, as the islands have been home to operators Aloha Airlines, Aloha Air Cargo, TransAir Hawaii, and the US Air Force. Our state's airports have been used as a stopover point for new-build and used 737 delivery flights, as well as lease return ferry flights.

Currently, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines has 737 flights from the US mainland; Air Canada and WestJet Airlines have 737 service from Canada, and Fiji Airways has 737 service from Fiji.

Singapore Airlines' 9V-MBN

Singapore Airlines is taking delivery of their first full-liveried new-build 737-8, 9V-MBN (c/n 44258, l/n 7840), today. It's making its delivery flight from PAE as SIA8890, and will overnight at HNL, before continuing onto GUM.

NOAA's N43RF

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is sending N43RF "Miss Piggy" (msn 5633) to HNL. This WP-3D Orion will be doing test flights out HNL for an unknown period of time.

Airwork's N225NZ

Airwork is ferrying N225NZ (c/n 25297, l/n 432) from AKL to GYR, via BNE, NAN, and HNL, for repainting into its livery. This 757-223F is flying as AWK2, and had been in storage since last December.

25297's History:

Mar 1992: Delivered to American Airlines as N663AM (f/n 5CL).

Oct 2014: Withdrawn from service, and ferried to ROW for storage.

May 2017: Acquired by the Texas Aviation Group.

Oct 2018: Ferried to GYR for freighter conversion.

Jly 2020: Purchased by Olympus Airways as SX-APX.

Dec 2021: Withdrawn from service, and ferried to AKL for storage.

ConAir's C-GVFT

ConAir's Avro RJ85, C-GVFT 166 (msn E2253), is returning to its base at YXX, after it's Australian summer season is over. It's ferrying from DBO to YXX, via CNS, GUM, MAJ, HNL, OAK, and YVR.

Japan Airlines' JA007D

Japan Airlines is ferrying JA007D (c/n 27639, l/n 134) from HND to VCV, via HNL. This 777-289, flying as JAL8132, being retired after 24 years of service.

JA007D's History:

Apr 1998: Delivered to Japan Air Service in the Akira Kurosawa livery.

Apr 2004: Integrated as Japan Airlines Domestic.

May 2006: Painted in the Tamagotchi special livery.

Oct 2006: Integrated to the Japan Airlines fleet.

Aug 2012: Painted in the current livery.

Civil Air Patrol's N98763 Crashes On Kaua‘i

Civil Air Patrol's Cessna 172P Skyhawk, N98763 (msn 172-76344), with two aboard, crashed in the mountains northwest of Kekaha, as it was performing a monthly tsunami warning practice flight. The Skyhawk, flying as CAP5163, departed LIH for a circle-island flight, but went down in the mountains above Kokeʻe, both aboard perished.

The HNL RareBirds team expresses our condolences to the families of the two aboard, as well as the CAP community.

Hillwood Airways' N737AT

Hillwood Airways' Boeing 737-7HJC BBJ, N737AT (c/n 36756, l/n 2405), is making as top at HNL. It's flight origin and destination were not available.

ConAir's C-GVFK

ConAir is ferrying C-GVFK (msn E2268) from CNS to YXX, via GUM, MAJ, and HNL, as it returns to Canada from the Australian summer firefighting assignment. This Avro RJ85 is now wearing the tail number 391.

LATAM's N564LA

Nomadic Aviation is ferrying LATAM's N564LA (c/n 40593, l/n 1038) from BOG to QPG, via HNL. This 767-316ER, flying as OMD124, is headed for freighter conversion, and is making a stop at HNL.

40593's History:

Oct 2012: Delivered to LAN Airlines as CC-BDI.

Aug 2013: Acquired by TAM Lines Aéreas as PT-MSV.

May 2016: Transferred to LATAM fleet when LAN and TAM merged.

Mar 2022: Re-registered as N564LA to the LATAM Airlines Group.

21 Mar 2022 UPDATE

N564LA departed early this morning for QPG.

Super Air Jet's PK-SJW

Super Air Jet is taking delivery of PK-SJW (msn 5158) today, and is flying from TUS to CGK, via HNL and GUM. This A320-232, flying as SJV1, is being leased from DAE Capital.

5158's History:

May 2012: Delivered to Air Via as LZ-MDR, under lease from AWAS.

Nov 2015: Withdrawn from service, and stored at SNN, a month later.

Mar 2016: Leased to IndiGo Airlines as VT-IDT.

Aug 2017: Sold to DAE Capital, and lease transferred.

Feb 2020: Withdrawn from service, and stored at CGK.

Nov 2020: Re-registered as LZ-MDR, and ferried to TUS for storage.