Ex-Air Efata N12FQ

An MD-88 leased to Air Efata (Indonesia) is headed back to the mainland. While with Air Efata, this MD-88 (c/n 49766) was registered as PK-FEA.

As N12FQ, this bird was with Southeast Airlines (Miami, FL - no longer in service), and Air Aruba.

Above photo courtesy of Ha763.

Runway 4L Closure

Was informed that Runway 4L was closed yesterday afternoon for a short period, due to a nose gear collapse on N72HB, a Piper PA-23-250 (msn 27-7754149), owned by Washin Air. Thankfully, it did not appear anyone was injured. There was damage seen to the propellers. An extra large tow truck was brought in to clear N72HB from Rwy 4L, and towed back to the Washin Air hangar. Not sure whether the accident happened on take-off or landing.

White Jetstar A330

This is the third different Jetstar aircraft to fly to HNL. VH-EBC is also the only Jetstar A330 in white, as the others are silver.

Delayed Air Canada AC33

Normally, the Air Canada flights AC33 and AC34 depart around midnight. This morning, AC33 was delayed for over 7 hours. What a surprise to find an Air Canada A340 (C-GDVW) parked at Gate 25 at 6:00am. Air Canada only uses the A340 for their YVR-HNL-SYD flight seasonally. This flight finally departed at 7:10am. It was a little too dark, but here's a shot of C-GDVW at Gate 25 this morning:

China Southern's B-5235

China Southern Airlines took delivery of another 737-71B, B-5235 (c/n 29370). It arrived here at HNL yesterday, and departs today for MAJ as CSN235.

Sorry no photo available.

Runways 22 & 26 Traffic

For the majority of Wednesday afternoon, HNL's traffic pattern reversed as the winds blew from the southwest. In-bound flights made their approach abeam Waikiki Beach on their way to Runway 26L (or 26R), and departed toward Ewa, or toward the ocean on Runway22L.

In the top photo, a United Airlines 777-222, N214UA (c/n 30220), is on its take-off roll down Rwy 22L. In the photo above, a Hawaiian Air 717-22A, N487HA " ‘Io" (c/n 55132), is a few seconds (and few feet) from touching down on Rwy 26R.


Managed to sneak a few minutes of spotting time in during a break on a media assignment, and the only RareBird was an Embraer EMB-135BJ "Legacy", N702DR (msn14500925), which was previously registered as N702CM. It's registered to Diamond Resort International.

Arrival of Jetstar

Jetstar's first HNL flight from SYD arrived today as JQ3/QF385 a little more than 30 minutes late at 7:20am. Here is VH-EBD parked at gate 34, loading up for the return to SYD as JQ4/QF386. The late arrival plus the added ground handling training for Swissport meant that the flight left 45 minutes late at 9:01. Coming up on Dec. 29 is the first Jetstar flight from MEL. The A330-200s are only a stop-gap aircraft since QF has the 787 on order with first deliveries in late 2008.

Mele Kalikimaka!

The HNL RareBirds Team wish you all a Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas in Hawaiian)!

Hope all of your Christmas wishes come true!!!

Warriors Win Hawai‘i Bowl!

Updating the Northwest's N237NW post, the University of Hawai‘i Warriors defeated the Arizona State University Sun Devils in the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl, 41 -24! Hawai‘i Quarterback Colt Brennan now holds the single-season touchodwn record with 58!

Another Northwest DC-10-30 was waiting on the north ramp yesterday morning waiting to take the Sun Devils back to PHX, as NWA9981.

Okay Airways' B-2117

Okay Airways (BK) of China, is taking delivery of this 737-3Q8F, B-2117 (c/n 24961), for it's cargo division.

B-2117 was previously with VARIG as PP-VOW, in both the old, and most recent liveries.

New Decal on AQ 737-200

Last month we posted that AQ has a University of Hawaii athletics logo decal next the the front door of N740AL, a 737-700. Now, AQ has a 'Go Hawai'i Warriors' decal on the rear of a 737-200, N835AL. Here it is parked in AQ's hangar

Disappearing Special HP Liveries

With the merger of HP and US, the special livery HP 757's are slowly being repainted into the new US livery. HNL has seen almost all of the special liveries pass through here. The Arizona Cardinals livery 757, N908AW, seen below, is no more.

N908AW was parked on the north ramp on Dec. 20, now wears the new US livery.

Skymark Airlines' JA737M

Skymark Airlines (Japan) has taken delivery of this 737-86N, JA737M (c/n 32683). It's seen here on the South Ramp waiting for push back clearance, to depart for MAJ as SKY737M.

China Southern's B-5237

Leading off today's HNL RareBirds Grand Slam: China Southern Airlines (CZ) has taken delivery of another 737-71B, B-5237 (c/n 29372). It arrived from BFI as CSN523, and remained @ HNL today. It's seen here on the Air Service Hawaii ramp.

Volga-Dnepr's RA-82046

One of Volga-Dnepr's An-124s, RA-82046 (msn 9773052255117/610), is taking a break on HNL's Hardstand 3. It arrived from PUS (Kimhae International Airport, Pusan, Republic of Korea) via NGF (MCAF Kaneohe Bay, HI) as VDA4319. It will continue onto YTR (Trenton, ON) this evening.

Northwest Airlines' N237NW

Arizona State University has chartered this old colors Northwest Airlines DC-10-30, N237NW (c/n 47844), to bring their Sun Devils football team to challenge the University of Hawai‘i Warriors in the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl to be played on the December 24th at Aloha Stadium. The flight, NWA9980, originated in PHX (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,AZ), and arrived on yesterday. It's seen here taking a break on Hardstand 5.

Go Warriors!

Phoenix Air Group's N163PA

Completing today's HNL RareBird Grand Slam is a Gulfstream III, N163PA (msn 249) operated by the Phoenix Air Group. The rarity of this bird is the starboard side cargo door. This G-III previously served with the Royal Danish Air Force. This flight arrived from ONT (Ontario, CA), re-fueled, and returned to ONT.

Gulfstream G-IVs (C-20G) in service with the US Navy and US Marine Corps have the same cargo door, including the ones based here in Hawai‘i.

Under Renovation

The HNL RareBirds Blog will be undergoing some renovations over the next few weeks. As the blogspot.com changes, so will our blog. One of the first changes we have added is the "Label" feature. It is on the bottom of most of the posts, and has been designated by airline (for now). A aircraft type Label is under consideration as well. When you click on it, it will display all of the airlines' posts on this blog. A change in the layout is also being considered at this time. Please bear with us as we move through the changes.

A Little Qantas Retro: HNL's first 707

At Honolulu's old John Rodgers Airport on Lagoon Drive, residents line up to tour a Qantas jetliner after the Boeing 707 set a new record on its inaugural flight to Honolulu on June 30, 1959. The flight, which opened commercial jet travel to Hawaii, triggered an explosion in tourism, which remains the islands' No. 1 industry. Photo credit HA State Archives

Volume 11!

The HNL RareBirds thread series on the Airliners.net Civil Aviation Forum has moved to Volume 11! Find out the latest HNL RareBird Alerts of arrivals headed here.

Cheers VH-XBA!

VH-XBA, the 707-138B in the Qantas 1959 colors departed HNL this morning for NAN (Nadi, Fiji). "XBA" is seen here departing Runway 8R. Got there just as it was about to taxi into position, great timing.

Watching the those four JT3D powerplants spool up, and belch out that black smoke was quite a nostalgic sight! Too bad it didn't depart from Runway 8L (or 8, as it was pre-8R), that would have truly been an HNL RareBirds Blast From The Past!

Qantas' first jet - VH-XBA

Here's Qantas' first jet aircraft, a 707. It arrived in HNL on Tuesday, Dec 12 at 1405. This aircraft is currently parked on the North Ramp with a lot of company. Behind VH-XBA in the picture is a NW 757-300. On the other side (behind me) was a NW 747-400, APA 727-200F, AA 757-200 with winglets, and a DL 767-400. According to the website about this QF 707, it is scheduled to depart HNL at 0800 on Dec. 14. Hopefully I will be able to get out there again tomorrow to get more pictures.

http://www.707.adastron.com/flyhome/diary-3.htm

Billabong's N121FB Returns

The Grumman Albatross, N121FB, owned by Billabong (a surfwear company), is back @ HNL. The seaplane had been using HNL as a base for its promotional flights and surf flights. With the winter high surf due for O‘ahu's North Shore, we could see this RareBird circling above North Shore surf spots.

The photo above was taken back in February when N121FB arrived from the mainland the month before.

Air China's B-5178

Air China has a second "Fuwa Beijing 2008" logojet, B-5178 (c/n 32682). This 737-86N has the same "Five Friendlies" decals as B-5176 (see the 08 & 09 Nov 06 entries) on both sides. B-5178 arrived from BFI on Friday, midday as CCA058.