Return of ex-Hooters 732s in AQ's Fleet

One of the ex-Hooters 737-200s returned to service for Aloha. N250TR has been sitting on Elliott Street for the past 2 weeks, but only now has started flying interisland again, today August 31st. It is still in the basic Hooters livery, but without any titles.

Sorry, no photos yet.

Toll Priority's N519AU

Leading off today's HNL RareBird hat trick, is Toll Priority's (Airwork New Zealand) third 737-3B7F, N519AU (c/n 23705). It was originally delivered to US Airways in 1988. It was recently converted into a pure freighter for Toll Priority, and will be re-registered as ZK-TLC when it arrives in New Zealand in a few days. N519AU flew from MIA to HNL via LGB, and seen above in the late afternoon sun. It will continue onto PPG tomorrow, as its next stop on its delivery flight.

Shandong Airlines' B-5336

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of its next 737-8FH(W), B-5336 (c/n 35098), and has stopped off at HNL. It will leave tomorrow morning for MAJ as CDG5336.

Royal Air Force's ZD948

I got word from a spotter in New Zealand that a Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) Lockheed KC1 (or L-1011-500 TriStar) tanker / transport was headed here. It's here on HNL's north ramp. The RAF registration is ZD948 (msn 193V-1157), and she previously flew with British Airways as G-BFCA "Princess Margaret Rose". ZD948 is based at Brize Norton Air Base in the UK.

Sorry, no HNL photo available.

China Eastern's B-5242

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of their latest 737-79P(W), B-5242 (c/n 36269). It arrived at HNL earlier today, and will depart for MAJ tomorrow as CES299.

B-5242 is seen above as it taxies to Runway 8R for departure to MAJ.

10 soldiers from Schofield on Blackhawk that crashed

Please take a moment out of your busy day to say a prayer, take a moment of silence, or use whatever form of contemplation you practice to have a private thought for the 10 brave warriors that perished in the crash of a Blackhawk in Iraq.

The soldiers had just been picked up after a mission when the chopper apparently suffered a mechanical and went down claiming the lives of all aboard. This is especially painful because many of the victims were to rotate home in a month or so, and they were all from Schofield Barracks. The base, the local community, and the entire state is reeling from the loss. Many families are on hold for good or bad news, and my thoughts are with them either way.

Remember please that whether or not one agrees with the politics, that the fallen were doing what they chose to do...defending our freedoms and our way of life.

There will be 20 boots, 10 M-4s, and 10 helmets empty at the next roll call.

Worker Killed At HNL Accident

A construction worker who was working on the taxiway repaving project was killed yesterday after being run over by a steam roller. Link to The Honolulu Advertiser article. According news video, the accident looks like occurred on Taxiway F.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the worker's family and co-workers.

Kingdom Holding Company 747-400

Yesterday (8/19), A private 747-400 owned by the Kingdom Holding Company (HZ-WBT7 cn25880) stopped over. I'm not sure about the origin or when its departing. It was last seen at the hard stands.

Globemaster III's at OGG

Aloha from the Maui bureau. It's not unusual to see C-17's at HNL, but they don't stop at OGG very often. This is HH 55150 taxiing from the HAZMAT area to RWY 20. The aircraft was here for a few hours, and didn't appear to transfer any cargo. Another C-17 shot an approach and left while 55150 was on the ground. Departure profiles, and radio chatter suggested both were heading to HH. 

China Southern Airlines' B-5250

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-5250 (c/n 32934, l/n 1465) today. This 737-71B is making its delivery flight from BFI to CAN, with stops at HNL, MAJ, and GUM.

Sorry, no photo ...

Shandong Airlines' B-5335

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of its newest 737-8FH(W), B-5335 (c/n 35097). It seen here after it arrived at HNL. The gold tour coach was there to pick up the occupants of B-5335, which were over ten people.

ex-US Airways N586US

Formerly with US Airways (US), N586US (c/n 23931), a 737-301, is headed for somewhere in Asia. 586 left ROW on the 6th, and stopped off in TUS and OAK, before tech-stopping here, and heading off to MAJ and SPN.

This 733 was originally ordered by Piedmont Airlines (PI), before being taken over by US, which is why N586US has the -01 Boeing Customer Code, and not the -B7 code for US .

N597HA "Akohekohe"

Hawaiian Air has their third "new" 767-332, N597HA (c/n 23277), "Akohekohe", that was purchased from Delta Air Lines. 597 was registered as N118DL during its stint with DL.

Delta's 767-300 Service To LAX

This past June, Delta Air Lines (DL) downgraded their LAX-HNL (DAL1579) & HNL-LAX (DAL1566) flights to 767-300s, as reported by team member Ha763.

Delta's N140LL (c/n 25988), a 767-332, is seen here rotating from Runway 8R as DAL1566 to LAX.

Hainan Airlines' B-5338

Hainan Airlines' newest 737-84P(W), B-5338 (c/n 35749), wears HU's new livery, and is on its delivery flight to China from BFI. B-5338 is the first Hainan 73H to wear its new colors. It's seen here shortly after it's arrival at HNL from BFI. It will continue onto MAJ tomorrow morning.

Hong Kong Air has a variation of this livery, though the Hainan one will be the main one.

National Science Foundation's N130AR

The National Science Foundation's Lockheed EC-130Q, N130AR (c/n 382-4984), has made a stop at HNL, on one of their many missions that study all facets of the environment. According to FlightAware.com, N130AR arrived here from SJC (Norman Mineta Int'l Airport, San Jose, CA), and is seen here being prepped for a flight to XCH (Christmas Island, Territory of Australia). The EC-130Q is laden with internal and external sensors to measure all sorts of environmental activities.

N130AR was originally built as a KC-130T for the US Marine Corps, as BuNo 162312, and later converted to an EC-130Q. After being relegated to AMARC, it was acquired by the National Science Foundation for its current role.

Private 727-100

There was a privately-owned Boeing 727-100 parked on the Bradley Pacific ramp yesterday. I could not see the registration on the aft section if the tri-jet, nor get a decent angle to get a photo of it.

Shandong 737-800, B-5333

Here's Shandong's latest 737-8FH, B-5333 (c/n 35096). This time it was parked on the North Ramp instead of the South.