Malaysia's 9M-MXR

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MXR (c/n 40155, l/n 4772) today. The 737-8H6, their second this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as MAS5473, and will overnight at HNL.

Question For Any Pilots

Help...if anyone out there knows the answers I'd really appreciate it:

If the aircraft (my flight HAL457 from HNL to HND ) is flying into headwinds ranging from 50-175 mph, such that even though the indicated airspeed is as high as 580 mph but the net ground speed is as low as 380 mph, why not take a slightly different route or altitude?  We were between FL 360 to FL 380 for most of the flight.  Does the plane fly efficiently with this much headwind for so much of the flight?  From what I understand the return flight from Japan to Hawaii will take only about 6 to 7 hours so there's lots of sense in that. But 9 hours into headwinds that would lift a Cessna 172 up off the ground with zero ground speed?

On The Way To HND On N382HA

Only in Hawaii...

The flight crew for HAL457 joins hands for the traditional Hawaiian blessing before boarding. What a treat this must be for our Japanese visitors returning to Japan.

Ready to board!  N382HA "Iwakeli‘i" just before we fill her up with pax returning to or on the way to a great late winter visit to Japan.

Hawaiian's N596HA

Hawaiian Airlines is ferrying N596HA "Koa‘e Ke‘a" (c/n 23276, l/n 151) to ROW for storage. This 767-332 is one of four that the airline acquired from Delta, and was registered as N117DL. "Koa‘e Ke‘a" is seen above on Taxiway C, taxiing to Runway 26L, in late 2012.

China Southern's B-1921

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1921 (c/n 41245, l/n 4766) today. The 737-86N, under lease from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN128. This is also China Southern's third 737-800 to be delivered this month.

Hainan's B-1927

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1927 (c/n 39207, l/n 4760) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as B1927, and will overnight at HNL.

We were unable to get a photo of B-1927 at HNL, but team member Drewski2112 got a photo of it at BFI.

Japan Coast Guard G-V

Japan Coast Guard's JA500A (msn 683), a Gulfstream G-V, on the KOA south ramp for a weekend layover.

Island Air Launches New Look

With the change in ownership to ‘Ohana Airline Holdings, Island Air has revamped its livery on their ATR72-212s. This new livery and re-branding was commissioned by new owner, Larry Ellison. As with the last Dash8 livery, the tail art will be different for the ATR72s.

The previous new look, as seen on N941WP, was commissioned by the previous owners of Island Air, the Gavarnie Group.

ANA's JA353K

ANA WIngs, an All Nippon Airways subsidiary, is ferrying JA353K (c/n 26104, l/n 2552) from ITM to MZJ (via HND, GUM, MAJ, and HNL) as ANA9434. The ITM-HND leg was flown with an ANA Wings flight code as AKX5564. The HNL-MZJ leg is scheduled to make a pre-dawn departure.

26104 was originally delivered in December 1993, to Rio Sul [SL/RSL], under lease from GECAS, as PT-SLS. In March 2001, ANA acquired it for its Air Nippon subsidiary as JA353K. Five years later, it was re-assigned to their Air Next subsidiary. In October 2010, it was transferred to ANA Wings.

Shenzhen's B-1935

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1935 (c/n 39140, l/n 4754) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ908, and will overnight at HNL.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of B-1935 at HNL, but team member Drewski2112 got a photo of it at BFI.

Garuda's PK-GND

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GND (c/n 41794, l/n 4761) today. The 737-8U3 is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL. Garuda is now making the second stop on its 737-800 delivery flights at KSA, where the crew will overnight, and leave the next afternoon for CGK.

We were unable to get a photo of PK-GND at HNL, but team member Drewski2112 got it at BFI.

Lion's PK-LOH

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LOH (c/n 38744, l/n 4762) this morning. The 737-8GP, their second this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1. It made a pre-dawn two-hour fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Air China's B-1947

Air China is taking delivery of B-1947 (c/n 41314, l/n 4756) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL. B-1947 is seen above departing from Runway 22l to MAJ.

Air China Launches PEK-HNL Service

Air China inaugurated service between PEK and HNL today. The thrice-weekly service, CCA837 [PEK-HNL] and CCA838 [HNL-PEK], is flown by their A330-243s. According to Hawai‘i News Now video, B-6070 (msn 750) made the inaugural flight.

Further details in this Air China press release.

China Southern's B-1916

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1916 (c/n 41315, l/n 4750) today. The 737-81B, under lease from ALC, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1315, and will overnight at HNL. This is China Southern's second 737-800 in as many days.

Kunming's B-1926

Kunming Airlines [KY/KNA], a subsidiary of Shenzhen Airlines, is taking delivery of B-1926 (c/n 41111, l/n 4752) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA1926, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen's B-1911

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-1911 (c/n 39907, l/n 4748) today. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA1911, and will overnight at HNL.

KOA Experimental 787-9's

N789FT just before departure this afternoon on the south ramp at Kona. Her sister, N789BZ, in the background left, has more work to do this week and next before heading home.

China Southern's B-1920

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1920 (c/n 41265, l/n 4745) today. The 737-86N, under lease from GECAS, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1920, and will overnight at HNL.

Shanghai's B-1949

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1949 (c/n 39933, l/n 4743) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH312, and will overnight at HNL. B-1949 was originally ordered by parent China Eastern Airlines, but allocated to Shanghai.

Malaysia's 9M-MXQ

Malaysia Airlines is taking delivery of 9M-MXQ (c/n 40154, l/n 4749) today. The 737-8H6 is making its delivery flight from BFI as MAS5473 and will overnight at HNL.

Air China's B-1942

Air China is taking delivery of B-1942 (c/n 40023, l/n 4746) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

‘Ohana's N804HC

‘Ohana by Hawaiian has taken delivery of their first ATR42-500, N804HC "Holo Kaomi" (msn 623), today. It arrived from COE, via MMV (where it had ferry tanks installed), as SXA1043. For the time being, Empire Airlines will operate the ATRs with their AOC.

Photo of N804HC at MMV by Sabian404.

Time-lapse video from Hawaiian Airlines.

N804HC is seen above in a photo taken on 18 January, as CFS300 to LNY, as it begins proving flights before ‘Ohana can commence service.

Boeing 787-9 Experimental N789FT

N789FT (c/n 41989, l/n 133), a Boeing Experimental 787-9 arrived from ASP [Alice Springs Airport, Alice Springs, Northern Territoy, Australia] via CNS [Cairns International Airport, Cairns, Australia] early this morning as BOE2 on a short layover, as it will continue to KOA later this morning. It will join it's sister aircraft N789ZB for warm weather testing.This aircraft went on tour to New Zealand as well as Australia last week visiting it's first customer Air New Zealand. The aircraft flew non-stop from Seattle to New Zealand making it the 787-9 longest flight to date. 

This also marks the first time a 787-9 has visited HNL.

Here is a great link showing the interior and exterior shots while it was on tour down under.

Lion Air's PK-LOG

Lion Airlines' PK-LOG (c/n 38745, l/n 4740) is the first 2014 737NG delivery flight to stop through HNL. The 737-8GP is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make its brief fuel stop at HNL.

Sorry, we were unable to get a photo of PK-LOG at HNL.

KOA Experimental 787-9

N789ZB (c/n 35422, l/n 139), a Boeing Experimental 787-9 on the south ramp of KOA. This aircraft is currently scheduled to be here for warm weather and run-up testing until approximately Jan 18th. This 787-9 is scheduled to be delivered to Japan Airlines, once testing is completed. Following that, two additional 787's will stop by for their testing sessions.

Hawaiian To Launch OGG-LAX Service

Hawaiian Airlines announced to day that they will be launching A330-243 daily service between OGG and LAX on 01 July 2014.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

KOA Holiday Itinerants

One of the more colorful visitors on the south Kona ramp this holiday season. N528AP (msn 5168), is a G550 owned by Arrow Plane LLC [Provo, UT].

100 Years Of US Commercial Aviation

One hundred years ago today, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line conducted the first commercial flight with one passenger flying from St. Peteresburg, FL to Tampa, FL.

The IATA has created a commemorative website, Flying100Years.com.

Qantas' VH-EBT

Our first 2014 installment of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to March 2005, with Qantas Airways' 747-338, VH-EBT "City of Wagga Wagga" (c/n 23222, l/n 602), as it taxies to Runway 26L on Taxiway RT as QFA4 to SYD.

VH-EBT was delivered to Qantas in November 1984. From March 1992 to March 1994, it was leased to Japan Airlines. It was acquired by Midair USA (Rome, NY) in June 2007, registered as N747ZZ, and stored. Sadly, in August 2008, N747ZZ was scrapped at Griffis AFB, Rome, NY [RME].

December 2013 Deliveries

Here were the 13 737NG delivery flights that stopped through Hawai‘i in December 2013:
4703 | B-5860 | 39139 | Shenzhen Airlines | -87L [12.03.13 CSZ969]
4705 | VH-XZK | 39366 | Qantas Airways | -838 [12.05.13 QFA6024]
4707 | B-1900 | 39306 | Shanghai Airlines | -86D [12.06.13 CSH572]
4709 | B-5847 | 41793 | Xiamen Air | -85C [12.06.13 CXA5847]
4712 | B-5856 | 40040 | Shandong Airlines | -89L* [12.07.13 CDG5856]
4711 | PK-LBI | 38743 | Batik Air | -9GPER [12.07.13 BKI1]
4720 | PK-GNC | 41312 | Garuda Indonesia | -8U3 [12.11.13 GIA8011]
4716 | B-5855 | 39206 | Hainan Airlines | -84P [12.11.13 B5855]
4721 | B-1907 | 39730 | China Eastern Airlines | -89P* [12.13.13 CES599]
4726 | PK-LBJ | 38742 | Batik Air | -9GPER [12.13.13 BTK1]
4725 | B-5851 | 41313 | Air China | -89L [12.17.13 CCA78]
4723 | 9M-MXP | 40153 | Malaysia Airlines | -8H6 [12.18.13 MAS5473]
4714 | JA02GR | 41256 | Spring Airlines Japan | -81D [12.20.13 JA02GR]

-700: 0
-800: 11
-900ER: 2

Australia: 1
China: 7
Indonesia: 3
Japan: 1
Malaysia: 1
Thailand: 0

Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou!

Happy New Year!

The HNL RareBirds team wishes all of our readers and fans a blessed 2014!