TransAir's N326TR

TransAir has acquired their fifth 737-200C, with N326TR (c/n 20917, l/n 344), a 737-210C/Adv, that was registered with the FAA this past May.

20917 was originally delivered to Wien Air Alaska [WC] in April 1974 as N4905W. It was leased to Saudi Aramco in February 1980 for six months. After it was returned to Wien Air Alaska, it flew with the airline until 1984 when the airline shut down, and the aircraft was acquired by CPC Leasing. In November that year, it was leased to TACA International [TA/TAI] (El Salvador) as N4905W. In August 2000, this 737 was acquired by Laserline Leasing, converted to a freighter, and leased to Estafeta Cargo Aerea [E7/ESF] (México) as XA-ABX, and flew with the airline until January 2005. In March 2006, it was acquired by Aloha Airlines [AQ/AAH] as N834AL, and flew for its cargo division until the airline closed in March 2008. It continued with the revamped Aloha Air Cargo, until early 2010, when it was flown to MZJ for storage. In May 2010, it was acquired by African Charter Airline as ZS-IAB, and leased to Bid Cargo in September 2015, until April 2017. It was ferried to somewhere in the Malaysia / Indonesia region.

Hawaiian Airlines' Oakland Raiders A330s

For the 2017-18 National Football League season, Hawaiian Airlines has applied the Oakland Raiders shield logo decals to three of its A330-243s. The airline, the official airline of the Raiders, will fly the team to all of its road games utilizing one of the three A330s for the team charter. The A330s are: N378HA "Kaukamalama", N392HA "Hikianalia", and N393HA "Lehuakona".

N6124N Goes Down Near Makakilo

N6124N (msn MB-413), a Beech 19A, with four aboard crashed in a remote area between  the mountainside east of Makakilo and the Kunia plateau. The FAA reports that the Beech 19A departed HNL after 1830HST last evening, and was to be a sunset flight, with a return to HNL. The aircraft and victims were discovered this afternoon around 1430HST.

This Beech 19A is owned by Aircraft Maintenance and Flight School Hawaii, the same owner of the Piper PA28, N4244T, that ditched in the Moanalua Stream a month ago.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those lost aboard the downed aircraft.

Further coverage by KHON News.

Lion Air's PK-LQF

Lion Air is taking delivery of PK-LQF (c/n 42990, l/n 6344) this afternoon. The 737 MAX8, the first in full Lion Air livery, is making its delivery flight from BFI as LNI1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL.

Shanghai Airlines' B-1451

Shanghai Airlines is taking delivery of B-1451 (c/n 61688, l/n 6505) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSH1451, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-7825

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7825 (c/n 42948, l/n 6507) today. The 737-85C, their second delivery this month, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8299, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern Airlines' B-1316

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1316 (c/n 43900, l/n 6500) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9003, and will overnight at HNL.

Hainan Airlines' B-1489

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1489 (c/n 44393, l/n 6501) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1489, and will overnight at HNL.

All Nippon Airways' JA873A

Finally, the Droid we were looking for showed up! JA873A (cn 34530 / ln 345) is one of three "Star Wars" themed aircraft in their fleet. R2D2 arrived this morning as NH182 from Narita, and departed this afternoon as NH185 to Haneda.

Honeywell International's N757HW

N757HW (c/n 22194, l/n 5), Honeywell International's 757-225 testbed aircraft is making a stop at HNL this evening from NAN. It will continue onto PHX tomorrow.

22194 was originally delivered to Eastern Airlines in February 1983 as N504EA (f/n 504) until the airline's demise in January 1991. It sat in storage for four years. In March 1995, it was acquired by Airtours International Airways as G-JALC. In May 2002, it was transferred to the MyTravel fleet as G-JALC. Honeywell International acquired it in October 2005.

VP-BEM

VP-BEM (c/n 32318, l/n 441), a 777-212, arrived at HNL today. In searching this registration, it shows up as a Global Express 5000.

32318 was originally delivered to Singapore Airlines in June 2003 as 9V-SRN. It was sold to Pembroke Leasing, and leased back, in 2008, and was returned in March 2015, then stored at VCV in June 2015 as EI-FLE.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3192

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of this A319-111, RP-C3192 (msn 2638). It's ferrying from CAN to GYR, and will be registered as N332NV (f/n 332) after it arrives at GYR.

China Southern Airlines' B-1411

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1411 (c/n 63240, l/n 6496) this morning. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN111, and will overnight at HNL. This China Southern's third 737-81B delivery in this month.

Fiji Airways DQ-FJF

Fiji Airways' 737-7X2, DQ-FJF "Island of Koro" (c/n 28878, l/n 96) is now wearing a decal noting the COP23 Fiji United Nations Climate Change Conference. It's seen above departing Runway 8R, this afternoon as FJI823 to CXI.

Scoot Announces Hawai‘i Service

Scoot [TR/TGW] (Singapore), the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines announced this morning that they plan to launch service from Changi International Airport [SIN] to Honolulu via Kansai [KIX] by the summer of 2018, pending governmental approvals. The airline would use their 787 Dreamliner fleet for the service, and hopes that it could even start earlier.

Further information in this Airways Magazine article.

Shenzhen Airlines' B-1476

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1476 (c/n 61117, l/n 6498) today. The 737-87L, their second delivery in 11 days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ1476, and will overnight at HNL.

Hawaiian Airlines Announces A321neo Routes

Hawaiian Airlines announced three new A321-271N routes that will begin in early 2018: Portland-Kahului (January 18, 2018), Los Angeles-Kona (March 11, 2018), and Oakland-Līhu‘e (April 11, 2018). 

The first A321neo service will be on January 8, 2018, on the OAK-OGG route (HAL23/24), in place of their A330-243 service.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

Illustration courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines.

Shandong Airlines' B-1440

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1440 (c/n 61435, l/n 6489) today. The 737-85N, the airline's second delivery in nine days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1440, and will overnight at HNL.

Virgin Australia's VH-YFY

Virgin Australia is taking delivery of VH0YFY "Mungalla" (c/n 41016, l/n 6494) today. The 737-8FE is making its delivery flight from BFI as VOZ9940, and will overnight at LIH.

Kunming Airlines' B-1460

Kunming Airlines is taking delivery of B-1460 (c/n 61706, l/n 6484) today. The 737-7LY is making its delivery flight from BFI as KNA1460, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern Airlines' B-1306

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1306 (c/n 63760, l/n 6493) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9002, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern Airlines' B-1412

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1412 (c/n 63239, l/n 6487) this morning. The 737-81B, their second delivery in six days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN1412, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-7818

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7818 (c/n 42941, l/n 6486) this morning. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8199, and will overnight at HNL.

Shandong Airlines' B-1439

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1439 (c/n 61434, l/n 6478) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1439, and will overnight at HNL.

Shenzhen Airlines' B-1475

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1475 (c/n 61126, l/n 6479) this afternoon. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ1475, and will overnight at HNL. This 737 made its original delivery flight earlier this morning, but returned to BFI an hour into the flight.

Hainan Airlines' B-1488

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1488 (c/n 60692, l/n 6482) today. The 737-84P, their second delivery in as many days, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1488, and will overnight at HNL.

Qantas Airways' VH-OJT

Qantas Airways' 747-436, VH-OJT "Fraser Island" (c/n 25565, l/n 1233), has made a stop at HNL from SYD as QFA6037, as a charter flight.

Air China Inner Mongolia's B-1458

Air China Inner Mongolia is taking delivery of B-1458 (c/n 60869, l/n 6480) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CNM047, and will overnight at HNL.

Air China's Inner Mongolia subsidiary now has a fleet of three 737-89Ls, and a 737-79L. Notice that the People's Republic of China flag is absent from where it normally is next to the titles, as well as the Star Alliance logo that is normally between the door and the cockpit window.

Air New Zealand's ZK-OKF

Air New Zealand's 777-219ER, ZK-OKF (c/n 34378, l/n 575) made a stop at HNL this morning from BNE on a charter flight as ANZ1930. It will depart later this morning for AKL as ANZ1395.

Fuzhou Airlines' B-1480

Fuzhou Airlines is taking delivery of B-1480 (c/n 61435, l/n 6483) today. The 737-86W is making its delivery flight from BFI as B1480, and will overnight at HNL, after completing its first leg.

Hainan Airlines' B-1487

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1487 (c/n 62571, l/n 6476) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1487, and will overnight at HNL, after completing its first leg.

China Southern Airlines' B-1410

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1410 (c/n 63241, l/n 6471) this morning. The 737-81B is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN410, and will overnight at HNL, after completing the first leg.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPK

Virgin Australia is ferrying VH-ZPK "Aussie Rob" (msn 19000218) from BNE to BNA, with stops at APW, HNL, and VNY, as VOZ9901. The E190-100AR is ferrying for maintenance, and should return in a few weeks. 

China United Airlines' B-1465

China United Airlines is taking delivery of B-1465 (c/n 63044, l/n 6477) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CUA1465, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen Air's B-7831

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-7831 (c/n 42945, l/n 6475) this morning. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA8099, and will overnight at HNL.

Aloha ‘Oe N319NE

Asia Pacific Airlines is ferrying their 727-212F/Adv, N319NE (c/n 21349, l/n 1289), from GUM to IGM [Kingman, AZ], via HNL. According to sources, it's scheduled to be put up for sale, and is due for a heavy check.

Yangtze River Airlines Re-brands

The HNA Group's Yangtze River Airlines and Yangtze River Express have re-branded as one airline called Suparna Airlines. It combines the passenger and cargo operations under one name. It's not known when the titles will change, or if there will be different livery from the basic Hainan livery.

Kingdom of Morocco's CN-MVI

The Kingdom of Morocco's 737-8KB BBJ2, CN-MVI (c/n 37545, l/n 2696), has made a stop at HNL from SFO.

China Eastern Airlines' N7862A

China Eastern Airlines is ferrying N7862A (c/n 33009, l/n 1782), a 737-79P, from KMG to PAE, via GUM and HNL. It remains the original very with the green Yunnan peacock feather.

33009 was delivered to China Eastern Airlines in June 2005 as B-5084, leased from ILFC. In 2012, it had Blended Winglets installed and the green Yunnan peacock feather decal applied. In May 2014, it was sold to AerCap, and its lease with China Eastern transferred. It was withdrawn from use this past May, and will be going to Southwest Airlines as N7862A (f/n 7862). While at PAE, it will undergo Southwest's interior and exterior look.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPQ

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPQ "Main Beach" (msn 19000412) is ferrying from BNE to BNA, via APW, HNL, and VNY for maintenance as VOZ9901.

Happy Independence Day!

Today, the HNL RareBirds Team celebrates the United States of America's 241st birthday!

US Navy's 159116

Our July edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features the United States Navy's C-9B SkyTrain II (the military version of a DC-9-32CF), Bureau Number 159116 (c/n 47580, l/n 704), in a photo from January 2005, as it's seen above on Taxiway RT, with markings for VR-61 "Islanders" (based at NAS Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, WA) and named "City of Seattle".

Not much is known about the history of this C-9B, other than it was delivered to the US Navy in September 1973. In the late 1980s, it was assigned to the VR-57 "Conquistadors", and was named both the "City of Long Beach" and the "City of Carlsbad". In the mid-2000s, it was assigned to the VR-61, and flew with the "Islanders" until it was retired in June 2012. It now sits in storage at the AMARG (Davis-Monthan AFB) in Tucson, AZ.