Qantas Retires Their 747s

Qantas Airways retired its 747 fleet today. It ends the 49-year with the "Queen Of The Skies" that began with 747-238B, VH-EBC (c/n 20011, l/n 162) in October 1971. Qantas has served HNL with four variants: -238B, -SP38, -338, and -438.

VH-OEJ "Wunala" (c/n 32914, l/n 1331) is making one last flight from SYD to LAX as QFA7474 today.

[Top]

747-338, VH-EBT "City of Wagga Wagga" (c/n 23222, l/n 602), taxiing on Taxiway RT in 2005.

[Above]

747-438, VH-OEI "Ceduna" (c/n 32913, l/n 1330), about to touchdown on Runway 8L in 2019.

50 Years!

Today, the Boeing 747 celebrates its 50th anniversary of its first flight!

HNL has seen practically every variant of the "Queen of the Skies", with Pan American and United serving with the -100, to Korean Air and UPS with the 747-8.

Happy 50th Birthday 747!

Fifty years ago today, Boeing Commercial Airplanes rolled out the first 747-100 at Boeing's Everett, WA assembly plant, in front of its employees, airline representatives, dignitaries, and the media.

The initial 747-100 service to HNL, began with Pan American World Airways and United Airlines. Over the course of this past half-century, HNL has seen all the 747's variants transit through. Here are a list of airlines who used the 747 to serve HNL (and KOA):

Pan American World Airways

United Airlines

Trans World Airlines

Continental Airlines

The Hawaii Express

Braniff International Airlines

America West Airlines

American Airlines

Northwest Airlines

Delta Air Lines

World Airways (1st)

Kalitta Air * [as Pacific Air Cargo]

UPS Airlines *

FedEx

Atlas Air * [as Qantas Cargo]

Polar Air Cargo *

Transamerica Airlines [also as Trans International Airlines]

Flying Tigers Airlines

Evergreen International Airlines

Southern Air

Canadian Pacific Air (CP Air)

Wardair Canada

Qantas Airways * [seasonal]

Air New Zealand

Japan Airlines

All Nippon Airways

China Airlines

Air Siam

Korean Air * [seasonal]

Singapore Airlines

* Airlines currently 747s servicing HNL.

Military and government 747s:

US Air Force

Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Republic of Korea Air Force
People's Republic of China [in Air China livery]

Qatar Amiri Flight * [VIP charter]

Saudi Arabian Airlines [VIP charter]

Royal Brunei Airlines [VIP charter]

Japan Asia Airways' JA8130

Our September edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" features Japan Asia Airways' 747-246B, JA8130 (c/n 21679, l/n 376), photographed at HNL in January 2005. It also wore special artwork aft of the wing, and the "Yokoso Japan!" titles.

JA8130 was originally delivered to parent company Japan Airlines in June 1979, and flew periodically with Japan Asia Airways. During its time with JAL, it wore the 1970s livery, the 1990s Landor livery, and the 2000s "Arc Of The Sun" livery. In October 2005, 21679 was sold to Kalitta Equipment LLC, and became N741CK. It was used for parts, and its registration was cancelled in October 2008, as it was finally scrapped.

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].

Japan Airlines' JA8184

Our June edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes to July 2005, with this JAL Reso'cha liveried 747-346 pictured at Gate 28.

JA8184 (c/n 23968, l/n 693) was delivered to Japan Airlines in January 1988, and served with JAL until November 2008. It wore the gamut of JAL liveries: the 1970s cheatlined Tsuru; the 1990s Landor; the Reso'cha livery (above); and the 2000s "Arc of the Sun" livery. It went to Max Air (Nigeria) [--/---] in November 2008, as 5N-DBM, where it currently flies.

N176SG

A 747-338 has escaped the scrap yard! This classic 747 previously flew for Qantas as VH-EBW (as someone wrote in permanent marker on the nose wheel door) for almost two decades before being retired. It sat in storage at Marana Regional Airport (AVQ/KAVQ) in Arizona for two years before returning to the skies. It is now registered as N176SG (c/n 23408, l/n 638), and is owned by the Bank of Utah.


***06.17.11 Update***

N176SG left this afternoon (above), at 1325HST, bound for CGK. It's been reported that this 747-338 will be used for Hajj pilgrimage charters out of Indonesia.

Southern Air 747-341F

Southern Air's all white 747-341F (c/n 23394 LN:627) is seen here taxing to Hickam. N789SA has been flying in and out of HNL for the last couple of weeks.

It was originally delivered to VARIG as PP-VNH in the original livery in December 1985, and was repainted in the second generation livery.

Like most 747-300s, this one was converted to a -300M(SF) in 2000, and registered as N354MC with Polar Air Cargo and Atlas Air from August 2000 to March 2004. Prior to joining the Southern Air fleet, it was previously N354FA and N354FC with Focus Air from January 2005 to October 2006.

Last JAL 747 Classic flight pictures

Here are some pictures from the last JAL Classic flight.


After the crew prepared the aircraft for the flight, they came out to the gate and posed for pictures as a group and with passengers. (BTW, the banner in the background was made by yours truly using pictures of the 747-100, -200, and -300 taken at HNL. I used many pictures I personally took, but did get a couple of pictures from je89_w and from work).

This is the lei made by the Passenger Service section and draped over JA812J by the Maintenance Engineers, who can be seen at the bottom securing the lei.


This banner was held by the JAL employees as they waved goodbye to the aircraft and passengers.


JAL employees waving goodbye to the aircraft and passengers during pushback.


JA812J slowly making its way past Gate 27 during pushback.


JA812J taxiing out for takeoff.

At the gate, there was live Hawaiian music and hula, photo opportunities with JAL employees, and as mentioned above, with the crew. Each passenger was given a hand-made card with an origami crane inside when they entered the gate area and a postcard during boarding. Many of the children were also stickers of the 747-300. The proclamation by the Governor was read by the state's Tourism Liason, Marsha Weinert.