Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace Flights To New Caledonia

With the riots occurring in the French territory of New Caledonia, the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (French Air and Space Force) is transporting over 1,000 Gendarme (French National Police) officers. A330-200s from 31e Escadre Aérienne de Ravitaillment et de Transport Stratégiques (31st Aerial Refuel and Strategic Transport Wing) have been making flights from France to NOU [La Tounta International Airport, Noumeá, New Caledonia], via YVR and HNL, for the past few days. A400Ms from 61e Escadre de Transport (61st Transport Squadron) are also making flights to Noumeá. Other flights have gone to BNE and WLS [Hihifo Airport, Wallis Island].

Further information in this BBC article.

Mobility Guardian 2023

Aircraft, mostly transports, from foreign air forces are stopping through HNL as part of Mobility Guardian 2023, a multi-national air exercise being held at Andersen AFB, Guam.

Le Armée de l’Air has A330-200 MRTTs: F-UJCH (msn 1808, f/n 042) and F-UJCM (msn 1998, f/n 047); and A400M F-RBAR (msn 110, f/n 110).

The Luftwaffe has A400Ms: 54+02 (msn 029) and 54+05 (msn 040).

The Royal Thai Air Force has a C-130J, 60112 (msn 5281).

The Royal Air Force has a C-17A: ZZ172 (c/n 50079, l/n F-78).

The Royal Canadian Air Force has CC-150 Polaris: 15001 (msn 446) and 15003 (msn 425), and C-130J 130605 (msn 5637).

Armée de l'Air's F-RBAD

Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace's A400M-180, F-RBAD "Ville de Cambrai" (msn 011), is making a stop at HNL, as it transits from ORE to NOU, via YYT, NKX, HNL and PPT, as CTM2050. F-RBAD is assigned to 61e Escadre de Transport, of the Air Support and Projection Brigade, based at ORE.

12 Nov 2021 UPDATE

F-RBAD is stopping off at HNL on its way back to ORE as CTM2050, and will continue onto SAN the next day.

République Française's F-RAFB

F-RAFB (msn 86), an Armée de l'Air Falcon 7X, is making an overnight stop at HNL as it goes from the South Pacific to France. It's flying as CTM4, and arrived from NOU yesterday afternoon. F-RAFB is primarily used as a VIP transport, and has the République Française livery.

Armée de l'Air's 64-GQ

An Armée de l'Air Transall C-160, 64-GQ (msn R217) is making a stop at HNL from PDX. It's on its way to PPT.

Exercise Wākea

The Pacific Air Forces' 199th FS / 19th FS F-22A Raptors is training with the Armée de l'air in Exercise Wākea. A contingent of three Dassault F3-R Rafales, two A400Ms, and an A330 MRTT, along with personnel made the trip from Tahiti, where they were training in Operation Heifara.

Further information from the 154th Wing's webpage article.

photos to follow ...

Armée de L'Air's F-RBAQ

The Armée de L'Air's (French Air Force) F-RBAQ (msn 102) is making an overnight stop at HNL from TUS as CTM1542. This A400M-180  flight originated from ORE [Bricy Airport, Orleans, France], and is headed to PPT. It also made stops at YYT [St. John's International Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada], and TUS [Tucson, AZ].

Armée de l'Air's F-RADB

F-RADB (msn 422), a Armée de l'Air A310-304, made a stop at HNL on a flight from PPT, and was parked on Taxiway RH.

Armeé de l'Air's F-RBAG

Armeé de l'Air's A400M, F-RBAG "Ville de Cambrai" (msn 0019), has made a stop at HNL, as it transits to French Polynesia from France.

Armée de l'Air's F-RADA

F-RADA (msn 421), an Armé de l'Air A310-304, is making a stop at HNL today from PPT.

This A310-304 was originally delivered to Royal Jordanian in March 1987 as F-ODVD "Prince Hashem", leased from AFS. In November 1993, it was purchased by the Armée de l'Air as F-RADA, and the interior converted for VIPs.

The Rare Tahitian Airport Views Facebook page as a video clip of F-RADA departing PPT for HNL early this morning.

Armée de l'Air's F-RBAG

F-RBAG "Ville de Cambrai" (msn 0019), an A400M-180 of the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force), made a stop at HNL from Noumea, New Caledonia [NOU], and will continue onto Chicago-O'Hare [ORD], then to their base in France.

photo to follow ...

Armee De L`Air's F-RAJB

Occasionally one of two A340-212s of the Armee De L`Air passes through Honolulu to and from French Polynesia. F-RAJB (c/n081) arrived this morning and took on fuel before continuing on.

French Air Force's F-RAJB

An A340-212 of the Armée De L'Air arrived this afternoon from YVR for a fuel stop. F-RAJB (c/n 081)[above] and sister-ship F-RAJA often utilizes Gate 34 instead of parking at Hickam when in Honolulu.

French Air Force's F-RAJA

F-RAJA (msn 075), an A340-212 belonging to the French Air Force's (Armée de l'Air) Commandment du Transport Aérien Militaire Français (COTAM), has been making stops at HNL recently. According to FlightRadar24.com, flies from HNL to YVR, then CDG. F-RAJA departed HNL this morning as "COTAM1018" (above), and was seen last Thursday parked at Gate 34.

COTAM has two A340-212, the other is F-RAJB (msn 081).

Armée De L`Air's F-RAJB

An Armée De L`Air (French Air Force) A340-212, F-RAJB (c/n 081), arrived at HNL yesterday, and parked at Gate 34 while on a fuel stop. F-RAJB is one of two VIP transports for French government officials.

Mahalo to "HI" for the photo!

French Air Force C-160

Every now and then Transall C-160s of the French Air Force can be seen at HNL. Today, 61-ZM (c/n 95) is the latest to transit through to the French territories in the South Pacific. With all that miss-matched paint, could it be considered a new type of camouflage?

French Air Force Transall C-160R

This French Transall C-160 made a stop-over last weekend. 64-GQ (msn 220) is seen here at the North Ramp Hardstands.

French Air Force C-160

Another French Air Force C-160 was in HNL today. This time it was 61-MC and was parked right next to the Hainan 737.

French Air Force Transall C-160

A surprising find on the North Ramp today. This Transall C-160 was just sitting there. You can tell it is a French military aircraft by the roundel. The French use a roundel with a blue dot and red outer ring. The tail number, 61-MX, also matches the pattern used by the French for some of their other C-160s. I don't know when it arrived, but I'm assuming it either came from or was headed to French Polynesia.