Omega Tanker's N264DE

Omega Tanker's N264DE (c/n 46985, l/n 264) is making a stop at JRF from VCV today as OME11. It's not known if this KDC-10-30 is accompanying any fighters.

27 October 2025 UPDATE

N264DE departed JRF shortly after midnight headed west-bound.

30 October 2025 UPDATE

N264DE returned to JRF this afternoon.

01 November 2025 UPDATE

N264DE returned to its base at VCV this morning.

Omega Tanker's N264DE

Omega Tanker's KDC-10-30CF, N264DE (c/n 46985, l/n 264), is making a stop at HIK today. This converted tanker arrived from DNA as OME11.

46985's History:

Dec 1978: Delivered to Martinair Holland as PH-MBT "George Gershwin" as a DC-10-30CF.

Sep 1979: Leased to Garuda Indonesia for two years.

Jly 1982: Leased to Caribbean Airways for one year.

__ 1984: Leased to Air Seychelles for one year.

Dec 1987: Leased to Qantas Airways for two months.

Oct 1989: Leased to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for 30 months.

Jly 1982: Leased to World Airways for one month.

Sep 1995: Acquired by the Royal Netherlands Air Force as T-264 "Prins Bernhard", and converted to an aerial refueler.

Aug 2004: Painted in a grey camouflage livery.

Oct 2019: Withdrawn from service, and stored at SAT.

Feb 2020: Acquired by Omega Tanker as N264DE.

Jun 2021: Ferried to VCV for storage and modifications.

Nov 2023: Inducted into service.

04 February 2025 UPDATE

N264DE returned to Omega's base at VCV.

Omega Tanker's N707GF

Omega Tanker's 707-3K1C, N707GF (c/n 20804, l/n 883) is making a stop at HNL from RIV as OME77.

20804's History:

May 1974: Delivered to TAROM (Transporturi Aeriene Romana Sovietica) as YR-ABB.

Jun 1976: Transferred to the Romanian Government as the Prime Minister's VIP transport.

Jly 1990: Transferred to LAR (Linile Aerien Romane).

Nov 1990: Leased to Trans Caribbean Airlines for two months.

Oct 1991: Leased to Suriname TCA for four months.

Feb 1992: Transferred to Romavia.

Feb 1995: Leased to Aero Asia International [Pakistan] for three months.

May 1995: Transferred back to the Romanian Government, and named "Carpati".

Sep 2012: Acquired by Omega Tanker as N707GF.

Omega Tanker's N707MQ

Omega Tanker's 707-368C, N707MQ (c/n 23168, l/n 925), is making a stop at HNL. It's being parked on Taxiway RH during its stay.

17 Aug 21 UPDATE

N707MQ departed today.

Omega Tanker's N707MQ

Omega Tanker's 707-368C, N707MQ (c/n 23168, l/n 925), is being deployed to HNL, to participate in the 2018 RIMPAC naval and air exercise. It arrived from SBD as OME71.

Omega Air Tanker's N707MQ

Omega Air Tanker's N707MQ (c/n 21368, l/n 925) is participating in this year's RIMPAC exercise, refueling US Navy and US Marine Corps aircraft. The 707-368C is flying as OMEGA71, and arrived from NKX [Miramar MCAS, San Diego, CA] on the 23rd.

Omega Tanker's N707MQ

One of Omega Tanker's 707-300s is in town in support of the 2012 RIMPAC naval exercise. N707MQ (c/n 21368, l/n 925) has been working out of the North Ramp. This 707-368C is seen above departing Runway 8R as "Omega11Heavy" for a refueling sortie.

Omega's N624RH

Omega Air Tanker's N624RH (c/n 19624, l/n 689), a former Qantas Airways and Royal Australian Air Force 707-338C, made a stop at HNL last night, and departed for RAAFB Amberley [YAMB] (above) this morning.

This 707-338C stopped through last October, as it was transiting from Australia to Omega's base in San Antonio, TX, still in its RAAF colors.

Ex-RAAF 707-338Cs

Earlier this week, two ex-Royal Australian Air Force 707-338Cs arrived from Pago Pago Pago (PPG/NSTU), after coming out of storage at Richmond, New South Wales, Australia (RCM/YSRI). N624RH (c/n 19624, l/n 689) and N629RH (c/n 19629, l/n 737) were registered as A20-624 and A20-629, respectively. Note that N624RH [top photo] still has special tail markings commemorating the 707's 29 years of service with the RAAF. Omega Air Tankers recently brought three 707-300s from the RAAF. N623RH (c/n 19623, l/n 671) [A20-623] should be leaving Richmond any time now.

All of the three 707-338Cs were with Qantas before they were acquired by the RAAF. A20-623 was VH-EAC, A20-624 was VH-EAD, and A20-629 was VH-EAI.

Omega Tanker's N707AR

One of the two Omega 707-300 Tankers crashed today at NTD (NAS Point Mugu, Port Hueneme, CA). N707AR (c/n 20029 l/n 790), their 707-321B, crashed on its take-off roll this afternoon. Thankfully, all three crew members escaped the classic Boeing before flames enveloped the airframe.

It was initially reported that N707MQ in various media circles was the 707-300B involved, but the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated in their preliminary report that it was N707AR.

20029/790 was originally delivered to Pan American Airways (PA/PAA) in March 1969 as N892PA, named "Clipper Star King". In March 1983, it was leased to Global International Airlines, and re-posessed six months later. In May 1984, it was acquired by Falcon Aircraft Conversions, and re-registered as N729Q, where it was leased to Skystar International (June 86 - June 87), National Express (June 87 - June 88), and PLUNA (June 88 - June 95). JARO, a Hungarian airline, acquired it in June 95, and registered it as EL-AKS. Finally, it was sold to Omega Tanker in June 96, and registered as N707AR, and modified as a drogue-type aerial refueler, that was commonly seen accompanying US Navy and US Marine fighter aircraft.

On a personal note, I was privileged to take a tour of N707AR, back in November 2004, when it was parked on Hard Stand A (South Ramp). The above photo was taken before we boarded the 707. Except for the drogue release port and the hush-kitted JT3Ds, it looked like a 707 from back-in-the-day. The interior had been re-fitted with the '70s-'80s style overhead bins, and most of the coach seats were removed, though a several first class seats were still there. It was definitely a "chicken-skin" moment to set foot on a 707 again after 32 years after my first flight as a nine-year-old, too bad we weren't able to go up with it while it was here ...

Article by NYC Aviation.

Omega Tanker's N707AR

Omega Tanker's N707AR (c/n 20079, l/n 790), a 707-321B, made an appearance at HNL yesterday, and is seen above rotating on Runway 8R this morning as "OMEGA70", destination unknown.

Omega DC-10 And USN F/A-18Fs

Regular visitor Omega Tanker DC-10-30, N974VV (c/n 46974) with two F/A-18F Super Hornets from the VFA-122 (Fleet Readiness Squadron-FRS, "Flying Eagles", NAS Lemoore, CA) in the evening sun on Saturday.

Rare Boeing Lineup At HNL

With the Omega Tanker 707-368, N707MQ (c/n 21368) on HNL's north ramp over the past few days, all of the Boeing 7_7 series can be seen at HNL.

Today's line-up:
707: Omega Air Tanker
717: Hawaiian
727: Asia Pacific
737: Aloha Air Cargo, Continental, WestJet, and Alaska
747: Japan, China, Delta, and Kalitta
757: American, Omni, US Airways, United, Delta, and Continental
767: Hawaiian, United, American, Japan, Delta, Continental, and Qantas
777: ANA and United

What would be really cool, that HNL replicate the line up at BFI.


N707MQ was delivered to Saudia in 1977 as HZ-ACK. It was then moved to the Saudi Arabian Royal Flight as HZ-HM3. It wore both the original jet fleet livery, and the current Saudi Arabian livery.


Mahalo to team member Aeros for the photo!

Other things seen around HNL tonight

While driving around the ramp tonight, there were a couple of interesting aircraft here.

Top picture: Parked on the hardstands was an Omega Tanker 707-368C, N707MQ.

Middle picture: A Northwest 757-351 (N590NW) at Gate 16 painted in Delta colors just before departing as NW622 to LAX. Sorry for the horrible shot with the jet bridge in the way, but Northwest was setup and waiting for another Northwest flight that was taxiing in at the time.

Bottom picture: A Continental 737-824 (N73278) at Gate 12 getting ready to depart as CO12 to LAX. This flight is supposed to be a 737-900ER, but issues with using pre-recorded video on the LiveTV system has made Continental down gauge the flight to a -800 until the issues are sorted out. There is no LiveTV satellite coverage in the Pacific between Hawaii and the West Coast, so pre-recorded videos need to be used to provide the IFE on these flights.

Omega Air Tanker's DC-10

Omega Air Tanker's DC-10-40, N974VV (c/n 46974) made a stop at HNL along with two F/A-18F "Super Hornets". The flight, listed as OMEGA10, arrived from Andersen AFB, GU.

A big mahalo to "Aeros" for the photo! The birds are seen before their departure to NAS Lemoore.

Omega Tanker's N974VV

One of Omega Tanker's DC-10-40I, N974VV (cn 46974), departs Runway 8R ahead of two US Navy FA-18E Super Hornets. N974VV is one of two former JL DC-10-40s that Omega Tanker acquired. They contract with the US Navy to provide long-range in-flight re-fueling for their fighter fleet.

N974VV's previous registration with Japan Airlines was JA8538. It was delivered to JL in 1979 in the old colors, and served until 2006.