Saudia's HZ-115

The September edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back fourteen years, when this Saudia VC-130H, HZ-115 (c/n 382-4845), paid a visit to HNL, along with two 747-368s and a G-IV. This VC-130H, assigned to the  Saudi Arabian Royal Flight, brought in limousines for the Saudi Royal Family to be driven around O‘ahu (one, under port side wing), and was parked on the upper part of the South Ramp.

HZ-115 continues to fly with the Saudi Arabian Royal Flight in the current Saudi Arabian Airlines colors.

Saudia's HZ-AFX

The July edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to September 1998, when this Saudia Gulfstream G-IV, HZ-AFX (msn 1143), paid a visit to HNL. It was one of four Saudia airliners that was part of an aviation entourage, as members of the Saudi Royal Family came to Hawai‘i for a vacation. This G-IV, parked on the Circle Rainbow Aviation ramp, was accompanied by two 747-368s and an L-100 Hercules. Both 747-368s were parked on Taxiway F, and the L-100 was parked on the ramp adjacent to Anderson Aviation, which contained vehicles for the royal family. The four airliners are part of the Saudi Arabian Special Flight Services.

HZ-AFX continues to fly with the Saudi Arabian Special Flight Services, though it has been re-painted, and does not wear any titles. The Circle Rainbow Aviation hangar has become the Castle & Cooke Aviation hangar, since 2006.

Saudi Arabian Royal Flight's HZ-HM5

Dating back to 1994, is today's HNL RareBird Classic, a Saudi Arabian Royal Flight L-1011-385-3 "TriStar 500", HZ-HM5 (msn 193G-1250). This TriStar was used by the Royal Saudi Family, and it spent several days on the HNL south ramp. It's seen above wearing the classic Saudia (SV/SVA) colors, and has been re-painted in the current colors.

A few years after this photo was taken, other Saudia airliners have been seen at HNL, once there were a pair of SV 747-300s, along with a Gulfstream G-IV, and a Lockheed L-100 "Hercules", occupying HNL's south ramp. The 743s were actually parked on Taxiway F parallel to Runway 4L (similar to the AQ parkings in March). In August 2006, an SV 777-200 was at HNL for a few days.

Saudi Arabian's HZ-AKF

Saudi Arabian Airlines' 777-268ER, HZ-AKF (c/n 28349) arrived @ HNL on the evening of July 31st, and has camped out on the south side while it's occupants and crew enjoy their Hawaiian vacation. This flight, SVA7522, was routed from CMN (Mohammed V Airport, Casablanca, Morocco) to HNL via LAX. This aircraft looks like it had its paint sandblasted by the Arabian desert sand. In the top photo, notice the lack of glossiness on the fuselage. Definitely needs some new paint.

According to sources, members of the Saudi royal family were not on this 772. They said the interior was like a typical airliner, nothing special.