HNL RareBirds At SEA

My wife and I took a Christmas trip up to Seattle, and flew its hometown airline, Alaska Airlines. Here were the photos I managed to take at both HNL and SEA.

N590AS (c/n 35687, l/n 2478, f/n 590) was the 737-890 we rode on to SEA, as ASA860, seen above at Gate 14 prior to departure. It was recently outfitted with the Split-Scimitar Winglets.

While waiting for our coffees, Japan Airlines' JA616J (c/n 35813, l/n 954) taxied in to Gate 24 as JAL786. This flight is normally operated by 787-8s.

The North half of Sea-Tac International Airport is dominated by Alaska Airlines. The North Terminal (above) five Alaska 737s, including N793AS (c/n 28888, l/n 2990, f/n 793), a 737-490 and N586AS (c/n 35189, l/n 2393, f/n 586), a 737-890.

At Gate C9, was N585AS (c/n 35683, l/n 2385, f/n 585), another 737-890.

N407AS (c/n 41731, 4278, f/n 407), a Split-Scimitar Winglet equipped 737-990ER being pushed out from Gate C17.

We were blessed to get a photo of N706AS (c/n 28894, l/n 3050, f/n 706), Alaska's Disneyland / Make-A-Wish 737-490 logo jet, seen parked at Gate D2.

N315AS (c/n 30019, l/n 1218, f/n 315), a 737-990 is seen above parked at Gate D1.

This 737-890, N531AS (c/n 35199, l/n 3287), was our ride back home to HNL. Surprisingly, we landed on Runway 8L just before midnight, when most arrivals after 20:00HST land on Runway 4R.

Maui Vacation

My wife, mother-in-law, and I took flew on Island Air for a short trip to Maui this past weekend. Our flight to OGG, Saturday morning, was MKU414.  N941WP (msn 349) "Manawanui" was the ATR72-212 that was used for the flight, seen above before boarding from Gate 77.

Here's a shot of the interior of N941WP from seat 15D ...

Our return flight on Sunday afternoon was MKU407. N420AT (msn 420) "Ho‘olauna" was the ATR72-212 used for the flight. It's seen above taxiing into OGG's Gate 9 from HNL.

ANA 787 At HND

This is the first time I've seen a 787 in person. Sorry all the servicing vehicles clutter the shot. Haneda has some great observation areas for planespotting and this is pre-security so anyone can enjoy the views.

KIAS vs TAS vs MPH/KPH

Sorry for posting the question using layman's terms. The FlightTracker display in the cabin shows MPH and KPH so that's how I posed the query. 

I still think its kinda funny to take 580 steps forward and 200 back. But I look forward to experiencing Mach 1 (in a way) on the way back. 

Enjoy the classic tale I found a while ago that I think y'all will enjoy, whether knots or MPH, IAS or TAS. 

Question For Any Pilots

Help...if anyone out there knows the answers I'd really appreciate it:

If the aircraft (my flight HAL457 from HNL to HND ) is flying into headwinds ranging from 50-175 mph, such that even though the indicated airspeed is as high as 580 mph but the net ground speed is as low as 380 mph, why not take a slightly different route or altitude?  We were between FL 360 to FL 380 for most of the flight.  Does the plane fly efficiently with this much headwind for so much of the flight?  From what I understand the return flight from Japan to Hawaii will take only about 6 to 7 hours so there's lots of sense in that. But 9 hours into headwinds that would lift a Cessna 172 up off the ground with zero ground speed?

Mainland RareBirds

I spent last week traveling from HNL to ATL (via LAX), ATL to MSP (via EWR), and MSP to HNL (via LAX) for work. I did manage to snap a few pix at some of the airports, and from the planes, which I'll post when time permits.

Our flights were on:
Delta's 757-351, N590NW (c/n 32990, l/n 1087, f/n 5810) [DAL1150 HNL-LAX], which departed from Runway 26L;
Delta's 737-832, N373DA (c/n 29621, l/n 123, f/n 3703) [DAL1454 LAX-ATL];
Delta's A319-119, N346NB (msn 1796, f/n 3146) [DAL935 ATL-EWR];
Delta Connection's (ExpressJet) CRJ-700, N761ND (msn 10213, f/n 761) [DAL4975 EWR-MSP];
Delta's 757-212, N752AT (c/n 23128, l/n 48, f/n 6904) [DAL1219 MSP-LAX], and
Delta's 757-351, N582NW (c/n 32981, l/n 1014, f/n 5802) [DAL1149 LAX-HNL].

Delta's N373DA shortly after we arrived at ATL. The 737-832 is seen parked at Gate A3. I only had the opportunity to get this shot with my iPhone.

Delta's A319-119, N346NB at ATL's Gate A1, being readied to take us to EWR.

At EWR, Delta Connection's N761ND taxing down the alleyway RD to Gate 47 at Terminal B. This CRJ-700 took us to MSP.

Delta's N752AT at MSP's Gate G17, prior to boarding to take us to LAX. This flight continued onto OGG after our LAX stop. Back in 2009, I got a shot of N752AT at OGG.

I was unable to get photos of N590NW nor N582NW.

There were also several rarebirds that I saw at LAX, but unable to photograph: a former Air China 747-4J6 parked on one of the south ramps. It had the CCA cheatlines, but no logo nor titles. There were also a couple of 727-200 charter jets on the south side. An Aeromexico 737-700 with special markings in the aft section, that was ahead of us as we exited Taxiway H. The University of Washington Huskies Horizon Air Q400 logo-prop, and the United Airlines Friendship A320 were at Terminal 6. At the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), there was an Air Berlin and Aeroflot A330-300. Our two LAX layovers were very brief, under 60 minutes per stop (including the times to disembark, grab food, change gates, and board the next flight), and the windows in Terminals 5 and 6 aren't that photographer-friendly.

At EWR, there was an ElAl 777-200, and an Air India 777-200 at the middle section of Terminal B (see N761ND photo) that I was not able to get shots of.

Greetings from Boston!

Well, not really as I am already back in Hawaii. Boston is one of the most historic cities in the United States and likes to boast about having many of the first/oldest things in the country. Things like the first public park (Boston Common), first subway system, or oldest major league baseball stadium (Fenway Park).

Recently, Boston has added another first, the first U.S. city to receive scheduled service from Boeing's 787. JAL started flying NRT-BOS using the 787-8 on April 22nd. Of course I had to get a picture of the 787, and luckily JAL uses a gate at the end of BOS's Terminal E. This means you can see it from various areas outside of the teriminals.

LAX RareBirds

On Nov. 22nd, we had an opportunity to get a few hours of spotting time at LAX from Imperial Park (Runways 25), the In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda (Runway 24R arrivals), and the Proud Bird Restaurant (Runway 25L arrivals).

While the aircraft in this post may be a common sight at LAX, we certainly do not see them at HNL. The following are several airlines and/or airliners not commonly seen in Hawai‘i.

China Airlines Cargo 747-409F, B-18711 (c/n 30768), taxies on Taxiway A to the LAX International Cargo Ramp after landing on Runway 24R. It arrived from TPE. As you can see in the background, there are three Qantas A380s parked in north hangar area, due to the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine grounding.

Still wearing the old livery, US Airways' A321-211, N171US (msn 1465) taxies westward to Terminal 1. With the renovations to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) going on, Taxiways S and Q have been closed, forcing taxiing traffic to go to Taxiway AA (at the west end of LAX) to get from the north side to the south side (and vice-verse). Two of the three Qantas A380s are seen in the background.

All Nippon Airways' 777-381ER, JA733A (c/n 32648), taxies to the Tom Bradley International Terminal on Taxiway C after landing on Runway 24R. It arrived from NRT as ANA6. The immediate background shows some of the construction to the TBIT extension.

An Emirates 777-31HER, A6-ECX (c/n 38982) rockets off of Runway 25R bound for DXB as UAE218. In the background is the LAX Tower, and the world-famous theme building. Also, at the Delta Air Lines Terminal (T5), is one of their 737-832s in the 2001 colors.

B-2431 (c/n 30761), a 747-409F from Yangtze River Express (Y8/YZR) departs for PVG from Runway 25R. This aircraft was originally delivered to China Airlines in 2000, and acquired by YZR in 2007. Yangtze River Express is part of the Hainan Air Group.

LAN Chile's CC-CDP (c/n 27597), a 767-316ER, taxies on Taxiway H after arriving from LIM as LAN600. In the background is a Cathay Pacific 777-367ER from HKG as CPA882. There's also the ANA 777-381ER, an American Airlines 777-223 and MD-83 at their terminal (T4).

N18112 (c/n 27302) is one of several Continental Airlines 757-224s to receive the new United Airlines titles. It's seen above climbing out from a Runway 25R departure. There was a 737-824 with the new United titles that landed on Runway 25L.

While we had lunch at the In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda Blvd, this Virgin America A320-214, N634VA "mach daddy" (msn 3359), made its approach to Runway 24R. I had one hand on the camera, and the other on the burger.

airTran's N287AT (c/n 32671), a 737-76N, makes a its short final to Rwy 24R. Soon these 737-700s (along with their 717-200s) will become part of the Southwest fleet with the upcoming merger.

Horizon Air's Dash8-Q400, N419QX (msn 4145), passes by In-N-Out Burger.

Air Canada's C-GBIK (msn 831), an A319-114, on short final for Runway 24R.

The last plane I photographed from In-N-Out Burger, was this American Eagle Embraer ERJ-140LR, N853AE (msn 145742).

After lunch, we checked out the Proud Bird Restaurant parking lot to get Runway 25L arrivals, and only managed to get these two, before a lull in the action. 

The first was a United Express (SkyWest) Embraer EMB-120ER, N226SW (msn 120296), still wearing the UA grey livery. The EMB-120 is the smallest airliner serving LAX.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' PH-BFE (c/n 24201) "Melbourne", a 747-406M, arrives from AMS as KLM601, on finals for Runway 25L.

LAS RareBirds

During our layover at McCarrann International's Terminal C, we came across four of Southwest's state flag liveried 737s that made stops at LAS from around the country:

"Nevada One", N727SW (c/n 27859), a 737-7H4, was the first of WN flag birds to taxi to Terminal B.

"Lone Star One", N352SW (c/n 24888), a 737-3H4 is seen above taxiing to Terminal B.

Prior to our flight to ONT, "Maryland One", N214WN (c/n 32486), a 737-7H4, taxied to our gate (C21) that departed for RNO.

While taxiing to Runway 19L for departure, we passed "Arizona One", N383SW (c/n 26589), a 737-3H4, parked in Holding Pad 2.

Besides the Southwest flag 737s, we came across these aircraft types that don't come out to HNL, but the airlines do ...

Delta Air Lines' 737-832, N380DA (c/n 30266), taxies to Terminal D on Taxiway C, after arriving on Runway 19R.

This US Airways A321-231, N521UW (msn 3944), taxies to Runway 25R from Terminal A on Taxiway B5.

jetBlue's "Do-Be-Do-Be-Blue", N621JB (msn 2491), an A320-232 taxies along Taxiway B to Terminal D after landing on Runway 19R.

In the northwest corner of LAS is the ramp where the six EG&G ("Janet") 737-66Ns are parked, with the Luxor Hotel in the background.  Seen above are three of the six, as our flight (SWA1793) taxies to Runway 19L.

LAS and LAX RareBirds

I was out-of-town during the past week. I managed to get a few hours of spotting time at LAS and LAX, and will be posting some airliners and airlines not seen at HNL.

Our flights were on Hawaiian Air's new A330-243s N381HA ("Hōkūle‘a) [HAL8] and N382HA ("‘Iwakeli‘i") [HAL17], and Southwest's 737-3H4W, N373SW [SWA1793].

Hawaiian's N381HA (msn 1114) at HNL's Gate 28 gets prepped for our flight to LAS as HAL8.

Southwest's N373SW (c/n 26581), a 737-3H4, our ride to ONT, taxies into Gate C21 from PHX. This 737-3H4 has been fitted with Blended Winglets and had its eyebrow cockpit windows plugged.

Hawaiian's newest A330-243, N382HA (msn 1171) was our ride back home to HNL from LAS as HAL17. It's seen above parked at Gate 24, shortly after we arrived.

I also videoed the approach and landing of our return flight to HNL, and is posted on YouTube.