President Biden's Maui Visit

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrived at OGG from RNO aboard Air Force One, using a VC-32A, 19-0018 (c/n 28172, l/n 772) today, to tour the devastation of the wildfires that swept through Maui. The First Couple returned to RNO this afternoon.

08-8192 (c/n 50215, l/n F214) as RCH4554 and 02-1106 (c/n 50114, l/n F113) as RCH4183 brought over the two USMC VH-60N WhiteHawks and the motorcade vehicles, for the flight over Olinda, Kula, and Lāhainā fire zones, then onto JHM, where the presidential motorcade took them to Front Street in Lāhainā to view the damage from the ground with the Hawaiʻi Congressional delegation, Governor Josh Green, and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen. Both C-17As are assigned to the 62nd AW / 446th AW at McChord AFB, WA.

Three MV-22A Ospreys from Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi's VMM-363 “Red Lions” provided transportation from the White House press corps from OGG to JHM, and back.

The E-4B that travels with the President was 73-1677 (c/n 20863, l/n 204) flying as GRIM99, stopped off at HIK during the visit.

Two C-37As, the US Air Force's 01-0065 (msn 652) of the 65th AS / 15th Wing, and the US Navy's 166375 "Spirit of Midway Island" (msn 657), both based at HIK, were also at OGG on the East Ramp.

US Army UH-60A Missing Off Ka‘ena Point

A Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk from the US Army's 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Wheeler Army Airfield, with five aboard is missing two miles off of Ka‘ena Point. Search teams from the US Army, US Coast Guard, and the Honolulu Fire Department are scanning the area. The Blackhawk was one of two on a night training mission from Wheeler Army Airfield [HHI], and were flying between Dillingham Airfield [HDH] and Ka‘ena Point. The Ka‘ena Point State Park is closed on both the Mokule‘ia and Keawa‘ula sides while the search continues.

The HNL RareBirds team sends out thoughts and prayers to those aboard the helicopter, their families, and their unit.

Further details in this KHON News report.

Some Not So HNL RareBirds

I had the splendid chance of attending the 2014 Iruma Airshow in Saitama, Japan this past November 3rd. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the Japan Air Self Defense Force. The highlight of any airshow would be the performance done by the local military groups and Japan was no exception. The JASDF's Blue Impulse, flying Kawasaki T-4s wowed the enthusiastic crowd of more than 200,000 people that attended that day. Other aerial demonstrations where performed by Iruma's 2nd Tactical Airlift Wing flying Kawasaki C-1s and a U-4, the Air Defense Command HQ Flight Group in their YS-11, U-125 and Kawasaki T-4s, JASDF's Air Rescue Wing with their U-125A and UH-60J, and the Base's Helicopter Airlift Corps flying the CH-47J.  I was impressed at how the audience oohed and awed at the maneuvers the various display groups performed. This was one of the main highlights of my Japan trip! I hope to make it out there for more JDM metal soon!