Shandong's B-1511

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1511 (c/n 41625, l/n 5504) today. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1511, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen's B-6483

Xiamen Air is taking delivery of B-6483 (c/n 39918, l/n 5506) this morning. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA6483, and will overnight at HNL.

N673BF

N673BF (c/n 23402, l/n 133), a 767-238ER, owned by Polaris Aviation Solutions was chartered by, reportedly, a Saudi prince, and has stopped off at HNL.

07.28.15 Update
N673BF departed HNL in the afternoon.

Hawaiian To Lease An A330-200

CH-Aviation reports that Hawaiian Airlines will lease a new-build A330-200 from Air Lease Corporation, that will be delivered in 2016. This will be their 23rd A330-243.

N900EM

The EWM Investments LLC EMB-135BJ Legacy, N900EM (msn 14500976), has made a visit at HNL. It arrived on Wednesday from LAS.

Solar Impulse 2 Under Protective Covering

The Solar Impulse 2 now secured under protective covering inside Hangar 111 at Kalaeloa Airport (JRF). The solar powered aircraft will remain in Hawai‘i through the winter with test flights to occur in March 2016. Photo credit Solar Impulse | JRevillard | Rezo.ch

Air China's B-1526

Air China is taking delivery of B-1526 (c/n 41107, l/n 5500) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern's B-1792

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1792 (c/n 41107, l/n 5497) today. The 737-89P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9001, and will overnight at HNL. B-1792 is the 100th new-build 737NG delivery to stop through HNL, and China Eastern's 11th 737NG this year.


This also happens to be HNL RareBird's 3,000th post.

NASA's N747NA

NASA's 747SP, N747NA, made a fuel stop in the overnight hours at HIK, it arrived from CHC just after midnight, and departed for PMD [Palmdale Regional Airport, CA] after 0430HST.

Shandong's B-1510

Shandong Airlines is taking delivery of B-1510 (c/n 44918, l/n 5501) this morning. The 737-85N is making its delivery flight from BFI as CDG1510, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern's B-1520

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1520 (c/n 41334, l/n 5502) this morning. The 737-81B, leased from Air Lease Corporation, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN520, and will overnight at HNL.


07.25.15 Update
B-1520 stayed an extra day, and left this afternoon for MAJ.

Thai Lion's HS-LUH

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of their first 737-8GP with HS-LUH (c/n 38959, l/n 5495). It's making its overnight delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, with a brief pre-dawn fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto GUM.

‘Ohana To Start Cargo Division

‘Ohana by Hawaiian, the Hawaiian Airlines' subsidiary, will launch an inter-island cargo division in the first half of 2016, with three ATR72-212Fs. It will be branded with the ‘Ohana livery, and operated by Empire Airlines (as with the passenger operations). This new cargo venture will operate out of Hawai‘i's major airports, and feed inter-island, domestic, and international routes.

This is Hawaiian's second venture with freighters, as the airline had mainland-based cargo operations using L-188F Electras from the late 70s to early 80s.

Further details in this Hawaiian Airlines press release.

On July 12th, we posted an article regarding ATR72s for ‘Ohana. Now we know what those ATRs will be used for. N807HC is the first of the three. Other registrations on hold by Hawaiian are N806HC and N810HC.

Hainan's B-6062

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-6062 (c/n 43658, l/n 5493) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH6062, and will overnight at HNL.

NewGen's N645AR

NewGen Airways [E3/VGO] (Thailand) is taking delivery of N645AR "Juthathib" (c/n 30645, l/n 1129) today. The 737-8Q8, under lease from ILFC, is making its delivery flight from GYR as N645AR. It will be registered as HS-NGG when it arrives in Thailand.

30645 was ordered by ILFC, and delivered to lessee Yemenia [IY/IYE] (Yemen) in May 2002 as 7O-ADL. In December 2010, it was leased to Caribbean Airlines [BW/BWA] as 9Y-JMA, and was sub-leased to Air Jamaica [JM/AJM] from January 2011 to February 2014 as 9Y-JMA "Spirit of Kingston". Before arriving at Caribbean Airlines, 30645 had its eyebrow windows plugged, and Blended Winglets installed. It was returned to ILFC in April 2015, and placed into storage at GYR.


07.22.15 Update
N645AR will leave for GUM this afternoon, after an extended stay at HNL.

Shenzhen's B-1516

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1516 (c/n 37627, l/n 5487) this morning. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ516, and will overnight at HNL.

Solar Impulse 2 Delays To April 2016

The Solar Impulse 2 team announced early this morning that their round-the-world solar-powered flight quest will be delayed until April 2016, as the battery system needs to be replaced. It will remain at JRF's Hangar 111, under an agreement with the University of Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, until its ready for the next leg to Phoenix, AZ.


07.17.15 Update
The Volga-Dnepr Il76TD-90VD support aircraft, RA-76950 "Vladimir Kokkinaki", will depart JRF for YEG as VDA4494.

Lucky Air's B-6015

Lucky Air is taking delivery of B-6015 (c/n 41809, l/n 5483) today. The 737-84P, allocated from parent Hainan Airlines, is making its delivery from BFI as B6015, and will overnight at HNL. This is their first new-build 737 to wear its new livery.

China Eastern's B-6017

China Eastern Airlines is taking delivery of B-6017 (c/n 39744, l/n 5485) today. The 737-89P, in the standard livery, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CES9002, and will overnight at HNL.

China Eastern Orders 50 More 737-800s

CH-Aviation reports that China Eastern Airlines has placed an order with Boeing for an additional 50 737-800s, on top of the 80 737s (a mix of NGs and MAXs) the airline placed last June.

‘Ohana Acquires An ATR72

‘Ohana By Hawaiian has acquired an ATR72-212, N807HC (msn 432), and is being prepped by Empire Airlines, who operates the ATRs for ‘Ohana. It's not known, which routes ‘Ohana will use this ATR72, or if more are on order.

432 was originally purchased by Tarquin Ltd, and leased to Avianova [RD/NOV] (Italy) in March 1995 as EI-CLD "Fiume Piave". In November 1996, Alitalia and Alitalia Express [XM/SMX] acquired Avianova, and its fleet was transferred over. In December 2005, it was re-registered as I-ATRR. In March 2010, it was acquired by Magellan Aviation Services; and re-registered September 2010, back to EI-CLD. In March 2011, First Air [7F/FAB] (Canada) acquired this ATR72 as C-GRMZ. Last month, ‘Ohana by Hawaiian purchased 432 and registered it as N807HC.

Solar Impulse 2 Delays Next Leg

The Solar Impulse 2 will delay its next leg to Phoenix, AZ, until early August, as a battery issue needs to be addressed. According to their most recent press release, during the leg from NKM to JRF, the batteries suffered overheating issues, and now some of the batteries need to be replaced, which could take up to three weeks to be done.

Dalian's B-6105

Dalian Airlines is taking delivery of B-6105 (c/n 44917, l/n 5484) today. The 737-89L, allocated from Air China, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCD8996, and will overnight at HNL.

Xiamen's B-6485

Xiamen Airlines is taking delivery of B-6485 (c/n 39913, l/n 5481) this morning. The 737-85C is making its delivery flight from BFI as CXA6485, and will make an overnight stop at HNL, before continuing onto MAJ.

Close-up Views Of Solar Impulse 2 HB-SIB

After an historic and record breaking flight from Nagoya, Japan to Kalaeloa Hawaii, the Solar Impulse 2 flown by André Borschberg rests after a flight time of 4 Days, 21 Hours and 52 minutes without using a single drop of fuel.  The Solar Impulse 2 is sharing around the world the message of clean technologies and renewable energy with #futureisclean. Learn more about the initiative at solarimpulse.com and futureisclean.org. These photos were taken later in the morning of its arrival on July 3rd in Hangar 111.

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPT

Virgin Australia's VH-ZPT (msn 19000451) is making stop at HNL as it's on a ferry flight from BNE to BNA (via APW, HNL, and VNY) for maintenance check. It's flying as VOZ9901, and should be returning in a few weeks.

Happy Independence Day!

We wish you all a Happy Independence Day, as we celebrate the 239th birthday of the United States of America!

SI2 arrival at JRF 3July2015

Solar Impulse 2

The Solar Impulse 2, HB-SIB (msn 001), made its historic landing at JRF at 0555HST. The solar-powered aircraft touched down on Runway 4R after a five-day-plus journey across the Pacific Ocean from NKM [Komaki Airport, Nagoya, Japan]. We were on hand for its early-morning arrival along with local, national and international members of the media. The historic aircraft made orbits over JRF prior to landing (top photo).

Team member NAugusta shot close-up video of the Solar Impulse 2, and an interview with both pilots during the press conference event later in the morning.

Pilot André Borschberg waves to the media, support crew, and on-lookers as the Solar Impulse 2 is pushed to the ramp fronting Hangar 111.

Hōkūle‘a Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson (right) greets pilots Bertrand Piccard (left) and André Borschberg, as one of the dignitaries greeting the Solar Impulse 2.

Pilots Piccard and Borschberg celebrate with a gold bottle of champagne and a wave, after Borschberg exited the cockpit.

The Solar Impulse 2 ground crew spun around the aircraft, and rolled it into Hangar 111 for its break in Hawai‘i.

Both pilots answer questions from reporters from around the globe.

United's HNL-NRT Changes

For almost thirty years, United Airlines' NRT-HNL flight had the flight number UAL880, and its return flight had UAL879. However, these flight numbers are changing today as UAL879 becomes UAL45, and UAL880 becomes UAL44. The former flight numbers comes from the acquisition of Pan American's Pacific routes in 1985.

With the flight number changes, also begins the new 787-9 service on this route. It features 48 business class seats, 88 "Premium Economy" seats, and 116 coach seats. Prior aircraft used on this route have been the 777-222ER, the 747-422, the 747-222B, and DC-10-30.

Air China's B-5201

Our July edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to October 2005, with Air China's 737-79L, B-5201 (c/n 34023, l/n 1795). It was one of three 737-79Ls to wear the above special livery to promote the 2008 Summer Olympic Games that was held in Beijing, China. This photo was taken as B-5201 made its island-hopping delivery flight from BFI to PEK.

B-5201 was repainted into the standard Air China livery in September 2008, following the conclusion of the Olympic Games.