Cactus Wings Aircraft Report
11Apr-2003

Updated 14Apr-2003 - in bold

News items
==========
* Delta B727-247 N283WA [21485] operated DL's final 727 service on 06Apr. The
aircraft was last to be retired and was ferried ATL-VCV late on 08Apr-2003.

* Delta B737-300 N223DZ [23972] ferried GYR-ATL on 08Apr-2003, returning to
service.

* DC-8 4K-AZ29 [46085] ex-N803CK, was ferried MHV-OST and delivered to Silk
Way of Azerbaijan on 05Apr-2003. It was previously stored at MHV.

* Ex-Continental B737-300 N39340 [23578] was ferried MHV-DHN on 07Apr-2003 for
freighter conversion. According to Jeff DeVore, this should be the second
B733F for TNT Airways once completed.

* FedEx B727-100F N115FE [19814] will be donated to the ISTAT Foundation and
placed at the Embry-Riddle University campus at Prescott, AZ.

* Ex-USAirways B737s N534AU [24516] and N412US [23881] were ferried IGM-GWO on
09Apr and 10Apr-2003, respectively. Both were previously stored at MHV.

Movements noted
===============
04Apr
COA9973 MD80 HOU-VCV .. N17812
FDX9092 DC10 LAX-GYR .. N322FE
NWA9868 B757 MSP-MZJ .. N516US
NWA9869 B757 MSP-MZJ .. N519US
UAL9877 B757 ORD-GYR .. N556UA

05Apr
N423BN B72S ICT-SBD
4K-AZ29 DC-8 MHV-OST
DAL9900 B72S ATL-VCV

06Apr
DAL9900 B72S ATL-VCV
DAL9903 MD11 ATL-GYR
NWA9751 DC-9 MSP-MZJ .. N675MC
NWA9870 A320 MSP-PHX-MZJ .. N325US
NWA9871 A320 MSP-PHX-MZJ .. N334US
UAL9885 B733 DEN-GYR .. N376UA

07Apr
COA9973 B733 MHV-DHN .. N39340
DAL9900 B72S ATL-VCV .. N523DA
DAL9902 B72S ATL-VCV .. N533DA
DAL9903 MD11 ATL-GYR .. N810DE
IBE6279 B757 ORD-GYR .. EC-FXV

08Apr
N14830 ATR SAT-ROW
N368CE B733 MZJ-LAS
AAL9618 Fk100 TUL-MHV .. N1415K
AAL9620 B72S MHV-SBD .. N868AA
DAL9901 B72S ATL-VCV
DAL9930 B733 GYR-ATL .. N223DZ
DAL9931 B72S ATL-VCV .. N283WA final flight
DAL9933 B72S ATL-VCV .. N8891Z
DAL9935 B72S ATL-VCV .. N532DA
NWA9750 DC95 MSP-MZJ .. N670MC
NWA9751 DC95 MSP-MZJ .. N676MC
NWA9852 B72S IAD-ROW .. N296US
UAL9878 B757 LAX-GYR .. N558UA
UAL9883 B757 ORD-GYR .. N560UA

09Apr
N534AU B733 IGM-GWO
GCO4007 DC10 air-test MHV
UAL9754 B777 SFO-VCV .. N771UA
UAL9879 B757 ORD-GYR
USA9298 A319 CLT-PHX-GYR
USA9299 A319 CLT-MHV

10Apr
N412US B734 IGM-GWO
SXA156 B732 MHV-OPF .. ex USAirways
USA9298 A319 CLT-GYR
USA9299 A319 PIT-GYR

11Apr
N141UE Be1 PWA-MZJ
EIA916 DC-9 MZJ-LAX .. N916F presumably
NWA9751 DC-9 MSP-MZJ .. N9336
USA9297 A319 CLT-GYR
USA9298 A320 PIT-GYR
VRG9940 B767 MIA-GYR .. PP-VNN

April sports charter visitors

Diamondbacks
===========
11-13 Milwaukee
14-17 Colorado
28-30 Florida

Suns
====
09 Dallas
11 Golden State
13 San Antonio

Cactus Wings Aircraft Report
04Apr-2003

News items
==========
Update
* N358BC, B737-7ES (BBJ) [33542], bare metal, noted at Williams-Gateway on 01Apr-2003. Reportedly this aircraft is going to the Royal Australian AF as an AEW&C "Wedgetail" aircraft, although this example did not have the wedgetail nor any visible markings or other clues about its future.

* N446AN, A320 [446] all white, ferried MHV-MEX on 29Mar-2003. Will this be operated by Mexicana?

* N883US Fk100 [11337] ferried MHV-CMH as "SXA16" on 02Apr-2003. It continued eastward across the Atlantic, eventually arriving at Woensdrecht.

* Delta Air Lines will retire the B727 type on 06Apr-2003, with the last revenue flight tentatively DAL607 GSO-ATL. The final two B727s (regn's unknown to me at the moment) will ferry ATL-VCV on 08Apr, marking the retirement of the type.

* America West Airlines will store 3 B737-200s beginning in Jul-2003. They are N179AW [22646], N183AW [22650], and N184AW [22651].


Movements noted
===============
29Mar
N446AN A320 MHV-MEX

31Mar
DAL9900 B72S ATL-VCV .. N521DA
OAE82F DC10 MHV-LAX

02Apr
N305FE DC10 ROW-OKC
SXA16 Fk100 MHV-CMH .. N883US
UAL9882 B744 SFO-VCV

03Apr
N525DA B72S VCV-SBD
COA9971 MD82 HOU-VCV
UAL9884 B744 SFO-VCV .. N198UA
UPS9309 MD11 MZJ-HNL

04Apr
N370MT JS32 IGM-TUL*
N522NA B757 MZJ-MIA*
ATN818 DC-8 MHV-MIA* N818CK
DAL9900 B72S ATL-VCV
DAL9902 B72S ATL-VCV
NWA9868 B757 MSP-MZJ

* planned

As always, registration tie-ups would be appreciated!

Cactus Wings Aircraft Report
28Mar-2003

News items
==========
* Antonov An-225 UR-82060 [101] arrived at Williams Gateway Airport on
26Mar-2003 to deliver a 285,000 lb power transformer. It departed at 1830hrs
on 27Mar-2003 for IAH. Photos of the event posted at:

http://www.cactuswings.com/photos/0303-an225/an225-0303.html

* B727-227 N422BN [20735], ex N728AA, was parked at Phoenix (Swift ramp) on
27Mar-2003. It has a dark blue c/s similar to the Braniff "Ultra" look of the
early 1980s. The operator of this aircraft (and 7 other ex-AA aircraft,
including N423BN/ex N731AA) is a new sports charter company based at San
Bernandino, CA (SBD). Photo posted on Cactus Wings.

* Air Atlanta Iceland have taken delivery of two B757s that were painted &
overhauled at Marana. TF-ARD [22211] arrived MZJ on 02Nov-2002 and departed
to the UK on 16Mar-2003. TF-ARE [22611] arrived MZJ on 10Dec-2002 and
departed to the UK on 26Mar-2003. Both are wearing a basic Excel Airways c/s
with Air Atlanta Iceland titles.

* Some Mesa Air news - Leased three ex-Kendell CRJ200s (7401/7405/7422) from
Australian banks. Plans in mid-2003 to begin twice-daily Ontario, CA-Lake
Havasu, AZ (Beech 1900).

* Timco, the maintenance & repair organization that operate at Goodyear,
received a FAA Class IV Repair Station Certificate today. The full news story
is at:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-28-2003/0001915996&EDATE

* Qantas B747-400 VH-OJB ferried ARA-LAX on 27Mar-2003 as QFA6024, returning
to service after being repainted from the 'Wunala Dreaming' special color
scheme back into the standard color scheme.

Movements noted
===============
22Mar
N216AP B72S GYR-PHX

23Mar
N216AP B72S PHX-MIA

24Mar
N185AW B732 MZJ-MEX
N277CH B737 MZJ-PAE
ACA7056 B762 YYZ-MHV .. C-GAVF
USA9299 B733 PIT-MHV

25Mar
UAL9891 B732 VCV-OPF .. N991UA

26Mar
ABD38P B757 MZJ-BGR .. TF-ARE
ADB6284 A225 YMX-IWA .. UR-82060
NAC930 B727 TUS-BFI .. N930FT

27Mar
N283AU B732 MHV-TUS
N253AU B732 MHV-TUS
N743SA B747 ROW-MZJ
N864AA B72S DAL-GYR
N902FJ CRJ9 PHX-MTJ
CHQ9428 SF34 LAA-VCV
SAS9143 DC-9 MCI-ROW
USA9299 B733 PIT-MHV

28Mar
AMW4134 Be1 LIT-ROW
KHA808 B72F IAH-ROW*
VRG9940 B767 MIA-GYR
USA9299 B733 MHV-PHX-PIT*

* flightplanned only

As always, tie-ups would be appreciated!

Cactus Wings Live: Rebels with a Clue ... the Numbers

I had a business trip to the Tucson area, and took the
opportunity to check the surrounding airfields with Kevin. Below are the
notes...

26Mar-2003

Eloy, AZ
========
All at Skydive Arizona-
N101UV Skyvan parked
N128WJ DHC6 active
N204BD DHC6 hangared
N86584 DC-3 stored, engines open

Marana, AZ
==========
Stopped briefly on the south farm track just to check the status
of N747BC. This B744 is still parked on the flightline, in full
Khalifa/Air Algerie colors, similar to the B777s.

Avra Valley, AZ
===============
(N105CF) L1649 bare metal, no markings
N494TW L749 'MATS'
+ the other DC-4s, P-2s, Be18s, etc.

Tucson Ryan, AZ
===============
N406WA DC-4 Ardco
N460WA DC-4 Ardco
N49451 DC-4 faded UsAF c/s, wfu
N9015Q DC-4 Ardco

Tucson Int'l, AZ
================
N330E SH330 parked
N17773 B72S basic exec ramp
N930FT B72F Northern Air Cargo, departed
P4-MED L10 Flying Hospital, parked

Of interest at Hamilton's-
CS-TMZ B733 Aviation Partners Boeing, with winglets
LV-WSU B732 a/w, stored
N233TM B732 Casino Exp 'Red Lion' c/s, in hangar
3D-NEG L10 Northeast full c/s
+ others on Cactus Wings

National Aviation scrapyard
===========================
N880PA B707 fslg only - full Pan American markings!
EI-BED B747 nose section only (this was b/u at MZJ in 1994!)
+ too many other bits to mention.

PHX Spotting Report

The Cutter Aviation observation deck has been closed as of 3/22. No signs are posted, however, spotters have been asked to leave the observation deck. Again, caution is advised for all spotters at this time.

Cactus Wings Aircraft Report
21Mar-2003

News items
==========
* N75991 CRJ-200 [7422] all white w/ blue tail, first noted on the Cutter FBO ramp 16Mar-2003. Still present 20Mar-2003.

* N73730 B767-366ER [24541] ex Egypt Air, previously stored at Marana, was noted test-flying at San Antonio on 20Mar-2003.

* From Speednews: SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES plans in June to begin Phoenix Williams Gateway Airport (IWA)-Laughlin, NV (737-800).

* At Phoenix, Continental Airlines gates 2 & 4 are now hung at Terminal 2. Gate 6 is still lying on the ramp. The ticket counter at Terminal 2 is still barricaded.

* Five ex-TWA B717-200s have been delivered to AirTran. All were previously stored at Victorville:

N415TW [55082] Arrived MIA on 20Mar-2003, basic TWA c/s, no titles. Went to Avborne hangar for painting.

N2417F [55084] noted in full AirTran c/s at MIA on 11Jan-2003.
Photo: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/310058/L/

N420TW [55087] noted in full AirTran c/s at MIA on 20Mar-2003.

N2421A [55088] noted arriving MIA in mid Jan-2003 in basic TWA c/s, no titles.
Photo: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/314438/L/

N422TW [55089] noted in full AirTran c/s at MIA on 12Jan-2003.
Photo:
http://www.auctiontransportation.com/sites/airlinephoto/thumbnails/0000004218.jpg
Are there more that I don't know about?

* N73713 B747-4H6 [24315] ex Malaysia Airlines, first noted at BFI on
08Jan-2003, ferried BFI-MZJ on 17Mar-2003 for storage. It was last seen with Malaysia Airlines stripes & gray bottom, white top, no titles, and a white tail.

* N224DA B737-35B [24269] Delta Airlines, ferried GYR-TPA on 21Mar-2003 and is returning to service.

* N859US Fk100 [11293] ex USAirways, ferried MHV-CMH on 14Mar-2003. Seen parked at CMH 15/16Mar in full USAirways c/s and titles. Eventually ferried to Farnborough, UK on 18Mar-2003, and has since been re-registered G-MAMH. (Thanks to J. Tomlinson)


Movements noted
===============
14Mar
SXA09 Fk100 MHV-CMH.. N859US

17Mar
N934VJ DC-9 MHV-MEX
N73713 B744 BFI-MZJ
N768BC B734 KOA-VCV
VRG9940 B767 MIA-GYR

18Mar
N2189M L100 CEW-GYR
N408US B734 MHV-IGM
ACA7056 B732 YYC-MHV
GCO4015 DC10 air-test MHV
NWA9751 B72S ROW-MEB .. N288US
UAL9875 B744 SFO-VCV .. N177UA
UAL9881 B767 SFO-VCV .. N602UA
VRG9940 B735 MIA-GYR

19Mar
AAL9770 DC-9 VCV-ROW .. N925L [49170]
AMT7221 B757 MDW-MHV .. N521AT
HAL7000 DC10 HNL-MHV .. N140AA
HAL7001 DC10 LAX-MHV .. N141AA
HAL7003 DC10 LAX-MHV .. N129AA
RTN157 Be1 ABQ-MZJ
VRG9942 B735 MIA-GYR
VRG9944 B767 MIA-GYR

20Mar
N2189M L100 GYR-CEW
N234US B732 YXD-TUS
AAL9772 MD80 STL-ROW .. N909TW
GCO4011 DC10 air-test MHV

21Mar
N647US B767 MHV-BRU (planned)
DAL9930 B733 GYR-TPA .. N224DA
GC04015 DC10 MHV-MIA

Luke Days 2003 Photos

Posted online in their own photo gallery.

PHX Spotting update

Spotting is currently not recommended from level 9 of the Terminal 4 garage. This area is being monitored and police are being called. Hopefully this situation will change in the near future.

Vehicle searches are expected to resume into the airport later today, as well as into the Terminal 3 and 4 parking garages.

Cactus Wings Aircraft Report
14Mar-2003

* N635AW A320 [092] fuselage hulk only, finally departed PHX on 10Mar-2003 on a large flatbed rig, headed for Greenwood, MS (assuming via I-10). The aircraft had all visible markings and colors removed, making it virtually anonymous as it travels eastward. Photo posted on Cactus Wings, which clearly shows the paint job applied to it.

* The Northern Air Cargo B727 reported at Tucson last week is B727-23 N930FT [19387], not N302FV as proposed. Speaking of N302FV, a B727 calling “RYN6001” flew TUS-ICT on 11Mar-2003 – this could be N302FV’s delivery flight, but not confirmed. (Thanks to B. Shane)

* Sikorsky S-38 (replica) NC-28V ‘Osa’s Ark’ [B414-20] made an appearance at this year’s Cactus Fly-In at Casa Grande, AZ (05-07Mar-2003). It was noted a day later at Mesa-Falcon Field. I found an online gallery of the aircraft:

http://www.seawings.co.uk/s38gal.htm

* Delta B737-232 N329DL [23101], ferried GYR-ATL on 14Mar-2003, returning to service.

* USAirways B737-4B7 N440US [24811] ferried MHV-PHX-PIT on 11Mar-2003, returning to service.

* QANTAS B747-438 VH-OJB [24373] ‘Wunala Dreaming’ ferried LAX-ARA (New Iberia, LA) on 11Mar-2003, for respray into the normal QANTAS colors. B747-438 VH-OJC [24406] ‘Formula One’ positioned back to LAX from ARA later that day, having been resprayed into the normal colors. Adios to these two beautiful liveries.

* America West B737-3G7s N150AW [23218] and N151AW [23219] will be returned to their lessors in the next few weeks.

* America West B757-2S7 N904AW [23566] ‘Arizona Diamondbacks’ struck a jetway at Cleveland (CLE) on 13Mar-2003. The incident occurred during pushback, and the extent of the damage is not known yet. (Thanks to Mike & Steve)

Movements noted:

10Mar
DAL9900 B72S ATL-VCV N296WA

11Mar
FAO9900 B72S MIA-TUS ..
QFA6019 B744 LAX-ARA .. VH-OJB
QFA6024 B744 ARA-LAX .. VH-OJC
RYN6001 B72S TUS-ICT .. N302FV?
USA9299 B734 MHV-PHX-PIT .. N440US

12Mar
N67JR B727 OAK-MHV
N747GE B747 YUM-MHV
N817US MD80 MHV-TUS
SAS9143 DC-9 MCI-ROW .. SE-DAW
UAL9878 B762 SFO-VCV .. N611UA

13Mar
N242US B732 MHV-TUS
N720AA B72S SBD-PHX-MIA
AAL9763 MD80 MCI-ROW .. N9304C
AAL9764 MD80 STL-ROW .. N914TW

14Mar
DAL9930 B732 GYR-ATL .. N329DL
RYN210 B722 ICT-TUS ..