Latest addition to my plane collection (Part 2)

Continuing from my previous post; here are the rest of the models:

* Malaysia Airlines A330-300 (9M-MTG), scale 1:400 by Phoenix
* Malindo Air B737-900ER (9M-LNF), scale 1:400 by Phoenix
* Malaysia Airlines A330-300 (9M-MKD), scale 1:400 by Phoenix
* Malaysia Airlines A330-200 (9M-MKW), scale 1:400, by Phoenix
* Malaysia Airlines A310-300 (F-ODVD), scale 1:400 by Aeroclassics

1. Malaysia Airlines A330-300 (9M-MTG), scale 1:400 by Phoenix. This A330-300 uses the revised Malaysia Airlines title, where the title now in blue color (as the previous titles in blue & red)

2. Malindo Air B737-900ER (9M-LNF) scale 1:400 by Phoenix. This model is a 1:400 scale version of the flagship of Malindo Air, which was founded in 2012 as Lion Air Group subsidiary in Malaysia.

3. Malaysia Airlines A330-300 (9M-MKD) & A330-200 (9M-MKW),  scale 1:400 by Phoenix

These 2 models are part of the Malaysia Airlines history, as these older A330s are now retired from active duty. The A330-300 began entering service in the 1990s,replacing the older A300 and later followed suit by A330-200 models.

4. Malaysia Airlines A310-300 (F-ODVD), scale 1:400 by Aeroclassics.

This rare model itself is a unique chapter in MAS history, as this aircraft is leased for short period from Royal Jordanian Airlines. Shortly after the end of the operation, she later returned to RJ and continued on until she was converted to freighter. The aircraft itself later re-registered to JY-AGQ and set to be retired from active duty. Her replacement itself is a A330-200F, acquired from MASKargo.

Latest addition to my plane model collection (Part 1)

Months since my last post here; so time to add new posts!

Time to update on my plane collection; as I've recently added these models:

* AirAsia A320-200 scale 1:400, manufacturer unknown
* Lufthansa B737-200 Advanced (D-ABFX; 'Tubingen'), scale 1:400 by Gemini Jets 
* EgyptAir B707-300 (SU-AVZ, 'Mena'), scale 1:400 by Gemini Jets
* Malaysia Airlines A330-300 (9M-MTG), scale 1:400 by Phoenix
* Malindo Air B737-900ER (9M-LNF), scale 1:400 by Phoenix
* Malaysia Airlines A330-300 (9M-MKD), scale 1:400 by Phoenix
* Malaysia Airlines A330-200 (9M-MKW), scale 1:400, by Phoenix
* Malaysia Airlines A310-300 (F-ODVD), scale 1:400 by Aeroclassics

1st, the AirAsia A320-200ceo in standard livery. However, the manufacturer is not mentioned on the packaging. However, it is likely the model is manufactured by Panda Models, as they also produce the same A320 model in Taylor Swift livery.

2. Lufthansa B737-200 Advanced (D-ABFX, Tubingen) scale 1:400 by Gemini Jets

Besides than B727 Europa Jet, Lufthansa also operates B737 as well in the 1970s. After the acquisition of B737-100 in the 1967, they also acquire B737-200 in 1969 (Lufthansa became the launch customer of the B737 plane model with the acquisition of 21 of B737-100, later followed suit by Malaysia Singapore Airlines (MSA),AVIANCA of Colombia and NASA).  They named their B737s after Cities in Germany (hence it is known as City Jet)

Lufthansa's historic relationship with B737 lasted until 2016, when they retire the last B737-300/500 in 2016, thus marking 49 years of operation.

This particular aircraft (B737-230Adv), started her flying days from 1981 with Lufthansa, and afterwards she continues her service with Irish low-cost carrier (LCC) RyanAir as EI-CNV until she was stored in 2005. After a month in storage, she later moved to South America, thus leaving the European Continent where she used to be her home for 24 years, and her first South American home is Chile, where she served with LAN Airlines, until 2008.After 3 years of service in Chile, she was transterred to other carrier, which is RUTACA of Venezuela, with her registration changed to YV390T, and up to this moment this article is uploaded, she was still in active duty in Venezuela.

3. EgyptAir B707-366C (SU-AVZ, 'Mena'), scale 1:400 by Gemini Jets

This B707-300, with Cargo door on the front fuselage was delivered to EgyptAir on September 29th,1973.

Malaysia Airlines purchased Boeing 737 MAX

July 27th, 2016 witnessing a new chapter in Malaysian aviation history, where Malaysia Airlines announced the purchase of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

The announcement was made by its new CEO, Peter Bellew, and he quotes:


"With the 737 MAX's longer range capabilities, we will be able to connect our passengers to more destinations, in greater comfort and with superior economics"

The agreement, worth at $ 5.5 billion dollars, comprises of 25 firm order and 25 options for MAX 8 and MAX 9  model. With the delivery starting in 2019, the B737 MAX is set to replace some of the  59 Boeing 737-800s currently in service.

With the entry of the Boeing 737 MAX in 2019, it will consolidate the Boeing presence in Malaysia, especially the 737 operations, where it all started in 1969, with the delivery of the 1st Boeing 737-100 to then Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). Below is the list of B737s operated in Malaysia throughout the years (with the exception of B737-600):

* Boeing 737-100 (All of the MSA B731s transferred to Singapore Airlines in 1972)
* Boeing 737-200 (MSA managed to operate B732 briefly; before it was transferred to Malaysian Airline System in 1972)
* Boeing 737-300 (Malaysia Airlines only operates the freighter version, the B737-300F while the pax version is operated by AirAsia)
* Boeing 737-400 (Malaysia Airlines main workhorse, decommissioned in 2014 and some of them ended up being used by other operators)
* Boeing 737-500 (Malaysia Airlines main workhorse, replacing the older B737-200. However, they only operate 9 of them and all of them are decommissioned in 2000)
* Boeing 737-700 (Previously operated by Malaysia Airlines for its Business Jet operations, dubbed 'Mastar', the aircraft was later transferred to Royal Malaysian Air Force for VIP flights)
* Boeing 737-800 (Currently 2 Airline company operating this type; Malaysia Airlines and Malindo Air, the JV between Lion Air and National Aerospace and Defense Industries (NADI). Malaysia Airlines began operating this aircraft to replace their older B737-400s)
* Boeing 737-900ER (Malindo Air is the sole operator of this type in Malaysia)

Digital rendering of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Malaysia Airlines livery

(Photo copyright The Boeing Company)

Links:
 
1. Malaysia Airlines inks US 55 bil deal to buy Boeing 737 MAX aircraft 

2. Malaysia Airlines orders Boeing 737 MAX jets in $5.5 billion deal

Qatar Airways A320-200 (A7-AHV) and Thai Airways A330-300 (HS-TEL), Phoenix Model (1:400)

1. Qatar Airways A320-200 (A7-AHV), Phoenix Model (1:400)

The actual plane was actually to be delivered to Qatar, however it was ntu (Not Taken Upon) by them. The status of the airplane is now unknown.

2. Thai Airways A330-300 (HS-TEL "Thepamart"), Phoenix Model (1:400)

This model wears the Star Alliance livery, and the aircraft was delivered to them in 1998.

ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital Twin Pack set

It's been a long time since i've posted my last write-up in this blog; so time to keep it active again.


For months; my plane collection had increased and i'm going to share it here.

First, the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital set.

Released by Gemini Jets in 2001, this twin pack set include:

* DC-8-21 (N220RB)
* DC-10-10 (N220AU)

First, the N220RB.

The aircraft started its life with United Airlines (N8003U) as DC-8-12, and later converted to -21 series.The aircraft was later donated to Orbis in 1982, and the aircraft was later transformed into flying eye hospital. However by the late 1980s, difficulty in procuring spare parts for DC-8 causing them to considering acquiring newer and bigger aircraft. Therefore, thanks to private donation, Orbis successfully acquire a DC-10 aircraft, and the conversion and renovation works took two years. When the DC-10 conversion & renovation works completed, the DC-8 officially retires and later donated to Datangshan Aviation Museum, in China. To this day, the DC-8 is still on display and on the same summer, Orbis started its inaugural mission to Beijing on their new DC-10.

And here are the photos of the N220RB:

Second, the N220AU.

The aircraft itself has a unique history; being the 2nd DC-10 built in 1970, and used extensively as a test bed by McDonnell Douglas before being purchased by Laker Airways. Several owners later, the aircraft entered service with Orbis in 1992 for USD 14 Million, and re-launched on 1994, after 2 years of extensive conversion work.

The aircraft would remain the backbone of their service until 2008, where Orbis announces that they will acquire a Series 30 aircraft, to replace the current one their use. FedEx announces they will donate one of their DC-10-30 Freighter aircraft. The DC-10-30, known as MD-10 was officially launched on June 2nd, 2016 and the inaugural program will be held at Shenyang, China on this September. The new Flying Eye Hospital retains the N220AU registration.

And below, is the photo of the N220AU, the first DC-10 operated by them: