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:

Malaysia Airlines B777-2H6/ER (9M-MRL, Jubli Emas Tabung Haji) (Phoenix 1:400)

This aircraft is simply unique for me; why? Because i've spotted the same aircraft in KLIA back in 2013. This aircraft, on that time was detached to the flight charter operations, for Hajj flight that year.

And also to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Lembaga Tabung Haji (Malaysian Hajj Fund Council), a special sticker was added to the aircraft, alongside the standard Tabung Haji Logo.

Here are the photos of the aircraft model.

Firefly & Malindo Air ATR 72-600 (9M-FIC & 9M-LMF) (MachBirdz 1:400)

These 2 models here are the 1:400 scale version of the actual aircraft.

ATR operations in Malaysia began in 2008, where it replaces the older Fokker 50 aircraft in service since 1990s. The Fokkers were originally operated by Malaysia Airlines until 2006, when it later transferred to FlyAsianXpress (FAX) as part of the air route rationalisation plan. From the rationalisation plan, Firefly was born on 2007, and later MASwings joins in as well.

In 2013, Firefly began receiving the brand new ATR 72-600 series, to supplement alongside their ATR 72-500 fleet. The aircraft (9M-FIC, MSN 1158) was delivered brand new to FY on July 2nd, 2014. Her seating configuration is Y72 (standard one class configuration for ATR 72)

Here are the photos of the FY ATR 72-600:

Not long afterwards, she received a special colour scheme to promote their in-house flight insurance.

Malindo Air would later join in the Malaysian Aviation industry, as a subsidiary of Indonesia's Lion Air Group. Originally starting their operations using Boeing 737-900ER aircrafts, they later expanding their wings with the acquisition of ATR 72-600 turboprops and the creation of their secondary hub at Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang.

The aircraft (MSN 1081) was delivered brand new to OD on May 16th 2013, and her seating configuration is also same with FY, Y72. Here are the photos of the model:

A sight that you will always seen at Subang airport:

Malaysia Airlines B737-2H6(A) 9M-MBF (Aeroclassics; 1:400)

This aircraft (MSN 20587/308) began her career on 1972 as 9M-AQQ, however instead of using the -12 (Boeing customer code for MSA, later SIA), she was designated with the brand new code,-H6 (for Malaysian Airline System). 12 days after her 1st flight (1st September 1972), she was delivered to MAS on 13th September the same year, where it was among the first 2 B737 to be operated by the newly created MAS. Her registration would be later changed to 9M-MBF as well.

From 1972 to 1987, She became the workhorse of MAS fleet, and in 1987 she adopted the new livery (where the livery would remain from 1987 to 2012. Her seating configuration was F12Y94.

After her career in Malaysia, she later moves on to other operator and performed her final flight on 2002. Afterwards she was withdrawn from use and stored at her last home base, San Salvador International Airport, El Salvador since.

Here are her other registration throughout her career:

* TG-AYA (Aviateca of Guatemala)

* N123GU (Final registration).

And here are the photos of the model.

Malaysia Singapore Airlines B737-212 9M-AQC (Aeroclassics, 1:400)

It's been a long time since my post here; so time to keep this blogsite active again.

For couple of months, I've added more models to my collection, which are:

* Malaysia Singapore Airlines B737-200 (9M-AQC)
* Malaysia Airlines B737-200 (9M-MBF)
(Both by Aeroclassics 1:400)
* Firefly ATR 72-600
* Malindo Air ATR 72-600
(Both by MachBirdz 1:400)
* Malaysia Airlines B777-200ER with Jubli Emas Tabung Haji logo (Phoenix 1:400).

First, the MSA B737-200 by Aeroclassics.

MSA managed to acquire B737-200 to supplement their existing B737-100 fleet in 1971. However, it was short-lived as MSA later separated into 2 entities, Malaysian Airline System (MAS) (1st October 1972-31st August 2015) and Singapore Airlines on October 1st, 1972.

The aircraft (MSN20521/288) was delivered brand new to MSA on 18th November 1971 (a month after her first flight on 10th October the same year), and in service with MSA until September 30th 1972. On October 1st 1972, She was transferred to MAS and in service until May 1st, 1973.

After her short career in Malaysia, she later went to Canada and re-registered as CF-NAW, to be operated by Nordair. Nordair operated her from 1973 to 1976, and she would be in service in the Americas until her retirement and eventual broken up in 2003.

Her registration, 9M-AQC is now used by AirAsia on Airbus A320-200 aircraft.

Here are her registration throughout her career:

* 9M-AQC (MSA / MAS)
* CF-NAW (Nordair)
* EI-BNS
* N130AW (America West Airlines)
* C-GXPW (Canadian Airlines International)
* TF-ISB (Eagle Air of Iceland)
* N161FN (Carnival Airlines & Apple Vacations)
* LV-WRO (Aerolineas Argentinas)
* N976PG (Pegasus Aviation) -Final registration

And here are the photos of the model.