2018/001

Demise of Aviation Letter

The final edition of Aviation Letter (AL), Number 610, was published in

September 2017. This was replaced by a weekly enewsletter,

SpeedNews Aviation Insider (AI), published by Aviation Week.

Feedback on Part 21A, Autumn 2013

China Airlines Limited

The history of China Airlines is given on pages 2013/107 to 2013/122

of Archive, September 2013.

Airbus A340313X

The list of Airbus A340313X is included on page 2013/116. The fol

lowing fates are now known:

A340313X B18801 c/n 402 was ferried TaipeiVictorville on 06Mar

2015 and was seen stored at Victorville on 10Oct2016. [AL581 p.19;

AL600 p.18]

A340313X B18802 c/n 406 was ferried VictorvilleTaipei TPE 04May

2016 and Taipei TPEHamburg on 28Jun2016; for Swaziland

Government as 3DCSDF. [AL595 p.19; AL596 p.17; AL597 p.18]

A340313X B18803 c/n 411 is stored at Victorville. [AF2017]

A340313X B18805 c/n 415 was ferried from Taipei TPE to Victorville

on 07Mar2017. [AL605 p.17]

A340313X B18806 c/n 433 was ferried from Taipei TPE to Victorville

on 14Jun2017. [AL608 p.14]

A340313X B18807 c/n 541 was ferried from Taipei TPE to Victorville

on 17Mar2017. [AL605 p.17]

These four aircraft were still current on the ROC civil aircraft register on

12Oct2017. [ROC CAA 12Oct17]

Airbus A350941

We did not include the Airbus A350 in our fleet list on page 2013/115,

as 14 aircraft had not been ordered at that time.

reg. c/n d/d p/i notes

B18901 049 30Sep16 FWZGV /

B18902 057 21Nov16 FWZFF /

B18903 066 22Dec16 FWZFO /

B18905 073 30Dec16 FWZNB /

B18906 092 20Mar17 FWZNV /

B18907 105 24May17 FWZFP /

B18908 121 25Jul17 FWZGS /

B18909 138 14Sep17 FWZFS /

B18910 151 7Nov17 FWZNV /

B18912 162 30Nov17 FWZHC /

B18915 179 23Jan18 FWZNX /

B18916 191 FWZGP o/o

[ABN7/16 pp.1201/1202; ABN8/16 p.1384; ABN9/17 p.1774;

ABN10/17 pp.1866, 1984; ABN11/17 p.2197; AF2017 (via TS); AI

22Sep17; AI 06Oct17; AI 27Oct17; AI 10Nov17; AI 17Nov17; AI

01Dec17; AI 26Jan18; AI 09Feb18; AI 16Feb18; AL593 p.20; AL597

p.19; AL600 p.19; AL601 p.19; AL602 p.18; AL603 p.18; AL605 p.19;

AL602 p.18; AL607 p.16; AL608 p.15; AL609 p.16; AL610 pp.18/19;

Planespotters]

Boeing 737800

The preliminary fleet list of Boeing 737800 is included on page

2013/116. The following fates are now known:

737809 B18605 c/n 28404 was cancelled on 20Jun2017 and then

registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee as N101TU on

21Jun2017 but cancelled on 22Aug2017 (no reason given). N101TU

was ferried Taipei TPEGuamHNLVictorville on 27/29Jun2017.

[AL608 p.21; FAA; ROC CAA 12Oct17]

737809 B18606 c/n 28405 was cancelled on 25May2017 and then

registered to Contrail Aviation Support LLC as N262MA on 30May

2017 but cancelled on 26Jun2017 (no treason given). N262MA was

ferried Taipei TPEGuamHNLGoodyear on 02/04Jun2017.

Permanently retired at Goodyear. [AL607 p.22; FAA; ROC CAA

12Oct17]

737809 B18607 c/n 29104 was cancelled on 08Dec2016 and regis

tered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee as N142MD on 09

Dec16 and was ferried Taipei TPEGuamHNLStuttgart, AR on 16/17

Dec2016, possibly for permanent retirement. N142MD was cancelled

on 25Aug2017 (no reason given). [AL602 p.26; Archive p.2017/123;

FAA; ROC CAA 12Oct17]

737809 B18608 c/n 28406 was cancelled on 08Dec2016, registered

to Mid American Aerospace Ltd as N319CR on 09Dec2016 and

ferried Taipei TPEGuamHNLGoodyear on 16/17Dec2016 for

storage. [AL602 p.25; FAA; ROC CAA 16Oct17]

737809 B18609 c/n 28407 was sold as N214TE and ferried Taoyuan

GuamHonoluluMarana on 24/25Oct2017 for storage. N214TE was

registered to Contrail Aviation Support LLC on 19Oct2017.

[ABN11/17, AMCAR152]

The Development of CommercialAviation in China:Feedback Part 11 EDITED BY MARTIN S BEST, CHINA HISTORY RESEARCH GROUP

Above: The Airbus A350 is the newest type to join the fleet of ChinaAirlines. B18902, the second example, is seen here on approach toSchiphol on 5 Aug 2017. (Chris Grunwell via ABPIC)

2018/002

The following additional aircraft have since been delivered:

reg. model c/n & l/n p/i date notes

B18655 8MA 40945/4830 20Mar14 Leased from Avolon

B18656 8MA 40946/4916 22May14 Leased from Avolon

B18657 8FH 39943/4944 12Jun14 Leased from SMBC Aviation Capital

B18658 8SH 41335/5560 N1796B 14Sep15 Leased from Air Lease Corp

B18659 8SH 61424/5584 N1787B 30Sep15 Leased from Air Lease Corp

B18660 8SH 41349/5815 15Mar16 Leased from Air Lease Corp

B18661 8AL 62688/6015 09Sep16 Leased from BOC Aviation

B18662 8AL 61795/6073 29Sep16 Leased from BOC Aviation

B18663 8AL 61772/6120 N1787B 20Oct16 Leased from BOC Aviation

B18665 8AL 62689/6157 14Nov16 Leased from BOC Aviation

B18666 8AL 61774/6227 N60668 17Jan17 Leased from BOC Aviation

B18667 8AL 61777/6283 24Feb17 Leased from BOC Aviation

[AF2017 (via TS); AL571 p.32; AL572 p.33; AL587 p.34; AL599 p.30; AL600 p.31; AL601 p.33; AL602 pp.25/26; AL603 p.30; ATDB; JAPL Pt.2

p.116; Planespotters (d/l 26Jan2017)]

Note: B18659 was registered to China Airlines on 30Sep2015 but is operating in Mandarin Airlines colours (q.v.). [ROC CAA 16Oct17]

Boeing 747 freighter conversions

The Boeing 747 fleet is listed on pages 2013/116118. Martin Bleasdale has kindly given the following details for 747 freighter conversions [MB

18Feb2017]:

B1864 c/n 21454 converted from M to (F) by Boeing/Wichita (IAB), January 1999. Redelivered as B18751.

B1866 c/n 22446 converted from B to (F) by Boeing/Wichita (IAB), May 1999. Redelivered as B18753.

B1868 c/n 22447 converted from B to (F) by Boeing/Wichita (IAB), May 1999. Redelivered as B18755.

747409 B18203 c/n 28711 was ferried Taipei TPEVictorville on 04Nov2016 for storage. [AL600 p.25]

747409 B18205 c/n 28712 was ferried from Taipei TPE to San Bernardino on 10Jan2017 for permanent retirement. This aircraft was still current

on the ROC civil aircraft register on 12Oct2017. [AL603 p.23; ROC CAA 12Oct17]

747409 B18206 c/n 29030 was ferried Taipei TPEVictorville on 07Apr2016 for storage. [AL594 p.28]

747409 B18207 c/n 29219 was ferried Taipei TPEVictorville on 18Sep2017 for storage. [ABN10/17 p.2000; AI 29Sep17]

747409 B18408 c/n 29031 was ferried Taipei TPEVictorville on 26/27Oct2017 for storage. [ABN11/17 p.2212; AI 03Nov17]

Boeing 777300ER

Archive page 2013/118 reported that China Airlines had agreed to lease four 777300ERs from GECAS for delivery starting in 2014. These and laterdeliveries are as follows:

reg. model c/n & l/n p/i d/d notes

B18001 309ER 43978/1301 22May15 /

B18002 309ER 43980/1307 N5017Q 30Jun15 /

B18003 309ER 43977/1327 25Aug15 /

B18005 309ER 43979/1347 N1794B 29Oct15 /

B18006 309ER 43981/1365 19Jan16 /

B18007 309ER 43982/1399 16May16 /

B18051 36NER 41821/1227 30Sep14 Leased from GECAS

B18052 36NER 41822/1245 23Oct14 Leased from GECAS

B18053 36NER 41845/1254 25Nov14 Leased from GECAS

B18055 36NER 41823/1265 14Jan15 Leased from GECAS

[AF2017 (via TS); AL577 p.33; AL583 p.34; AL584 p.35; AL586 p.30; AL588 p.31; AL591 p.32; ATDB]

CurtissWright C46 Commando

The fleet list for the C46 is given on Archive page 2013/118.

The history given for C46D B1545 c/n 33248 is incorrect. The FAA aircraft record for N8265S of Lawson Aviation, Inc. has been obtained. This

registration was cancelled on 26 April 1967 on export to China Air Lines of Taipei, Taiwan, i.e. to B1545. The prior history of this aircraft was 44

77852, N9828Z, PPBTN and N8265S. The fate of this aircraft after cancellation of B1545 is not known.

Similarly, C46D N8282S c/n 33397 ex 4478001 of Lawson Aviation, Inc. was cancelled on 26 April 1967 on export to China Air Lines of Taipei,

Taiwan. The subsequent B registration remains unknown. There are no obvious gaps.

Feedback on Part 21B, Winter 2013

Mandarin Airlines Limited

The fleet list for Mandarin Airlines is given on pages 2013/168 to 2013/171.

AF2017 and Planespotters.net show Boeing 7378SH B18659 c/n 61424 operating in Mandarin Airlines colours.

ATR 72600

Mandarin Airlines will lease three new ATR 72600s from Aviation PLC for delivery in October, November and December 2017. These will be in addi

tion to six ATR 72600s, which Mandarin is purchasing directly from ATR, as announced on 19Jul2017. [AL608 p.9; AL609 p.6]

The first ATR 72212A (72600) for Mandarin Airlines is c/n 1460, tested as FWWEI. [AI 17Nov17] This aircraft was delivered as B16851 via

Bangkok DMK on 28Nov2017. [AI 01Dec17; TM 28Nov17]

Mandarin Airlines’ second ATR 72600 B16852 c/n 1387, is leased from Avation, Singapore. It was ferried TLSLarnacaDubai DWC 56Dec17.

[ai08Dec17]

The third ATR72600 for Mandarin Airlines, B16853 c/n 1473 ex FWWEW, was ferried TLSLarnacaDubai DWC on 29/30Dec2017 and then

delivered via DMK on 01Jan2018. [ai05Jan18; TM 01Jan18]

2018/003

Feedback on Part 22, Autumn 2015

Far Eastern Air Transport

The history of Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT) is given on Archive pages 2015/131140.

McDonnell Douglas MD82

Three of the MD82s belonging to ULand Airlines were transferred to FAT, namely B28033 c/n 53577, B28035 c/n 53480 and B28037 c/n 53479.

The author asked the ROC CAA for the registration and cancellation dates of these three aircraft. They replied on 03May2017 to say that regis

tration dates were not available and B28033 was cancelled on 04 August 2006 but B28035 and B28037 were still in service.

Handley Page Dart Herald

Images of a Dart Herald in the colours of Samaki Peanich Airlines have recently appeared on the Apichart Yahoo group. These images were taken

from a Youtube video clip that was probably filmed in Cambodia in about February 1975. It is thought that this Herald was probably leased from

FAT, in which case there are two candidates: B2001 c/n 162 and B2011 c/n 165, see Archive pages 2010/44, 46 & 131 and 2015/136. (B2009

c/n 157 crashed in February 1969, soon after delivery in December 1968, so is not a candidate.) In “Mercy Angels of Angkor: The Phnom Penh

Airlift, 1973 to 1975”, Paul Howard with Bob Hickox list B2011 as leased to Air Cambodia but returned to FAT in 1974. [Air Enthusiast No.120,

November/December 2005, page 30]. Neither Air Cambodia nor Samaki Peanich Airlines are listed in Derek King’s list of “Other minor owners and

operators” on Archive pages 2010/181 & 182. The cheatline of the Samaki Peanich Herald in the images is blue but the cheatlines of FAT Heralds

were red, so we cannot be 100% sure that this was a FAT Herald. No registration is visible in the images. Samaki Peanich Airlines also operated

two C47s: XWTDA & XWTFJ. These are listed under Cambodia on page 168 of the AirBritain DC3 Volume 1 book but under the incorrect

heading “Senaki Peanich Airlines”. Sadly, we were unable to discuss this subject with Derek King, because he passed away in December 2017. The

author wrote to FAT (in English) but received no reply. (Their website is entirely in Chinese.)

ATR 72

ATR72600 B28066 c/n 1171 exOYJZG was ferried ToulousePaphosDubaiWorld on 22/23Sep17 and delivered via UTP, where it night

stopped on 26 September 2017 before departing to TSA the following morning. [ABN10/87 p.1986; AI 29Sep17; TM 26Sep2017]

ATR72600 B28068 c/n 1110 was delivered BillundPaphos on 30Jun2017 on lease to FAT, ex OYJZA. [ABN9/17 p.1777; AL609 p.9]

Feedback on Part 21D, Autumn 2015

Tigerair Taiwan

A fleet list for Tigerair Taiwan was included on page 2015/130. The following additional information is now available:

Airbus A320232

reg. model c/n p/i d/d notes

B50011 232 6917 FWWDH 23Dec15 Leased from ICBC Financial Leasing

B50015 232 6943 FWWIK 22Jan16 Leased from ICBC Financial Leasing

B50016 232 7203 FWWIJ 27Jun16 Leased from ICBC Financial Leasing

B50017 232 7491 FWWBJ Feb17 /

B50018 271 7982 FWWDO 08Dec17 Leased from BOC Aviation

[ABN11/17 p.2195; AF2017 (via TS); ai01Dec17; ai22Dec17; AL590 pp.15/16; AL591 p.15; AL595 p.17; AL596 p.15; AL603 p.15; Planespotters]

Note: Registration B50013 was probably omitted because of superstition about #13.

Feedback on Part 23A, Winter 2015

TransAsia Airways Corporation

A fleet list for TransAsia Airways is included on Archive pages 2015/182183.

Airbus A321231 B22615 c/n 7206 ex DAVZR, was delivered to TransAsia Airways on 05Jul2016. [AL596 p.15]

Airbus A321231 B22608 c/n 6009 will become N805AV; B22610 c/n 6294 will become N810AV. [ai08Dec17; ai15Dec17; AMCAR152]

Airbus A330343E B22101 c/n 1357 has become N803AV; B22102 c/n 1378 has become N804AV. These were both registered to Wells Fargo

Bank Northwest NA Trustee on 23Jan2018 and are reportedly for Avianca [AMCAR152; FAA].

ATR 72600 B22811 was returned to NAC Aviation 8 Ltd and registered as 2TPAJ on 13Feb2017.

The following ATR 72600s were seen stored at Kaohsiung on 31Mar2017: B22817 c/n 1145; B22818 c/n 1198; B22822 c/n 1261. [AL605 p.9]

Feedback on Part 25A, Spring 2017

EVA Airways Corporation

The fleet list for EVA Airways is included on pages 2017/025032.

Airbus A330203 B16308 c/n 655 was cancelled on 27Apr2017 on sale to VIM Airlines as VPBMI. [AL606 p.17; ROC CAA 12Oct17]

Airbus A330203 B16309 c/n 661 was cancelled on 03Jul2017 on sale to VIM Airlines as VPBIO. [AI 29Sep17; ABN9/17 p.1773; ABN10/17

p.1983; AL608 p.15; ROC CAA 12Oct17]

Airbus A330302

The fleet list for Airbus A330302 is given on page 2017/027. The following additional information is now available:

reg. model c/n p/i d/d notes

B16337 302 1767 FWWKR 24Jan17 Leased from Pembroke Aircraft Leasing

B16338 302 1778 FWWYZ 27Mar17 Leased from Pembroke Aircraft Leasing

B16339 302 1794 FWWCC 28Jun17 Leased from BOC Aviation

B16340 302 1806 FWWYA 26Oct17 Leased from BOC Aviation

[ABN11/17 p.2196; AF2017 (via TS); AI 03Nov17; AI 17Nov17; AL602 p.18; AL603 p.18; AL605 pp.17 & 19, AL606 p.17; AL607 p.16; AL608 p.15]

A330303 B16335 c/n 1684 was leased from Intrepid Aviation but this was sold to Avation PLC on 22Dec2017. The lease to EVA Air continues.

[ai05Jan18; ai19Jan18]

2018/004

Boeing 74745E

EVA Air scheduled its final commercial 747400 passenger service for Monday, 21 August 2017. In a statement, the carrier confirmed the route

would be flight BR892 Hong Kong Chek Lap KokTaipei Taoyuan operated by its last remaining active 747400, B16411 c/n 29111. [SMD 14Aug17]

A list of Boeing 74745E is included on pages 2017/027 & 028. The following fates are now known:

74745E B16401 c/n 27062 was ferried Taipei TPELos AngelesMarana on 06Jul2017 for storage. It was cancelled on 21Jul2017 and then reg

istered to Atlas Air Inc as N347PH on 18Sep2017. It will be reregistered as N472MC. [AL608 p.21; FAA; ROC CAA 12Oct17]

74745E B16409 c/n 28093 seen still WFU at San Bernardino (probably on 23Apr17). [AL606 p.24]

74745E B16410 c/n 29061 was ferried Taipei TPESan Bernardino on 24Apr2017 for permanent retirement and cancelled on 15May2017; it

was reserved as N317UA but cancelled on 14Aug2017 (expiration). [ABN9/17 p.1788; AL606 p.25; FAA; ROC CAA 12Oct17]

74745E B16411 c/n 29111 was ferried from Taipei TPE to San Bernardino on 05Sep2017 for storage/partout. [ABN10/17 p.2000; AL610 p.24]

74745E B16412 c/n 29112 was ferried from Taipei TPE to San Bernardino on 30Jul2017 for storage; it was cancelled on 22Aug2017. [AL608

p.21; ROC CAA 12Oct17]

Boeing 777300ER

The fleet list for Boeing 777300ERs is given on page 2017/030.

77735EER B16701 c/n 32639 was returned to lessor and cancelled on 25Aug2017. It was leased to Nordwind Airlines as VPBJL and ferried

from Taipei TPE to Moscow SVO on 31Aug2017. [ABN9/17 p.1791; AL610 p.25].

77735EER B16702 c/n 32640 was to be cancelled in the near future (on sale to Nordwind Airlines as VPBJO). [ABN9/17 p.1791; AI 03Nov17;

ROC CAA 12Oct17]

The following additional information is now available:

reg. model c/n & l/n p/i d/d notes

B16733 3SHER 61600/1467 19Jan17 Leased from Air Lease Corporation

B16735 3ALER 61769/1478 16Mar17 Leased from BOC Aviation

B16736 36NER 42106/1479 N50217 29Mar17 Leased from GECAS

B16737 3ALER 61770/1485 N55061 24Apr17 Leased from BOC Aviation

B16738 36NER 42105/1503 27Jun17 Leased from GECAS

B16739 36NER 63258/1513 17Aug17Leased from GECAS

B16740 36NER 63529/1518 21Sep17Leased from GECAS

B16781 200F 62824/1526 18Nov17

[ABN9/17 p.1792; ABN10/17 p.2003; ABN11/17 p.2216; AF2017 (via TS); AI 29Sep17; AI 10Nov17; AL603 p.30; AL605 pp. 29 & 32; AL606 p.33;

AL608 p.25; AL610 p.28]

Feedback on Part 26, Autumn 2017

ULand Airlines

The history of ULand Airlines is given on pages 2017/131132. We

consulted Derek A King about the history of Short SD 360 B8811 c/n

SH 3760, as this aircraft is not normally included in fleet lists for ULand

Airlines. Derek confirmed that B8811 had been delivered to China Asia

Airlines, Taipei, Taiwan on 12 October 1989 via Nice. It was impound

ed at Taipei on 10 March 1994 due to unpaid parking fees. “Airline

name changed to ULand Airways (sic) in 1997. No evidence of aircraft

ever moving again. Still there 30 Oct 99 in very dilapidated condition

with very faded paintwork and remained there until at least 30 May 00.”

As the author had not found any information about China Asia Airlines

online, he wrote to the ROC CAA to ask about this airline and B8811

in particular. They replied on 18 August 2017 to say: “Due to the

archive is long time ago, we can’t find the registration and cancellation

information.”

Derek King also reported that Short SD360 c/ns SH3756 and SH3757

were allocated to China Asia Airlines in Jan89 and May89 respec

tively but not taken up (NTU). [DAK 19Aug2017] These are confirmed

by page 462 of Turbo Prop Airliner Production List (TAHS, 2007), which

gives “China Asia Airlines – ntu’” for these two aircraft and also for G

BRMY c/n SH3763. Phil Hawks said that the 1990/91 edition of JP

Airline Fleets listed two Shorts 360s with China Asia Airlines, namely B

8811 (ex GBPXN) and B8812 (ex GBRMY) but apparently the next

edition only listed B8811. [PH 19Aug2017] Thus it seems that four

Short 360s were ordered by China Asia Airlines but only one was deliv

ered.

Aviation Letter AL 277 page 30 “SH.3760 GBPXN reg. cancelled

24/10/89, to B.” AL 278 page 26 “SH.3760 GBPXN f/f 2/10/89, and

del. exBelfast 12/10/89 as GBPXN for China Asia Airlines.” “SH.3763

in paint shop as of early 1/90, for China Asia Airlines, Taiwan.” AL 281

page 25: “SH.3763 GBRMY f/f 6/1/90.” AL 290 page 25: “SH.3763 HB

AAM del. 28/9/90 (to whom?)”. Page 12 of Airline Fleets 1990 lists

Short SD.360s B8811 c/n SH.3760 ex GBPXN and B c/n SH.3763

“on order”. Only B8811 is listed on page 13 of Airline Fleets 1992.

Phil Hawks also kindly sent us ROC CAA documentation showing that

Short SD360 300 c/n SH 3760 was registered to ULand Airlines Co.

Ltd, on 27 August 1999 and deregistered on 12 October 1999. B8811

had originally been registered on 17 October 1989. [PY 20Aug2017]

Aviation Letter AL407 page 55 says: “SH3760 B8811 to RPC3319

(sic) Laoag Airlines, seen at Maryborough, Australia on 29/7/00, with

Laoag titles. For Sunshine Express 11/00 after overhaul. B8811 was

seen at Taipei as late as 30/5/00.” AL409 page 64 says: “SH3760 RP

C3319 (sic) to VHSEG. Sunshine Express Airlines, Qld, rgd,

16/11/00.” Similar information has been provided by Derek King. We

checked on “RPC3319” with Phil Yeadon. Although c/n SH3760 was

reported as “RPC3319” it was registered as RPC3318 to Laoag

International Airlines, Laoag City, on 20Jun00; Bill of Sale 17Aug99

to Laoag International Airlines, total time 2477:24 hours; cancelled as

RPC3318 on 05Sep00. Bill of Sale to Aeromil (Aircraft) Pty. Limited

27Jul00. Sold as is/where is, Taipei. Ferried as RPC3318 24Jul

Taipei – Laoag – Australia. [PY 20Aug2017]

Feedback on Feedback 8 (Autumn 2016) andFeedback 10 (Autumn 2017)

The author had requested the FAA aircraft record for C46A N90619

c/n 415 (392CK) but this was reported as ‘missing’. This problem had

arisen because the FAA had changed the c/n from 415 to 392 and this

clashed with N105E. We therefore ordered the FAA aircraft record for

N105E c/n 392 (326CK) but this did not include any information on

N10623, which is recorded as s/n 4347321. N105E c/n 392 and

N10623 s/n 4347321 are the same aircraft! The FAA aircraft record for

N105E included Registration information on N8377C & N90619 but

without any Airworthiness papers.

Feedback on Feedback No. 10, Autumn 2017

What happened to Part 20?

We intended that the Part 20 article would be about Civil Air Transport

operations in Indonesia and Tibet but this article was never written. It

would have been based in part on the following books:

• “Feet to the Fire: CIA covert operations in Indonesia, 19571958” by

Kenneth Conboy & James Morrison, Naval Institute Press, 1999, ISBN

1557501939.

• “The CIA’s Secret War in Tibet” by Kenneth Conboy & James

Morrison, University Press of Kansas, 2002, ISBN 0700612592.

(Adds to Feedback 10.)

M S Best, © February, 2018