Hawaiian Airlines
Lockheed L-188AF Electra N61AJ
(c/n 1043)
Hawaiian Airlines picked up
considerable air freight business in the late 1970s and to handle
this
a
fleet of nine or so Lockheed Electras was acquired. Here, one of
the last one to join the fleet is
seen being converted at Van Nuys, California by the American Jet
Corporation. This included the
installation of large cargo
doors and the blocking out the windows, thus making them updated
"windowless wonders", so to speak. This aircraft was
re-registered N346HA upon
arriving in the
islands. It began life as
Eastern's N5527 before going to SAM Colombia as HK-6911.
American
Jet purchased it from the
South American line and converrted it to a freighter for
HAL. The above
shot was taken by Steve
Brimley in October of 1978. It flew out to the islands
shortly after.