Aircalin 737-300

[Tony Madge - HJG]

A rare one:

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Not really a rare one, but rather, just the last variation of livery applied to the AIR CALEDONIE INTERNATIONAL B733 (F-ODGX) during the late 1990's and following the airline being rebranded "AIRCALIN" .... still otherwise "AIR CALEDONIE INTERNATIONAL" of course.

This particular livery completes our representation of AIR CALEDONIE INTERNATIONAL .... "in respect of the aircraft type HJG's able to represent/offer" .... and which is currently restricted to the CARAVELLE 10R and B737-300 only.

And .... this particular livery also now completes HJG's representation of each of the "major" (only) South Pacific/Australasian region operated B737-200/300/400/500 aircraft liveries too.

AIR CALEDONIE INTERNATIONAL/AIRCALIN is the national airline of New Caledonia/Nouvelle Caledonie (a French island territory located within the western/Melanesian region of the South Pacific (unlike Tahiti/French Polynesia which is located within the eastern/Polynesian region of the South Pacific .... "and one of my all-time favourate destinations). The airline was formed during 1983 (a separate entity from AIR CALEDONIE .... the nations domestic wing) and head quartered at Noumea/La Tontuta. It was re-branded AIRCALIN during 1997. The airlines services were initially operated by aircraft leased from both AIR NAURU and QANTAS AIRWAYS until 1985 when it acquired an SE-210 CARVELLE 10B3 (F-GEPC) 10B3 .... leased from CORSAIR and occasionally substituted with CARAVELLE 10R (F-GFBA) when the regular aircraft required periodic maintenance/servicing. These aircraft supported the airlines services to both Sydney/Australia (from 1985), and Auckland/New Zealand (from November 1987). The airline also acquired a DHC6 TWIN OTTER during 1987 to operate services between Noumea and nearby Wallis and Futuna islands (also French South Pacific possessions). During mid 1989 the CARAVELLE was replaced with a B737-300 (F-ODGX .... occasionally substituted AEROMARITIME's F-GFUC). AIR CALIN also acquired an A310-300 during 2000 .... and which enabled it to commence longer ranging services to Osaka and Tokyo (effectively taking over AIR FRANCE's former route between Tokyo and Noumea) .... and which was replaced by a pair of A330-300 aircraft during 2002 (that also briefly serviced both Soul/Korea and Hangzhou/China too). An A320-200 was acquired by AIR CALIN during 2004 .... and which replaced its B737-300. A320 NEO and A330-900 aircraft were ordered during 2017. The A330-900's entered service with AIRCALIN during 2019 .... followed by the A320 NEO's during late 2020. From its Noumea base AIR CALIN currently services each of the following international destinations ....

Australia: Brisbane/Melbourne/Sydney
Fiji: Nadi
French Polynesia: Tahiti (Pape'ete)
Japan: Tokyo
New Zealand: Auckland
Singapore: Singapore (Changi)
Vanuatu: Port Vila
Wallis and Futuna Islands: Wallis (Vele)

AIR CALIN currently maintains strategic and code-share alliances/agreements with each of the following operators ....

AIR FRANCE
AIR NEW ZEALAND
AIR TAHITI NUI
AIR VANUATU
JAPAN AIRLINES
QANTAS AIRWAYS

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[alex94]

You're a machine Tony! I take my hat off to you for the amount of awesome paints you supply all these wonderful aircraft. Were very fortunate to have you

Kind regards

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

What Tony's done here is represent both 1998 and 2001 livery species associated with AIRCALIN/AIR CALEDONIE INTERNATION B733 F-ODGX .... as follows ....

AIR CALIN/AIR CALEDONIE INTERNATIONAL B737-33A F-ODGX (1998)


In comparison with ....

AIR CALIN/AIR CALEDONIE INTERNATIONAL B737-33A F-ODGX (2001)


Both textures will be released .... very soon.


The difference/s are "VERY MINOR", but, "EVIDENT" (to the observant) as well as being "HISTORIC" too.

We don't/can't do this for everything, but, for this/these subject/s we have. It's evidence of "one of the subtle differences" that occur with some airline liveries over periods of time.

All faithfully recorded/represented "HERE"

This's the ideal aircraft (and livery) for simulating medium-haul flights across the south west Pacific .... from Noumea/New Caledonia to either Sydney/Australia or Auckland/New Zealand. Virtual flights of short enough duration to possibly still realize some sense of accomplishment (provided one doesn't get lost en-route ) .... whilst not being long enough to risk possibly inducing boredom either.

Mark C
AKL/NZ