MH And The 773

[Ken K. Kour 0]

After looking through airliners.net, i noticed that on the prototype 777-300, Malaysian Airliens Was one of the launch customer logos painted on the fuelsage...

 

 

 

... i think they converted their orders for th 773 to the 772ER, but reasons why? it would have been great to have seen the 777-300 in MH Colours....

 

the other airlines there such as SQ, JA, CX, TH, etc all operate it..

[Guest Fendy]

they ordered 4, iirc (9M-MSA-9M-MSD)

 

thier orders were converted into 772ER.

[Radzi 2]

A "sacret cow" cancelled the order.

[S V Choong 4]

If I am not mistaken, the 777-300's order were cancelled due to the Asian Economy Crisis or MAS' own financial crisis in 2001. They were later converted to 777-200ERs, hence 9M-MRN, MRO, MRP and MRQ.

 

MAS was also supposed to be the launch customer for the 777-200LR but it was thought to be nothing more than just a PR show with the last management regime.

 

Looks like 9M-MSA rego will now be on the A380s

[Ken K. Kour 0]

If I am not mistaken, the 777-300's order were cancelled due to the Asian Economy Crisis or MAS' own financial crisis in 2001.  They were later converted to 777-200ERs, hence 9M-MRN, MRO, MRP and MRQ.

 

MAS was also supposed to be the launch customer for the 777-200LR but it was thought to be nothing more than just a PR show with the last management regime.

 

Looks like 9M-MSA rego will now be on the A380s

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What Would the Pending (Hopefully) order of the Fleet Replacement Program For the 39 B734's be designated under in that case?

 

Currently

 

B747 - MP*

B777 - MR*

A330 - MK*

B734 - MM*/MQ*

DHC6 - MD*

F50 - MG*

 

So whats next for the

 

A380

B73X \ Pending

A320 / Decision

[S V Choong 4]

Not too sure if the leased in 737-800 will receive 9M- rego. It may retain the rego of its country of origin. Initially when MH was "trying out" the B734 which was leased in from some British Airlines, it had G-xxxx rego for a while.

 

Heard that there will not be any A320 for MAS anymore.

 

In the past, MH fleet's rego was:

 

Airbus A300-B4-203 - 9M-MHA, MHB, MHC and MHD

(the one crashed near Subang was OY-KAA, a leased in from Scandinavian Airlines)

Boeing 707-320 - (MSA) 9M-A** 9V-***, later 9M-MA* (with MAS)

Boeing 737-2H6 Adv - 9M-MB*

Boeing 737-5H6 - 9M-MF*

Boeing 747-236B (ex-BA equipment) - 9M-MHI and 9M-MHJ

(Couple of other leased in 747-200s also used 9M-MH* rego)

Boeing 747-4H6 with GE powerplants - 2 Combis (in desert now) and 2 with Qantas used 9M-MH* rego too.

Boeing 747-3H6 - 9M-MHK

Fokker F-27 Friendship - (MSA) 9M-A**, later 9M-MC* (with MAS)

MSA initially had a few -100 series (with shorter nose) and -500 series, but MAS only used the -500 series (with sharper nose)

Fokker F-50 - (Pelangi Air), 9M-ME*

McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 - 9M-MA*

[Raymond Ngu 0]

S V Choong,

 

Thanx for the great info on previous MAS fleet rego.

[S V Choong 4]

You are welcomed, Raymond

 

I was hoping to compile a more detail one. Just when I have the time and mood.....

 

Also one thing I found is that.... 9M-MI*, 9M-MN*, 9M-MO* is omitted and never used by MAS for some sort of reason. Anyone has an answer to that?

 

I believe that 9M-MJ* (and may be 9M-ML* as well) are rego of those leased in Boeing 737-400s which MAS leased in prior to receiving their own 737-4H6s.

[Radzi 2]

I believe that 9M-MJ* (and may be 9M-ML* as well) are rego of those leased in Boeing 737-400s which MAS leased in prior to receiving their own 737-4H6s.

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Correct, I did fly a few of those. I can't remember all though, anyway when I started flying they were being phased out.

[S V Choong 4]

Also one thing I found is that.... 9M-MI*, 9M-MN*, 9M-MO* is omitted and never used by MAS for some sort of reason. Anyone has an answer to that?

 

Not sure how accurate this is, but my guess is since the GE powered 744 had 9M-MH* rego. MAS wanted to differentiate the PW powered 744 from the GE ones, so rather than continuing the series with 9M-MI*, MN* or MO*. MAS had chosen 9M-MP* rego to coincide with the word "PW", just a rough guess and talking to myself anyway

 

Captain Radzi thanks for the confirmation of 9M-MJ* and ML* 737-400s.

[Gavin Andrew David 6]

I remember seeing the last of 9M-MHM and 9M-MHL

[Rozhan 0]

Before the B737-2H6Adv started using the 9M-MB* registration, they used 9M-AQ*. I believe they were 9M-AQL,M,N,O,P and Q for the first 6 brand new planes MAS bought. However there is a B707 postcard with similar registration to a 737, but I think either there is an error on that, or MAS switched the registration of the 737s to MB* and used the AQ* for the 707s.

[S V Choong 4]

Rozhan, I think you are hitting something there. But 9M-A** rego may be dated from the MSA days. MAS did not inherit any B737-2H6 Adv from MSA, as all were Boeing 737-112 which were taken up by SIA at the end of the unhappy break up. MAS ordered their Boeing 737-2H6 Adv brand new and hence the new customer code H6 and SIA is considered the 'true' successor of MSA as the Boeings were took up by SIA.

 

MAS also had some B707s with G-**** rego. Not sure about the 9M-A** B737s, will find out later.

 

I think 9M-MA* rego begins on the DC-10-30, which at the time were the flagship of the company and hence the 9M-MAS rego. I am not too sure why the A300 had a later rego which is 9M-MHA, MHB, MHC and MHD.

[Rozhan 0]

I have a keen interest on old MAS planes, especially the B737-2H6 Advanced as I used to fly on them a lot, commuting between KUL and KBR during my secondary school days in the early 1980s. By that time they already used the 9M-MB*. I would have liked it if MAS had kept the first B737 9M-AQL and start an aviation museum that we can be proud of.

 

Last year I did some research through Airliners.net and found that a few of them have been scrapped while a few remain in service with other airlines. In doing that I also discovered some registrations I never knew of such as 9M-ASR that became 9M-MBH (scrapped: last rego XA-TLJ) and 9M-ARG that became 9M-MBG (scrapped: last rego XA-PBA).

 

The first plane 9M-AQL became 9M-MBA (fate unknown), 9M-AQM became 9M-MBB (last known rego CC-CTO) , 9M-AQN became 9M-MBC (crashed under Sahsa airlines rego N401SH) 9M-AQO became 9M-MBD (crashed at Tanjung Kupang), 9M-AQP became 9M-MBE (last rego CC-CTD with Sky Airline), 9M-AQQ became 9M-MBF (last known rego N123GU with Aviateca). These were the original 6.

 

 

This pic 9M-MBJ was taken by me in KBR sometime in 1981 or 1982, shot using a compact camera so mind the fence shadows! Interestingly it flew with Bouraq Indonesia under PK-IJF. There were also 9M-MBN (last known rego YV-215C with Rutaca Airlines) , 9M-MBY (last known rego V5-ANB with Air Namibia) and MBZ (last known rego PK-RIF with Mandala) Please note that the surviving planes may have changed hands again by now, and some rego maybe slightly wrong as some pictures were not very clear)

 

Airliners.net has a few pics of the B707 with MAS livery. They are the 9M-ASO and G-AZWA (probably the same aircraft as they share the same cn as Qantas VH-EBS. I also have an old MAS B707 postcard in Malaysian livery but using the Qantas rego. That much is known about MAS B707s.

 

I also did some search on MSA. Some planes had 9M-*** rego while others had 9V-*** rego, perhaps started during the transition when Singapore separated from Malaysia before the split of MSA. Some B707s I discovered were 9M-AOT and 9M-AQB, with a 737-100 with 9M-ADU. Singapore registered B707 had 9V-BBA and 9V-BBB listed on Airliners.net. Some SIA B737 postcards have 9M-ADU and 9V-BCR regos on their planes.

 

I hope to do more research on this, and maybe anyone with more information to add, or correct me should there be errors.

 

By the way the DC-10-30s were the first MAS wide bodies and it started with 9M-MAS and 9M-MAT. There was also a 9M-MAV among others, but this could have been leased. The A300 B4 came later hence a later registration series.

[Y. J. Foo 0]

This pic 9M-MBJ was taken by me in KBR sometime in 1981 or 1982, shot using a compact camera so mind the fence shadows!

 

Interesting angle...looking at the date I suppose it was taken frrom the old terminal opposite current KBR terminal that has since demolished right? Anyway why don't you upload it to A.net since they are not that choosy when it comes to ancient photos?

 

As for the 773 and MAS, I recall seeing a set of cardboard models about MAS and KLIA. One of then is 773 in MAS colour. But as stated we never get to see 773 in MAS colour.

[Rozhan 0]

I don't have any account with Airliners.net, but I'm happy enough to share with MalaysianWings Yes, the picture was taken from the old terminal.

 

Anyway I went to KBR last month for a nostalgic trip. Actually the old terminal is still there and not demolished. I remember the good old times when Y fare was just $71 and F fare was $91 KUL-KBR. And we had sandwiches in economy class, not just orange juice today <_>

[Gavin Andrew David 6]

dont need an account to upload . just state your email add..

[S V Choong 4]

And we had sandwiches in economy class, not just orange juice today 

No way! We never get this VIP sandwich treatment or what-so-ever during the 737-200 days for the inter Sabah, Sarawak or Brunei flights!!! Are you sure they are generous enough to give out sandwiches? We paid M$120 (old 'currency' hehe) for each way, between BKI and TWU!

 

The A300 B4 came later hence a later registration series.

 

Rozhan, yes, point taken, but technically the A300 arrives around late 70s. But why does it have 9M-MH* rego? The A300 cannot be any newer than the Boeing 737-5H6 (9M-MF*) which arrives in the early 90s and the Fokker F-50s of MAS (9M-MG*) and Pelangi (9M-ME*) rego. My guess is MAS was playing with the rego at the time. Since the DC-10 had 9M-MAS rego, MAS wanted their new A300 to have MH rego, hence the MHA, MHB, MHC and MHD. The A300 was a techically superior a/c than DC-10 back then, so it makes sense. Hope my guess is reasonable.

 

You sure have done a bit of reasearch with MAS' rego. May be we should move all these rego thread to a new topic altogether, what do you think, Gavin?

[S V Choong 4]

I left out the almost forgotten type of MAS

 

Boeing 737-3H6/F, rego 9M-MZA & 9M-MZB

 

I have only seen them in BKI wearing MASKargo logo

[Radzi 2]

I left out the almost forgotten type of MAS

 

Boeing 737-3H6/F, rego 9M-MZA & 9M-MZB

 

I have only seen them in BKI wearing MASKargo logo

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Aaahh..... the cargo fleet. MH 6010/6011 departs SZB at about 0430 LT with full load of newspaper to KCH, offload half of it then continues to BKI. Offload the remaining newspaper then flew back almost empty to SZB. We regularly come back one hour early

 

Also, once, chartered by Pelangi, I went to Palembang to upload a planeload of tortoise. Brought them back to SZB, then I believe they were send to their death in China. So if the tortoise becomes extinct around Palembang area, I must be partly responsible Wonder if the WWF ever know about it.

 

Initially we carry one cabin crew. Then we carry a cadet pilot cabin crew (I think TK was one of them). Finally we carry no cabin crew at all.

 

MZA/MZB was sold off around 2000. Now flying as F-GIXR and F-GIXS.

[Rozhan 0]

Oh yes SV Choong. They were finger sandwiches, about 3 pieces of various fillings. They were served on dark green / olive plastic plates with white top surfaces, somewhat like the current white plastic tableware with grey trim used in Y class. Wish I had some for souvenirs back then!!!

 

For First Class, I remember eating something like meatball with tomato sauce. At one time I actually had a few sticks of satay. Really, no kidding. But this was in late 1970s to early 1980s. And the coffee cup is like my avatar, made by Noritake unlike today's one by Asian Ceramics which is sooo not nice. Noritake's tableware has superior finish and nice translucency. MAS still use Noritake for First Class, the one with the bunga raya motifs.

 

I don't know why they don't have it for inter Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei sectors as you mentioned. Was it late 1980s? Another memory I have is the stewardesses used to give out cups of sweets, and I distinctly remember the flavour as ginger orange. And kids got boxes of crayons and drawing books, but maybe this is still around today.

 

About the rego, I don't know why MAS chose the alphabets as they were. The 9M-MH* for the A300 as you mentioned makes sense but as airplanes get more modern as time goes by, the flagship in MAS will change. Next we shall see the A380 as the flagship. As stated earlier in the thread, 9M-MSA will be a nice rego for the first A380

 

I just did a search for 9M-AQL. I discovered some conflicting info. One source says it is now CC-CTM, but others says it is CC-CTU. I'm leaning towards the CC-CTU as Airliners.net has the cn shared with 9M-AQL. In that case, the first MAS B737-2H6 is still operational after all these years!

 

I would agree moving this to a new topic and we can expand from there. There is still a lot of history of MAS to discuss, although I'm not actually a historian, just a MAS fan. Those early pleasant experiences with MAS got me hooked.

[S V Choong 4]

It is very disturbing to learn that they do not serve meal on inter-Borneo flights on their 737 or F-27. I have been flying since I was 3 years old! My first trip was to the state capital, Kota Kinabalu and then off to KUL (Subang). I can't remember that they serve any meal even for flights in the early 80s. Although they do serve meal between East and West Malaysia. But the portion of the meal was bigger back then if you hop on to the A300 and DC-10 flights. I don't think there were many 737-2H6 Adv flights running between East and West Malaysia. I remember the ginger orange sweets and boxes of crayons and drawing books too

 

If you want to pin down 9M-AQL for certain, you need the MSN and serial number perhaps. Surprised to learn that some of them still flying. I really like the noise of the 737-200 engines eventhough they were noisy as hell without the hushkit.

 

Why did they get rid off the 737-3H6Fs? Was that because there weren't too many newspaper anymore to make it commercially viable? Radzi, you were like sending the tortoise to concentration camps to get exterminated by the hungry Chinese No offence intended... Have u ever flown the 737-5H6 by the way?

[Sing Yew 1]

Radzi, you were like sending the tortoise to concentration camps to get exterminated by the hungry Chinese   No offence intended...  Have u ever flown the 737-5H6 by the way?

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Haha you make it sound like the Nazis and their concentration camps and extermination.

[Nick R. 0]

IIRC,they do serve meals on Borneo flights (not sure where to).I still have this green plate with Nouritake at the reverse side with MH new logo.

 

Oh ya.Find some rare a/c pics here!

[Y. J. Foo 0]

Nice link Nick really lots of interestion MAS planes!

 

Anyone knows what is this plane for?? Looks like it was former Air Inter plane....wet-lease??