Aloha Airlines  Boeing 737-297  N73711     (c/n   20209)

                                 

                                     The series 200 Boeing 737 has been the airliner of choice for Aloha for almost 40 years.   Initially
                                     they were leased, but in the 1980s they also purchased some new ones.  The current fleet are mostly
                                     second hand.....ooops, make that previously used, and also leased.     N73711 seen above at Kona
                                     in this shot by Bruce Highland in 1987 was one of the leased ones.  It is wearing a livery scheme used
                                     in the early 1980s.  The original scheme had an hibiscus flowered fin and rudder in red and yellow.
                                     Anyway, one year after this shot was taken (28 April1988) this particular machine suffered cabin
                                     decompression during a flight from Hilo to Honolulu.  At approximately 24,000 feet some 18 feet or
                                     so of the cabin aft of the front door seperated from the fuselage.  One cabin attendant was sucked out,
                                     but miraculously there were no passenger fatalities, (although they all got a very windy ride) and the
                                     aircraft was able to make an emergency landing at Maui Airport.  The cause was attributed to severe
                                     metal fatigue.  The effect of so many take off and landing cycles (the airlines in Hawaii have probably
                                     the shortest stage lengths of any of the US carriers) had hitherto been unknown.  The airline was deemed
                                     negligent by the FAA in failing to detect the fatigue damage, although agency itself was partly to blame in
                                     not assessing the airline's inspection procedures.