JJ Skippy
Well-known member
As I work on my East Asia Collection project, I want to look at some airlines from this part of the world with my model history threads I’ve been doing lately. Here’s a look at the Philippines flag carrier, which has seen high peaks and low points throughout its 80 plus years of service.
Philippines’ History
Philippine Airlines started operations in 1941, the oldest airline in Asia still operating under its original name. However, World War II put a pause on their commercial operations for the next five years. They returned to flying postwar with the DC-3 and grew from there. Their first link to the mainland United States (San Francisco) started flying in 1946, which they’ve maintained almost consistently ever since.
A Philippines DC-4. This was one of the first aircraft to operate the service between Manila and San Francisco, which back then stopped several times for refueling. Today, it operates on a 777-300ER, though plans are to switch to an A350 in the next year or so.
Philippines helped launch Japan Airlines when they leased a DC-3 to them in 1951. Another suspension of operations came in 1954 to their international destinations which lasted five years. Philippines’ first jet was a Boeing 707, though they quickly transitioned to the DC-8. Other jets like the A300 and Boeing 747 joined their fleet through the 70s and 80s, with their current livery (dubbed Sunriser) debuting in 1986.
Philippines was taken private in 1992, and from there expansion continued. But the airline suffered financial difficulties in 1997, ultimately leading to a several weeks long shutdown in 1998. The airline has seen several rounds of restructuring since, and another shutdown period during the 2020 pandemic. Currently, Philippines operates to 70 destinations with their PAL Express network included and operate 49 Airbus and Boeing jets.
A Philippines 777-300ER. These replaced the 747-400 on the long-haul flights, especially to North America. They operate to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Seattle on those flights.
The Models
This was a bit of a surprise to me, as 86 Philippines models have been produced since circa 1998. The first were from Dragon Wings, who produced an A330-200 (F-OHZM), A340-300 (F-OHPJ), and an unregistered A340-200. Moving to 2001, Dragon Wings also released a pair of former World MD-11s (N276WA, N277WA). Aeroclassics then released the first old livery aircraft, a BAC One Eleven (PI-C1121). You’ll also notice the different registration prefix; the current RP-Cxxxx prefix was introduced in 1974.
The first DC-8 (RP-C801) in the scale was produced by Gemini Jets in 2002, an exclusive for SkyJets400. Dragon Wings then released a DC-10-30 (PH-DTI), which was leased from KLM. Their early 747s wore American registrations, too, which is reflected on various BigBird releases from 2005 (N741PR, N742PR). N741PR was rereleased with Visit Chicago titles at this time, too. These aircraft were owned by the U.S. Eximbank (Export-Import Bank) and thus carried U.S. registrations. Philippine-registered 747s came the next year with an Aeroclassics -400 (RP-C8168) and -200 (RP-C5745).
2007 saw several Philippines aircraft released. An A300B (RP-C3001) in the old livery was done by Aeroclassics, followed by an unregistered 777-300ER by Dragon. A Sunriser A300 (RP-C3003) wasn’t too far behind, followed by a Gemini A340-300 (F-OHPM). The year concluded with a fantasy reg 777-300ER (N777ER), also by Gemini. The first one was delivered in 2009. Rounding out the decade for models, there was another old livery A300 (RP-C3002) by Aeroclassics in 2008, then a pair of Phoenix 747-400s (RP-C7475, N751PR) in 2009.
2010 saw just one release, an Aeroclassics DC-8-50 (PI-C801) which featured a KLM tail. 2011 saw five, starting with a DC-10-30 (RP-C2114) by Aeroclassics, then the first 777-300ER by Phoenix (RP-C7777), a couple Aeroclassics Viscount 700 (PI-C771, PI-C7772), and an old livery DC-10 (RP-C2003). 2012 was another great year with six planes: a DC-8-63 (PH-DEL) and three DC-10-30s (PH-DTC, PH-DTK, RP-C2001) by Aeroclassics, a 747-400 (RP-C7472) by Witty Wings twice, and an A320 (RP-8615) by Gemini Jets, the first Airbus narrowbody release.
2013 continued an upward trend of Philippines releases, and it was a loaded year.
2017 was a quiet year with just one Aeroclassics A321 sharklets (RP-C9901). Heading into 2018, Philippines took delivery of their first A350, so manufacturers took the opportunity to make some. Phoenix and Gemini Jets released RP-C3501, and Aviation400 released RP-C3503. Gemini also released an A321neo (RP-C9930), their first. The next year, JC Wings pumped out The Love Bus sticker on RP-C3507. 2020 saw a unique type in the Hawker Siddeley HS-748 (RP-C1024) from Aeroclassics, alongside another A321neo (RP-C9933). Continuing through the new decade, AV400 released an exclusive A340-300 (RP-C3439) through Tailwind Diecasts International; this was the Shepherd One aircraft for the Pope. NG also produced a Love Bus A350, the sister ship (RP-C3508) to the JC release.
2022 saw decent variety in the models again, starting with a 777 (RP-C7778) from AV400, then a 727-100 (RP-C1240) from Aeroclassics. Another Tailwind exclusive was released by Panda, a 737-400 (EI-CVN). Then it was a Fokker Friendship (PI-C516) and A300 (RP-C3003) to round out the year. 2023 saw two more DC-10s (RP-C2114, PH-DTI) in the old livery and an A321neo (RP-C9938) by NG. And lastly, the latest two releases were in 2024 with a 747-200 (N741PR) by Phoenix, and in 2025 with an A350 (RP-C3504) by AV400.
A very lengthy list but one that details a lot of history of Philippine Airlines! Which ones do you possess?
Philippines’ History
Philippine Airlines started operations in 1941, the oldest airline in Asia still operating under its original name. However, World War II put a pause on their commercial operations for the next five years. They returned to flying postwar with the DC-3 and grew from there. Their first link to the mainland United States (San Francisco) started flying in 1946, which they’ve maintained almost consistently ever since.
A Philippines DC-4. This was one of the first aircraft to operate the service between Manila and San Francisco, which back then stopped several times for refueling. Today, it operates on a 777-300ER, though plans are to switch to an A350 in the next year or so.
Philippines helped launch Japan Airlines when they leased a DC-3 to them in 1951. Another suspension of operations came in 1954 to their international destinations which lasted five years. Philippines’ first jet was a Boeing 707, though they quickly transitioned to the DC-8. Other jets like the A300 and Boeing 747 joined their fleet through the 70s and 80s, with their current livery (dubbed Sunriser) debuting in 1986.
Philippines was taken private in 1992, and from there expansion continued. But the airline suffered financial difficulties in 1997, ultimately leading to a several weeks long shutdown in 1998. The airline has seen several rounds of restructuring since, and another shutdown period during the 2020 pandemic. Currently, Philippines operates to 70 destinations with their PAL Express network included and operate 49 Airbus and Boeing jets.
A Philippines 777-300ER. These replaced the 747-400 on the long-haul flights, especially to North America. They operate to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Seattle on those flights.
The Models
This was a bit of a surprise to me, as 86 Philippines models have been produced since circa 1998. The first were from Dragon Wings, who produced an A330-200 (F-OHZM), A340-300 (F-OHPJ), and an unregistered A340-200. Moving to 2001, Dragon Wings also released a pair of former World MD-11s (N276WA, N277WA). Aeroclassics then released the first old livery aircraft, a BAC One Eleven (PI-C1121). You’ll also notice the different registration prefix; the current RP-Cxxxx prefix was introduced in 1974.
The first DC-8 (RP-C801) in the scale was produced by Gemini Jets in 2002, an exclusive for SkyJets400. Dragon Wings then released a DC-10-30 (PH-DTI), which was leased from KLM. Their early 747s wore American registrations, too, which is reflected on various BigBird releases from 2005 (N741PR, N742PR). N741PR was rereleased with Visit Chicago titles at this time, too. These aircraft were owned by the U.S. Eximbank (Export-Import Bank) and thus carried U.S. registrations. Philippine-registered 747s came the next year with an Aeroclassics -400 (RP-C8168) and -200 (RP-C5745).
2007 saw several Philippines aircraft released. An A300B (RP-C3001) in the old livery was done by Aeroclassics, followed by an unregistered 777-300ER by Dragon. A Sunriser A300 (RP-C3003) wasn’t too far behind, followed by a Gemini A340-300 (F-OHPM). The year concluded with a fantasy reg 777-300ER (N777ER), also by Gemini. The first one was delivered in 2009. Rounding out the decade for models, there was another old livery A300 (RP-C3002) by Aeroclassics in 2008, then a pair of Phoenix 747-400s (RP-C7475, N751PR) in 2009.
2010 saw just one release, an Aeroclassics DC-8-50 (PI-C801) which featured a KLM tail. 2011 saw five, starting with a DC-10-30 (RP-C2114) by Aeroclassics, then the first 777-300ER by Phoenix (RP-C7777), a couple Aeroclassics Viscount 700 (PI-C771, PI-C7772), and an old livery DC-10 (RP-C2003). 2012 was another great year with six planes: a DC-8-63 (PH-DEL) and three DC-10-30s (PH-DTC, PH-DTK, RP-C2001) by Aeroclassics, a 747-400 (RP-C7472) by Witty Wings twice, and an A320 (RP-8615) by Gemini Jets, the first Airbus narrowbody release.
2013 continued an upward trend of Philippines releases, and it was a loaded year.
- Aeroclassics A330-300 RP-C3332, RP-C3340
- Aeroclassics A340-200 F-OHPI
- Aeroclassics A340-300 RP-C3430, RP-C3434
- Aeroclassics DC-8-63 PH-DEL
- Gemini Jets A330-300 RP-C3331
- JC Wings Fokker 50 PH-PRI
- Phoenix A330-300 RP-C3340
- Phoenix A340-300 RP-C3434
- Witty Wings B777-300ER RP-C7775
- Witty Wings DC-10-30 RP-C2114
2017 was a quiet year with just one Aeroclassics A321 sharklets (RP-C9901). Heading into 2018, Philippines took delivery of their first A350, so manufacturers took the opportunity to make some. Phoenix and Gemini Jets released RP-C3501, and Aviation400 released RP-C3503. Gemini also released an A321neo (RP-C9930), their first. The next year, JC Wings pumped out The Love Bus sticker on RP-C3507. 2020 saw a unique type in the Hawker Siddeley HS-748 (RP-C1024) from Aeroclassics, alongside another A321neo (RP-C9933). Continuing through the new decade, AV400 released an exclusive A340-300 (RP-C3439) through Tailwind Diecasts International; this was the Shepherd One aircraft for the Pope. NG also produced a Love Bus A350, the sister ship (RP-C3508) to the JC release.
2022 saw decent variety in the models again, starting with a 777 (RP-C7778) from AV400, then a 727-100 (RP-C1240) from Aeroclassics. Another Tailwind exclusive was released by Panda, a 737-400 (EI-CVN). Then it was a Fokker Friendship (PI-C516) and A300 (RP-C3003) to round out the year. 2023 saw two more DC-10s (RP-C2114, PH-DTI) in the old livery and an A321neo (RP-C9938) by NG. And lastly, the latest two releases were in 2024 with a 747-200 (N741PR) by Phoenix, and in 2025 with an A350 (RP-C3504) by AV400.
A very lengthy list but one that details a lot of history of Philippine Airlines! Which ones do you possess?
