Copyright Photo: Sean Mowatt. 9Q-COW departs from Johannesburg.

Hewa Bora Airways (Kinshasa) in March started operating this ex-American Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) 9Q-COW (msn 49251, ex N236AA). The aircraft is actually operated for Hewa Bora by Executive Jet Services. 9Q-COW is actually one of four ex-AA DC-9-82s being added.

Hewa Bora Airways’ fleet is blacklisted from using European airspace. A company Lockheed L-1011-385-3 TriStar 500 and a Boeing 767-200 ER were the last aircraft accepted into European airspace. Hewa Bora was also the last airline that was allowed to operate from the Democratic Republic of the Congo into Europe.

Copyright Photo: Sean Mowatt. 9Q-COW departs from Johannesburg in a partial color scheme.