SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company, seems to have acquired a Boeing 737 aircraft previously owned by Air China, but it is not yet known why.
According to Business Insider, the aircraft, registration number N154TS, was filmed by a famous spotter while landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, January 31, where its unique gray livery attracted attention.
Unexpected visitor at LAX: A Boeing 737-800 with a distinctive livery, registered under Falcon Aviation Holdings LLC. Interesting twist – its registration address is linked to SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne! #aviation #avgeek #airplanes #planespotting pic.twitter.com/mf6I29kt26
— AIRLINE VIDEOS (@airlinevideos) January 25, 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registry indicates that the aircraft is owned by Falcon Aviation Holdings LLC. This company’s address is the same as SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California.
Falcon Aviation Holdings became the owner of the Boeing 737-800 back in July, according to data from Planespotters.net. The aircraft was first put into service in 2002 when it was purchased by Air China.
Ten years later, Air China converted the aircraft to a cargo plane. It is not yet clear whether it will remain in this configuration or what SpaceX might use it for.
Interestingly, the subsidiary company that owns the plane is different from other aircraft associated with SpaceX.
Jack Sweeney, an aviation enthusiast who had previously angered Musk by following his planes online, noted that there are five aircraft associated with SpaceX. Most of them are owned by Falcon Landing LLC.
A review of the current aircraft related to SpaceX
N628TS (FALCON LANDING LLC) a G650
N272BG (FALCON LANDING LLC) a G550
N502SX (FALCON LANDING LLC) > Now (TVPX TRUSTEE) a G550
N450GG (TVPX TRUSTEE) a G450
N154TS (FALCON AVIATION HOLDINGS LLC) a B738— Jack Sweeney (@Jxck_Sweeney) January 26, 2024
In addition to the “new” Boeing, the other four are private Gulfstream jets, including the G650, which is Musk’s usual means of air transportation.
Thus, why his company purchased another plane that can accommodate up to 10 times more people than the Gulfstream remains unknown.
SpaceX has not yet provided a comment on the purchase of the new aircraft.
