Royal New Zealand Army & US Joint Terminal Attack Controller – L118 Light Gun 105mm Howitzer Fire

P-3 Orion Torpedo Launch - Royal New Zealand Air Force

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF P-3K2 arrives at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu for RIMPAC 2016

Hi Resolution photos available here

Dramatic view: #RNZAF P-3K2 arrives at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu for #RIMPAC2016 #Force4NZ pic.twitter.com/ax9mXBg9Zb

— RNZAF (@NZAirForce) July 9, 2016

Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) retires CT-4E Airtrainers

Photo - Royal New Zealand Air Force

It was the end of an era when five of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) CT-4E Airtrainers took to the skies over Manawatu and Whanganui for a final farewell flyover today.
Flying in close formation, the CT-4Es have been a familiar sight in the regions’ skies since the model was introduced at RNZAF Base Ohakea in 1998.More than 190 students have successfully completed the Airtrainer phase of the Wings course after learning to fly in one of 13 aircraft.
Officer Commanding Pilot Training School Squadron Leader (SQNLDR) Ben Stephens was the formation leader for the farewell flyover and said it was great to be part of the final formation flight.
“For me, it was important to recognise the contribution of the aircraft and to share the experience with the Pilot Training School team,” SQNLDR Stephens said.

“It’s the end of an era, for sure, and it’s goodbye to a long serving aircraft.”
Commanding Officer Flying Training, Wing Commander (WGCDR) Richard Beaton said the Airtrainer had served well over the years.“The CT-4E Airtrainer has been the basic training aircraft for our pilots for more than a decade. They have been the training platform for our pilots to learn day and night flying, navigation, instrument and formation flying - skills which they build upon when they go on to fly more complex and larger aircraft,” WGCDR Beaton said.
The CT-4E Airtrainer has also been used by the RNZAF formation aerobatics team, the Red Checkers, showcasing flying skills while performing flying displays around the country.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s first two Beechcraft T-6C Texan IIs arrived at RNZAF Base Ohakea

Photo - Beechcraft News Room

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s first two new pilot training aircraft, the Beechcraft T-6C Texan II will arrive at their new home, RNZAF Base Ohakea.They are the first of 11 aircraft that will be used as the new pilot training aircraft from 2016, replacing the current CT-4E Airtrainers.

The Secretary of Defence, Helene Quilter, and Pilot Officer (PLTOFF) Nicole Brooke, a trainee pilot representing the next generation of Air Force pilots, were the first passengers in the new aircraft from Whenuapai to Ohakea, the final leg of their journey from Kansas in the United States.The aircraft are being delivered by the manufacturer Beechcraft Defence Systems and will be formally handed over to the RNZAF on 31 October after the completion of maintenance training in New Zealand and pilot conversion courses in the United States.