Post by Dave Homewood on May 22, 2007 9:12:14 GMT 12
Politicians have been forced to rough it without VIP Boeings. Maybe they'll spare a thought for our NZDF personnell who usually travel in such discomfort now
Hurculean journey
By MICHAEL OTTO - Manukau Courier | Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Some of the New Zealand delegation to the state funeral of Samoa's Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II travelled to and from the Pacific nation on an RNZAF Hercules C130 transport airplane.
It wasn't a trip for the fainthearted.
At Whenuapai airbase about 60 passengers crammed in, including Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, minister Nanaia Mahuta, MPs Mark Gosche and Brian Donnelly, judge Aeau Semi Epati, British High Commissioner George Fergusson, representatives from Niue and French Polynesia, the mayors of Porirua and Waitakere, officials, Samoan community representatives and members of the media.
Others in the Kiwi delegation, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, travelled to Apia in an RNZAF Orion.
The Hercules, usually used for transporting cargo, had been fitted for passengers.
We sat shoulder-to-shoulder in red canvas seats strapped to metal supports.
Four rows ran most of the length of the plane with passengers seated in the two middle rows facing those on the sides.
It took five hours to get to Samoa and five and a half hours back - all within about 30 hours.
As the plane's four giant engines screamed into life, everyone put in their earplugs.
Conversation was, shall we say, limited. So there were plenty of improvised hand signals.
Most passengers leaned into the person next to them when the plane climbed after takeoff.
And if you held your teeth just a lttle distance apart, they would chatter.
Every hour, one of the crew would inspect pipes and valves in the middle of the plane, shining a torch on various parts.
The crew were unfailingly polite and professional toward passengers.
The passengers were given their food at the start of each flight. You had five hours to decide how to eat the combination of fruit, filled rolls, biscuits, chocolate bar and juice.
Towards the end of the journey, drips of condensation started to fall on some passengers, but despite the minor discomforts spirits were high and the end of each leg of the journey elicited applause
Hurculean journey
By MICHAEL OTTO - Manukau Courier | Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Some of the New Zealand delegation to the state funeral of Samoa's Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II travelled to and from the Pacific nation on an RNZAF Hercules C130 transport airplane.
It wasn't a trip for the fainthearted.
At Whenuapai airbase about 60 passengers crammed in, including Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, minister Nanaia Mahuta, MPs Mark Gosche and Brian Donnelly, judge Aeau Semi Epati, British High Commissioner George Fergusson, representatives from Niue and French Polynesia, the mayors of Porirua and Waitakere, officials, Samoan community representatives and members of the media.
Others in the Kiwi delegation, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, travelled to Apia in an RNZAF Orion.
The Hercules, usually used for transporting cargo, had been fitted for passengers.
We sat shoulder-to-shoulder in red canvas seats strapped to metal supports.
Four rows ran most of the length of the plane with passengers seated in the two middle rows facing those on the sides.
It took five hours to get to Samoa and five and a half hours back - all within about 30 hours.
As the plane's four giant engines screamed into life, everyone put in their earplugs.
Conversation was, shall we say, limited. So there were plenty of improvised hand signals.
Most passengers leaned into the person next to them when the plane climbed after takeoff.
And if you held your teeth just a lttle distance apart, they would chatter.
Every hour, one of the crew would inspect pipes and valves in the middle of the plane, shining a torch on various parts.
The crew were unfailingly polite and professional toward passengers.
The passengers were given their food at the start of each flight. You had five hours to decide how to eat the combination of fruit, filled rolls, biscuits, chocolate bar and juice.
Towards the end of the journey, drips of condensation started to fall on some passengers, but despite the minor discomforts spirits were high and the end of each leg of the journey elicited applause
? 
