Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 18, 2007 0:04:44 GMT 12
times-age.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3738130&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
Hood Aerodrome to play host to RNZAF exercise
15.06.2007
WAIRARAPA people with a passion for military aircraft will be in for a rare treat in September when the skies above play host to Exercise Wiseowl 89.
Hood Aerodrome, in Masterton, has been selected as the venue for the 89th exercise organised by the RNZAF and will be transformed into a tented military camp housing a Pilot Training Squadron.
Airtrainer and Kingair aircraft will fly up to 40 sorties a day and people living up to 100km from the airfield can expect to see pairs of yellow and black Airtrainers soaring overhead in close formation.
Exercise Wiseowl is designed to test military student pilots and their aircraft away from their home base at Ohakea so the young pilots can get a taste of working in "field conditions for the first time".
It will run from September 3 to September 13 with an open day on September 8 from 10.30am to 2pm.
At the open day there will be static displays along with some short aerial displays.
Setting up camp will be an exercise in itself as the airfield will become a tent city with some tents up to 40m in length.
The camp is to be self-sufficient with a field kitchen, medical tent, administration unit, a communications centre and a logistics unit for supplies and spare parts as well as a maintenance centre for the aircraft.
About 90 pilots, instructors and other personnel will be "permanent" residents of the camp but others are expected to spend a few days there boosting numbers to around 120.
RNZAF staff plan to invite schools and some other organisations to the camp to meet pilots and to find out more about the air force.
Hood Aerodrome to play host to RNZAF exercise
15.06.2007
WAIRARAPA people with a passion for military aircraft will be in for a rare treat in September when the skies above play host to Exercise Wiseowl 89.
Hood Aerodrome, in Masterton, has been selected as the venue for the 89th exercise organised by the RNZAF and will be transformed into a tented military camp housing a Pilot Training Squadron.
Airtrainer and Kingair aircraft will fly up to 40 sorties a day and people living up to 100km from the airfield can expect to see pairs of yellow and black Airtrainers soaring overhead in close formation.
Exercise Wiseowl is designed to test military student pilots and their aircraft away from their home base at Ohakea so the young pilots can get a taste of working in "field conditions for the first time".
It will run from September 3 to September 13 with an open day on September 8 from 10.30am to 2pm.
At the open day there will be static displays along with some short aerial displays.
Setting up camp will be an exercise in itself as the airfield will become a tent city with some tents up to 40m in length.
The camp is to be self-sufficient with a field kitchen, medical tent, administration unit, a communications centre and a logistics unit for supplies and spare parts as well as a maintenance centre for the aircraft.
About 90 pilots, instructors and other personnel will be "permanent" residents of the camp but others are expected to spend a few days there boosting numbers to around 120.
RNZAF staff plan to invite schools and some other organisations to the camp to meet pilots and to find out more about the air force.
