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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 22, 2022 12:02:18 GMT 12
 Air Force Heritage Flight takes off
22 MAR 2022 New Zealand’s military aviation heritage will now be on regular display throughout the country with the establishment of the four aircraft-strong Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand at Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Ohakea in the Manawatū. The purpose of the Flight is to commemorate and sustain the memory of New Zealand’s military aviation heritage, and to remind New Zealanders, friends and allies of our past shared sacrifice and continued commitment to global security. The Flight also aims to inspire current and potential New Zealand Defence Force personnel through engagement, respect and pride. Heritage Flight replaces the former RNZAF Historic Flight, and is a collaborative venture between the RNZAF and civil organisations that operate aircraft relevant to the RNZAF’s heritage. The RNZAF will be providing the pilots to fly the aircraft and the intent is to conduct flypasts, displays and static displays throughout New Zealand. The Flight Commander, Squadron Leader Michael Williams, says the unit hopes to bring a sense of pride, respect and esprit-de-corps to their flying displays, while honouring those who originally flew these aircraft in World War II. “Through Heritage Flight we can add value for the RNZAF through external engagement both internationally and domestically. Heritage Flight aircraft are also tangible reminders to those currently serving in the NZDF of our core values of Courage, Commitment, Comradeship and Integrity, which continue to underpin all that we do,” he said. The Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand currently comprises Harvard NZ1076, Tiger Moth NZ662, Spitfire PV270 and Avenger NZ2518 (“Plonky”), all legendary aircraft. “Avenger 18 is particularly poignant for the RNZAF as it was in the original aircraft that RNZAF aircrew were shot down and killed during an operation in the Pacific. Direct relatives of the original crew continue to serve in the modern RNZAF,” Squadron Leader Williams said. The RNZAF pilots in the Flight are Squadron Leaders Williams, Jim Rankin, Paul Stockley, Sean Perrett and Stuart Anderson. The Flight will be marking the 85th anniversary of the RNZAF by conducting a series of flypasts in Central New Zealand on the day, Friday 1 April. They will fly over towns in the Manawatū, Wairarapa and Wellington areas, and then on to Christchurch and back to Ohakea by a different route in the course of the day. Other RNZAF aircraft will also be marking the occasion around New Zealand. Follow the Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand on Facebook
www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/air-force-heritage-flight-takes-off/ |
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Post by ZacYates on Mar 22, 2022 12:46:26 GMT 12
Fantastic news! I'm surprised the Harvard is 76 rather than 37, but the former was my favourite as a kid so it's all worked out nicely!
Now for the Sioux and Iroquois...!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 22, 2022 13:34:31 GMT 12
You don't want much, do you?
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Post by Antonio on Mar 22, 2022 13:37:09 GMT 12
What will happen to NZ1015?
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Post by aeromuzz on Mar 22, 2022 14:18:13 GMT 12
Hopefully there is a reasonable budget for displays, maintenance, repairs and future restorations.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Mar 22, 2022 14:58:52 GMT 12
What will happen to NZ1015? Agreed. And the Devon? |
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Post by McFly on Mar 22, 2022 15:20:50 GMT 12
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Post by tbf2504 on Mar 22, 2022 15:40:41 GMT 12
The Devon(s) have been put up for sale. My understanding is that NZ1015 has not been repaired since the forced landing
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Post by oj on Mar 22, 2022 18:53:05 GMT 12
So as we go from town to town, we must have a handicap race to presumably allow all four to arrive on time for the individual town flyover?
That would suggest that between towns, observers will only see single aircraft in transit unless the faster aircraft are flying a series of ellipses around the tiger moth track?
How is this going to work?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 22, 2022 19:52:12 GMT 12
Squadron Leader Michael Williams and I are planning to record a Wings Over New Zealand Show about the new AFHF very soon, within the next couple of weeks. I will try to add some of the questions posted here into that.
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Post by typerated on Mar 22, 2022 21:19:29 GMT 12
Not a critism (more of a quiz question for the future!) but not many historic flights that fly a type the service never flew!
Was there not talk of a Sioux?
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Post by tbf2504 on Mar 23, 2022 8:42:13 GMT 12
NZ3713 has been stored since withdrawal from service with the long term intention to return it to flight for the AFHF. Similarly NZ3808 has also been retained by the air force
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Post by aeromuzz on Mar 23, 2022 11:01:14 GMT 12
NZ3713 has been stored since withdrawal from service with the long term intention to return it to flight for the AFHF. Similarly NZ3808 has also been retained by the air force Which kind of leads to the quesion, "What about the other airframes currently held by the Air Force e.g. Devons, Harvards, Vampires, etc?" Do any of these have potentially have a future with the Heritage Flight? Is there any possibility that an aircraft could be pulled out of the Air Force Museum and made airworthy? (Very unlikely, I would suggest...). Obviously, the budget will have a bearing on these questions. Also, is the Heritage Flight looking at any other privately owned aircraft for inclusion? |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 23, 2022 11:57:20 GMT 12
Appears that of the listed aircraft, only the Tiger is actually RNZAF property.
The other three are privately owned.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 23, 2022 12:52:59 GMT 12
Please don't keep asking the "what abouts" and instead be thankful that we at last have this venture up and running. It has taken years to get it this far! The future will unfold in time, but what we all need to do is show our support for the Air Force Heritage Flight right now, which only exists thanks to the persistence of a few keen officers in the RNZAF, plus the huge generosity of the owners of the civilian warbirds that are contributing to the AFHF, and of course the backing of the right people in the chain of command.
More will be revealed in the upcoming WONZ Show that I will be doing with Mike Williams, the CO of the AFHF.
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Post by tbf2504 on Mar 23, 2022 14:11:43 GMT 12
NZ1015 was put on the civil register as ZK-RNZ several years ago so that it could be maintained under the rules for civilian Harvards as the air force had literally run out of expertise and manpower in
maintaining this old machine. NZ662 is still on the air force books
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Post by aeromuzz on Mar 23, 2022 14:59:25 GMT 12
Please don't keep asking the "what abouts" and instead be thankful that we at last have this venture up and running. It has taken years to get it this far! The future will unfold in time, but what we all need to do is show our support for the Air Force Heritage Flight right now, which only exists thanks to the persistence of a few keen officers in the RNZAF, plus the huge generosity of the owners of the civilian warbirds that are contributing to the AFHF, and of course the backing of the right people in the chain of command. More will be revealed in the upcoming WONZ Show that I will be doing with Mike Williams, the CO of the AFHF. For my part, I didn't mean to stir anything up, I was intending to give you some ideas for questions to be asked about in your upcoming WONZ interview. I am extremely excited and grateful for this move and I hope it leads to bigger things eventually. |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Mar 23, 2022 15:12:04 GMT 12
Likewise. I think we all naturally have many questions about this initiative and what the boundaries/parameters of operation and inclusion are. This is a reflection of our enthusiasm and support rather than not. No criticism or discontent implied.
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Post by McFly on Mar 23, 2022 15:23:31 GMT 12
NZ1015 was put on the civil register as ZK-RNZ several years ago so that it could be maintained under the rules for civilian Harvards as the air force had literally run out of expertise and manpower in maintaining this old machine. NZ662 is still on the air force books.  |
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Post by ZacYates on Mar 23, 2022 16:31:46 GMT 12
Please don't keep asking the "what abouts" and instead be thankful that we at last have this venture up and running. My apologies Dave, I should have included an emoticon to show the intended cheekiness/jest of my last comment. I'm very excited about the endeavour and am eager to hear the upcoming WONZ Show. |
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