Recieved Media relase regarding Texans at WINGS OVER WAIRARAPA
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 11 December 2014
RNZAF JOINS WINGS OVER WAIRARAPA LINE-UP
The Royal New Zealand Airforce’s Beechcraft T-6 Texan Trainers will make their public New Zealand debut at next month’s Wings Over Wairarapa airshow in Masterton.
The new Texan pilot training aircraft, will be operated by members of the soon-to-be re-established No 14 Squadron, which has strong links to Masterton, during the three-day airshow being held at Hood Aerodrome over Wellington Anniversary Weekend (January 16 – 18th 2015).
RNZAF Squadron Leader Jim Rankin says the RNZAF is pleased to be able to support Wings over Wairarapa.
“The primary purpose in attending Wings Over Wairarapa, one of the major biennial airshows that we regularly attend, is to engage with the general public and allow them to see first hand some of the aircraft, personnel and capabilities of the Defence Force,” he says.
“We can bring our own unique aircraft types, not available in the civil sector, to add to the excellent range of aircraft the public can expect to see at Wings.”
With the RNZAF having a focus on “new capabilities” coming on line, their line-up of aircraft at the airshow will include the New Zealand debut of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan Trainers, the NH90 and A109 helicopters and the recently refurbished and upgraded Hercules. The attendance at the show is subject to operational requirements.
“As well as providing an opportunity to showcase the RNZAF to the public, attendance at events like Wings over Wairarapa, is also a useful exercise in deployment and operation away from our normal operating Bases,” says Squadron Leader Rankin.
“Deploying to remote locations to continue air operations is a core skill that is regularly practised by the Defence Force. That we get to practise doing so while at the same time engaging with, informing and hopefully entertaining the public is a bonus.”
The debut of the Texans will also be a salute to 14 Squadron, the RNZAF's first fighter unit formed in Masterton on 25 April 1942 that is programmed to be reformed at the end of January. The squadron was equipped with North American Harvards until P-40 Kittyhawks could be obtained.
Wings Over Wairarapa airshow director Tom Williams says the soon-to-be reformed 14 Squadron will celebrate the close links between the airshow and the RNZAF. It will also add weight to the airshow’s theme of “100 years of aviation history”.
“The RNZAF has always supported Wings Over Wairarapa and their support again in 2015 is terrific with it being such a significant commemoration of 100 years in aviation,” he says.
The RNZAF’s aircraft will line-up alongside a reproduction Richard Pearse aircraft, and a replica 1910 Pither Monoplane – (the only one in the world) both unique examples of their originals that were built over 100 years ago - as well as aircraft from WWI and WWII.
At the other end of the technology spectrum there will be a large number of Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS or Drone) many of which will feature in the RPAS industry tradeshow.
The tradeshow, which will run at Wings Over Wairarapa, will feature a series of live demonstrations of RPAS, which have uses in both recreational and commercial areas including aerial photography, the surveying of farms or real estate, locating missing people or animals and the inspection of electricity cables.
It also goes hand in hand with the Royal Aeronautical Society, New Zealand Division, 30th Annual Symposium being held in Masterton in the lead-in to the event. The Symposium, to be held at the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park, will focus on the future of flight, the capability of RPAS and their integration into the aviation system. The Symposium is being held in partnership with Callaghan Innovation, UAVNZ and Aviation NZ and will see it’s Professional Membership (industry leaders in aviation and aerospace) discuss issues facing the industry.
As well as all the excitement above the ground, there is just as much excitement on the ground thanks to mock battles; static displays including a combined Defence Forces interactive camp; children’s entertainment, contemporary and vintage military vehicles; a retail village and a wine and food village.
Tickets for the 2015 Wings Over Wairarapa event are now on sale through websites
www.ticketdirect.co.nz and
www.wings.org.nz. For more information visit
www.wings.org.nz or our Facebook page WOWairshow or follow us on Twitter@WOWairshow.
ENDS
but well done! I still have a double bed and single available - I have confirmed my booking now but the unit lounge has those - awaiting emergencies!!
