Post by baronbeeza on Mar 3, 2015 14:33:05 GMT 12
Although I am yet to work out what the media are on about here.
www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/66833370/spitfire-display-marks-air-force-changes
LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff.co.nz
Kiwi spitfire pilot Doug Brooker talks about the history of his beloved WWII Spitfire and demonstrates with a flyover at Whenuapai airbase.
Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Mike Yardley inspects his staff during an official handover of Whenuapai air base to base commander group captain Timothy Walshe.
As a spitfire roared overhead, changes to the structure of the Air Force that will see several squadrons disestablished were made official.
At a ceremony to mark the introduction of a new command arrangement across the Air Force yesterday, chief Air Vice-Marshal Mike Yardley reviewed a parade at the Whenuapai base while the plane performed a flying display overhead.
Spitfire pilot Doug Brooker said the plane was beautiful to fly and had an extremely tight turning circle, as he tried to demonstrate in the flyover.
Wherever he went people wanted to talk about the plane as soon as he landed, he said.
"I had letters from little old ladies who told me about their father or uncles or someone that had fought in the Battle of Britain, the emotional attachment is quite extreme."
The changes to the Air Force's command and control, which will see new structures introduced at Auckland, Ohakea bases as well as the chief of Air Force's team, aims to streamline the way bases are commanded.
Base commanders at Auckland, Ohakea and Woodbourne, will be responsible for unifying effort across the base and will have greater control over flying activities.
The 485 Wing, 488 Wing, Operational Support Command and 209 Squadron will all be disestablished. No staff will be made redundant, however.
Yardley said the changes were on of the most significant alterations to the Air Force ever undertaken.
They should strengthen the leadership of the air bases, he said.
"Notwithstanding the improvements the new C2 will bring, it is somewhat inevitable that there will be teething problems associated with implementation."
However, he assured staff there feedback would be listened to, unlike previous changes.
Alongside the parade and flyover, Captain Tim Walshe was formally appointed Auckland Base Commander.
Walshe enlisted in the Air Force in 1984 and served twice in the Middle East.
Kiwi spitfire pilot Doug Brooker talks about the history of his beloved WWII Spitfire and demonstrates with a flyover at Whenuapai airbase.
Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Mike Yardley inspects his staff during an official handover of Whenuapai air base to base commander group captain Timothy Walshe.
As a spitfire roared overhead, changes to the structure of the Air Force that will see several squadrons disestablished were made official.
At a ceremony to mark the introduction of a new command arrangement across the Air Force yesterday, chief Air Vice-Marshal Mike Yardley reviewed a parade at the Whenuapai base while the plane performed a flying display overhead.
Spitfire pilot Doug Brooker said the plane was beautiful to fly and had an extremely tight turning circle, as he tried to demonstrate in the flyover.
Wherever he went people wanted to talk about the plane as soon as he landed, he said.
"I had letters from little old ladies who told me about their father or uncles or someone that had fought in the Battle of Britain, the emotional attachment is quite extreme."
The changes to the Air Force's command and control, which will see new structures introduced at Auckland, Ohakea bases as well as the chief of Air Force's team, aims to streamline the way bases are commanded.
Base commanders at Auckland, Ohakea and Woodbourne, will be responsible for unifying effort across the base and will have greater control over flying activities.
The 485 Wing, 488 Wing, Operational Support Command and 209 Squadron will all be disestablished. No staff will be made redundant, however.
Yardley said the changes were on of the most significant alterations to the Air Force ever undertaken.
They should strengthen the leadership of the air bases, he said.
"Notwithstanding the improvements the new C2 will bring, it is somewhat inevitable that there will be teething problems associated with implementation."
However, he assured staff there feedback would be listened to, unlike previous changes.
Alongside the parade and flyover, Captain Tim Walshe was formally appointed Auckland Base Commander.
Walshe enlisted in the Air Force in 1984 and served twice in the Middle East.