WONZ 257 - The Air Force Heritage Flight
Apr 7, 2022 13:54:49 GMT 12
mcmaster, vs, and 1 more like this
Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 7, 2022 13:54:49 GMT 12
The latest WONZ Show is now online and is very topical this week. It also answers a lot of questions asked recently.
The Air Force Heritage Flight is the newest unit of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and in this episode we hear from its Flight Commander, Squadron Leader Mike Williams. The Ohakea-based unit consists of a mix of the RNZAF's current Beechcraft Texan II training aircraft and a variety of WWII warbirds. They have worked up a display team routine for airshows, and also will be making special flypasts around New Zealand.
This unit replaces the now defunct RNZAF Historic Flight, and takes the goals of that previous unit to the next level. As well as a way to engage today's younger airmen and airwomen with their service's heritage, the Flight will also be showing the flag to the public, and hoping to inspire the next generation of RNZAF aviators and engineers.
The AFHF's first major event happened just a few days ago when the four-ship formation of the Spitfire, Avenger and two Texans flew from Ohakea to Christchurch and back again, flying over as many towns and communities along the way as possible so that people could see them. It was a huge success with a massive engagement from the public who turned out to watch, wave, photograph and video the AFHF flying over.
Their next big outing will be in two days' time on Saturday the 9th of April 2022, when they fly north from Ohakea to Whenuapai over loads of cities, towns and communities along the way, and then back again on a different route. For details or for those without Facebook, see here
Mike also talks about his own career in the RNZAF, what is happening with some of the aircraft that were with the old Historic Flight, and also he goes into scary detail of his major engine failure and belly landing in Harvard NZ1015, which was the catalyst for the change of direction to create this new unit.
Here is the show page link:
cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2022/04/wonz-257-the-air-force-heritage-flight/
And here is a video version:
The Air Force Heritage Flight is the newest unit of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and in this episode we hear from its Flight Commander, Squadron Leader Mike Williams. The Ohakea-based unit consists of a mix of the RNZAF's current Beechcraft Texan II training aircraft and a variety of WWII warbirds. They have worked up a display team routine for airshows, and also will be making special flypasts around New Zealand.
This unit replaces the now defunct RNZAF Historic Flight, and takes the goals of that previous unit to the next level. As well as a way to engage today's younger airmen and airwomen with their service's heritage, the Flight will also be showing the flag to the public, and hoping to inspire the next generation of RNZAF aviators and engineers.
The AFHF's first major event happened just a few days ago when the four-ship formation of the Spitfire, Avenger and two Texans flew from Ohakea to Christchurch and back again, flying over as many towns and communities along the way as possible so that people could see them. It was a huge success with a massive engagement from the public who turned out to watch, wave, photograph and video the AFHF flying over.
Their next big outing will be in two days' time on Saturday the 9th of April 2022, when they fly north from Ohakea to Whenuapai over loads of cities, towns and communities along the way, and then back again on a different route. For details or for those without Facebook, see here
Mike also talks about his own career in the RNZAF, what is happening with some of the aircraft that were with the old Historic Flight, and also he goes into scary detail of his major engine failure and belly landing in Harvard NZ1015, which was the catalyst for the change of direction to create this new unit.
Here is the show page link:
cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2022/04/wonz-257-the-air-force-heritage-flight/
And here is a video version:
