The Final Flight of Orion NZ4204 - 29 July 2022

[McFly]

"Orion NZ4204 is planned to fly for the last time on Friday 29 July 2022. It is planned to fly as part of the mixed formation fly-past in support of the Base Commander 'Change of Command' (CoC) parade at Whenuapai, and will continue on to Woodbourne after the fly-past."

"The fourth Orion, NZ4204, arrived from the US on 12 December 1966, captained by Flt Lt J B Irvine."

The Final Flight of Orion NZ4203 - 24 Sep 2021 - (link)
The Final Flight of Orion NZ4206 - 13 Dec 2021 - (link)

Lockheed P3B Orions RNZAF NZ4204 and NZ4205 RAAF Base Pearce late 1960s


NZ4204 on its return to Whenuapai after the upgrade, 25th April 2011

(Peter Lewis)

[gibbo]

AIUI 4204 is the one ear-marked for the RNZAF Museum but of course it will be via an 'indrect' route. When the P8's start arriving the Govt & NZDF PR spinners will likely go trumpeting 'hey look, we only have 3 Orions in service & we're getting 4 P8's,were growing the RNZAF'... sigh!

[machina]

What time?

[Dave Homewood]

The captain who delivered this aircraft, Barrie Irvine, spoke at one of our Forum Meets. You can hear his talk on the WONZ Show:

cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2017/04/barrie-irvine/

And he appeared in one of my videos along with the late Jim McHerron:

[McFly]

Jul 26, 2022 12:06:02 GMT 12 machina said:

What time?

11:30am..

[McFly]

"Final flight for NZ4204 ✈️ After 55-years with our Air Force, NZ4204 flew its final flight today as part of a Formation Thunder flypast with a Boeing aircraft over Base Auckland. The Orion aircraft and crew then flew over Base Ohakea and landed in Base Woodbourne. The P-3K2 Orion arrived in New Zealand in 1966 (entered service 1967) and has undertaken more than 22,000 flying hours, circumnavigating the globe in support of RNZAF deployments and exercises." (Link)

[camtech]

I see this was described as a "three-ship" formation. Knew my eyesight was bad, but is this a Missing Wingman formation?

[Deane B]

I am surprised in this new age, that all those aviators parading on the tarmac do not have to wear fluoro vests!