Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 20, 2022 12:47:30 GMT 12
First Airtrainer reaches Wigram
The Royal New Zealand Air Force officially took delivery at Wigram yesterday of the first of its long-awaited Airtrainers. It was flown from the manufacturer, Aerospace Industries Ltd. of Hamilton, by Flight Lieutenant N. Davey in 2hr 50min. after a brief stop at Wellington,
Watched by several hundred base staff, the little aircraft touched down at Wigram at 4 p.m. to be met by the base commander (Group Captain I. V. Mackay ), Corporal L. Leeston, the most senior airman at the base, and Airman Cadet I. C. Tait, the youngest.
A bottle of champagne was opened and some was poured over the aircraft’s propeller spinner to mark the introduction of a new training era at Wigram with the new aircraft, of which the R.N.Z.A.F. has ordered 13. Flight Lieutenant Davey, who test flew the Airtrainer at Hamilton, handed over the aircraft log to Group Captain Mackay, who afterwards made a short acceptance speech.
PRESS, 28 JULY 1976
The Royal New Zealand Air Force officially took delivery at Wigram yesterday of the first of its long-awaited Airtrainers. It was flown from the manufacturer, Aerospace Industries Ltd. of Hamilton, by Flight Lieutenant N. Davey in 2hr 50min. after a brief stop at Wellington,
Watched by several hundred base staff, the little aircraft touched down at Wigram at 4 p.m. to be met by the base commander (Group Captain I. V. Mackay ), Corporal L. Leeston, the most senior airman at the base, and Airman Cadet I. C. Tait, the youngest.
A bottle of champagne was opened and some was poured over the aircraft’s propeller spinner to mark the introduction of a new training era at Wigram with the new aircraft, of which the R.N.Z.A.F. has ordered 13. Flight Lieutenant Davey, who test flew the Airtrainer at Hamilton, handed over the aircraft log to Group Captain Mackay, who afterwards made a short acceptance speech.
PRESS, 28 JULY 1976
