No. 5 Squadron Upcoming Events Re P-3 Retirement and New P-8

[machina]

Okay Orion up again.

[tbf2504]

Will be watching them over NZPP, hope the day will be fine and they are not too high in the sky for a decent pic

[Dave Homewood]

According to a post on Facebook yesterday an Orion was registering 56 feet over the water in the Hauraki Gulf on Flight Radar. Must have been very impressing seeing it skimming over the wave tops.

[machina]

I was gawking from the fence at Whenuapai when the last one landed. Had a bath on the way back to the hangar which was cool to see.

[felyne]

This mornings flyover Whenuapai. We've had a week of cloudless skies but this is what we got today. A squall came and sat over the airfield right at 10am.

Forgive the video quality - haven't used the camera in a while and it struggled to pick them up against the clouds:



Hopefully someone was at Whenuapai for the flyover, the firetrucks were all out on the runway with lights flashing as well - must have looked awesome. Heading to Whenuapai for the 3pm so hopefully we will have clearer skies and better footage to share.

[ErrolC]

Per FB

Royal New Zealand Air Force
Kia ora, the aircraft were delayed by 20 minutes this morning due to weather conditions at Whenuapai.

Don't know if they are trying to catch up with their schedule.

I'll probably go to Bastion Point at about 2:30pm.

UPDATE

Royal New Zealand Air Force

A message from one of our pilots:
We’ve run into some weather around the Central North Island so we’re unable to reach Tāupo and the Desert Road. We will be abeam New Plymouth in about 10 min and we will likely be about 10-15 min late at Ohakea and subsequent route points.
Thank you all for your patience and apologies for the inconvenience.

[planewriting]

So can anyone state their current position?

[tbf2504]

went overhead NZPP at 12.20 along the coast so taking pics from airfield made them small target! They were accompanied by a T6

[planewriting]

Thanks Paul. Maybe I will seem them over Tauranga just after 1400.

[felyne]

12:59 over Carterton was last post on reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/10jmtqq/psa_last_orion_flyby_over_north_island_today/

[machina]

Dropped off FR24. Anyone have an update on location?

[ErrolC]

Heading north past Little Barrier, so nearly back on time?

[ErrolC]

Southbound by little barrier, Herc01 heading out

[Dave Homewood]

They were only six minutes late when they reach Cambridge so they were making it up on the lost time.

[planewriting]

Jan 24, 2023 12:05:05 GMT 12 planewriting said:

Thanks Paul. Maybe I will seem them over Tauranga just after 1400.

Well, I was at a high vantage point in Tauranga but didn't see any sign of them. Where did they go after Napier? Did they follow a revised flight path?

Comments anyone? 

[machina]

Herc over Rangitoto, assuming he’s gone up to take photos and they’re coming down the harbour.

[ErrolC]

Jan 24, 2023 14:17:43 GMT 12 planewriting said:

Jan 24, 2023 12:05:05 GMT 12 planewriting said:

Thanks Paul. Maybe I will seem them over Tauranga just after 1400.

Well, I was at a high vantage point in Tauranga but didn't see any sign of them. Where did they go after Napier? Did they follow a revised flight path?

Comments anyone? 

I think they had to avoid weather, and went out over bay of plenty if the track on FA is to be believed.

[planewriting]

Interesting, NZ4202 is showing on FR24 has having climbed out over the North Shore and is past Port Waikato at over 28,000 feet

[planewriting]

Jan 24, 2023 14:55:33 GMT 12 planewriting said:

Interesting, NZ4202 is showing on FR24 has having climbed out over the North Shore and is past Port Waikato at over 28,000 feet. This would be the one heading to Woodbourne as per ...


"On completion at WP, one of the aircraft will depart to WB to be retired. The final two will remain at WP until the last day of P3 Operations at the end of January".

[emron]

Just back from giving them a farewell wave from Piper Rock, Coyle Park, Pt Chevalier. Great view of them flying up the length of the harbour and going out west. I bet they passed by there more than a few times during their careers.