RNZAF callsigns

[zkarj]

Does anyone have a complete list of the callsigns used by RNZAF aircraft currently?

I often see RNZAF aircraft on FlightRadar24 and can often work out what the callsign abbreviations stand for. E.g. TEX = Texan, PDN = Poseidon, BOE = Boeing. I think overseas flights all go by KIW = Kiwi, and indeed it seems that flight numbers are all KIW, even if used internally (and it seems not all broadcast a flight number).

I've just seen two Super King Airs with callsigns STG51 and STG52 (and flight numbers KIW51 & KIW52) but cannot be sure what STG represents... Stagecoach?

I also note in the air at one time TEX01, TEXBRZ, and two instances of TEXCOP. I assume the latter to be Bronze and Copper, as I have certainly seen TEXGLD and TEXSIL (or similar) before. I'm intrigued at two having the same callsign at one time, and not in the same bit of airspace, either.

[machina]

I see HERO for the Hercs.

[machina]

Jun 23, 2023 14:46:46 GMT 12 machina said:

I see HERO for the Hercs.

Or maybe it’s just HER? Can’t remember now…

[Dave Homewood]

HER and then 01, 02, 03 etc.

[machina]

I think the F-14s are ‘Ghostrider’, aren’t they?

[cj6flyer]

Jun 23, 2023 14:43:19 GMT 12 zkarj said:

Does anyone have a complete list of the callsigns used by RNZAF aircraft currently?

I often see RNZAF aircraft on FlightRadar24 and can often work out what the callsign abbreviations stand for. E.g. TEX = Texan, PDN = Poseidon, BOE = Boeing. I think overseas flights all go by KIW = Kiwi, and indeed it seems that flight numbers are all KIW, even if used internally (and it seems not all broadcast a flight number).

I've just seen two Super King Airs with callsigns STG51 and STG52 (and flight numbers KIW51 & KIW52) but cannot be sure what STG represents... Stagecoach?

I also note in the air at one time TEX01, TEXBRZ, and two instances of TEXCOP. I assume the latter to be Bronze and Copper, as I have certainly seen TEXGLD and TEXSIL (or similar) before. I'm intrigued at two having the same callsign at one time, and not in the same bit of airspace, either.

[cj6flyer]

STG = Sterling….. for the KingAirs

[joey05]

As of this moment there is HER01 NZ7001 in the air and BOTH B757 - NZ7571 - BOE7571, Whenuapai - Chch by the looks, NZ7572 - KIW303 heading towards Oz. So its seems yes KIW used internationally. Thats half of 40Sqns fleet in the air at the same time (4 C130H, 2 B757 3/6)!

[zkarj]

I remembered another one. WRR = Warrior, which I have seen for the NH90s. Makes sense given the 3 SQN badge. I cannot recall what the A109s use.

[tbf2504]

The current callsigns (since 1970) are based on the aircraft type or a callsign associated with the squadron (i.e. Warrior for the NH90s as they have no type name like the old Iroquois) The use of a colour such as TEX gold relates to a formation of similar aircraft types and is used by the leading aircraft of the formation to communicate with ATC. The A109 use the callsign MAKO which is a bit of a reference to the shape of the helicopter's front end.
RNZAF aircraft on routine overseas flight use KIWI as their primary callsign followed by the mission number i.e.894 An Example of this was the C130 trip to the IAT in 1994 the mission number was NGH894 (N-ational G-reat Britain (UK) H-ercules) 894 the callsign for the whole trip was KIW894.
Where there will be differences in callsigns is for tactical purposes. Then the aircraft will be assigned a particular callsign (drawn from a very large book of them, and a mission number) i.e. "TEAPOT01" which was a callsign
used by a Vampire during Exercise Southern Cross in 1968.

[zkarj]

Thanks tbf2504. I have actually seen the A109 callsign before, now that you mention it. I'm sure I've seen the SH2G one before, as well, but cannot recall it.

So as there aren't many types in the fleet, we almost have the full set now...

NH90 = WRR = Warrior = squadron badge
A109 = MAK = Mako = aircraft shape
SH2G = = =

B350 = STG = Sterling =
T-6C = TEX = Texan = aircraft name

P-8 = PDN = Poseidon = aircraft name
757 = BOE = Boeing = aircraft name (ish)
C130 = HER = Hercules = aircraft name

All = KIW = Kiwi

[machina]

Aren’t the Sprites just SEA?

[zkarj]

Ah, like the Makos, that rings a bell now you mention it.

So the final one is
SH2G = SEA = Seasprite = aircraft name.

And that just leaves the question on why "Beechcraft Super King Air" = "Sterling".

[tbf2504]

The B350 use two types of callsigns, for routine transport flying the aircraft type "Kingair 53 etc" but for Air Warfare Officer training they use the Sterling or other assigned callsigns for that training role.

[machina]

There are currently 4 Sprites flying in formation around the gulf, which is a great sight. Two are showing on FR24, one is SEABLU1 and the other is SEA3612.

[zkarj]

And perhaps the fact that the P-8 capability is now online is the reason they’re now using a KRC callsign, per KRC563 that has just popped up.

[StuArmourer]

I seem to remember the 14 Squadron Blunties were Strike then a color ie STRIKEGOLD

[tbf2504]

If there is a formation of similar aircraft then a colour is added to the callsign, so that STRIKEGOLD would have been a multi-ship formation. The Skyhawk aerobatic team used KIWIRED which conforms to that system
plus it reflected the red in the squadron colours carried on the aircraft for 75 Sqan