New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release
10 August 2009
Air Force Iroquois Drops Trophy Into Apia Park For International Rugby Test Match

An Iroquois helicopter from No 3 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) touched down at Apia Park, Friday 7 August 2009 (local) to deliver the game trophy for the IRB International Rugby test match between the Manu Sina Samoa Women's Rugby team and the Australian Wallaroos rugby team. The trophy was carried by Tulipe Lapalapa Tafili and Lemana Semeatu who were excited to be flying with the Air Force and looking forward to the world cup qualifier match.

The Manu Sina Samoa Women’s Rugby Team has been in camp for the last two weeks preparing for their world cup qualification match against the Australian Wallaroos. The team has been selected from a mix of Island based players and New Zealand and Australian based Samoans. The team has been based at the Samoan Rugby Union High Performance Unit in Alufoa, where they have been living together and undertaking a rigorous schedule of strength and fitness conditioning to prepare for the international test.

The Iroquois helicopters are taking part in Exercise TROPIC ASTRA 09. It is being conducted from 29 July to 1 September 2009 and is an annual RNZAF exercise designed to provide readiness training in tropical flying operations, including civil tasking and aircrew survival training for selected aircrew personnel.

In addition, the RNZAF will be conducting flying tasks in support of the Samoan Government as directed through the NZ High Commission. All of the activities being conducted will simulate what will happen in real time on air operations whether it is disaster relief, humanitarian aid or search and rescue and aid to local Governments.

NOTES:

• 14 x UH-1H Iroquois helicopters are flown by No 3 Squadron RNZAF based at Ohakea An aircraft has a standard crew of three (pilot, co-pilot, helicopter crewman). In this case a trainee helicopter crewman was also part of the crew.

1 The Squadron provides:
• Operational support and training for the NZ Army, specifically in tactical air transport, special operations and aero medical evacuation.

1 Helicopter conversion (Sioux) and operational conversion (Iroquois) training for pilots and helicopter crewmen.

2 Search and rescue, medical evacuation, NZ Police support, and assistance to other Government agencies

There are presently 643 NZDF personnel working in 14 different operations and missions in 10 countries around the world.

ENDS

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