New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

15 September 08

Air Force Puts Crew Through Paces At 250 Feet

Central North Island residents and residents of Central Otago and the West Coast of the South Island should not be alarmed at the sight of Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft flying as low as 250 ft over the region from 15 – 26 September.

As part of exercise TACEX 08 aircrew from RNZAF Number 40 Squadron, based at Whenuapai in Auckland, will conduct formation flying, operations from various landing zones, the dropping of light equipment to targeted drop zones and mountain flying that makes up training for RNZAF C-130 Hercules operations.

The training we undergo during TACEX is essential for the operations that we conduct overseas, especially in Afghanistan, said C-130 Hercules captain Squadron Leader Andy Scott.

“The mountain flying is especially crucial to what we do on deployment. It gets pretty rough and bumpy down the back when you are as low as 250ft but the training environment provides ideal conditions for what we can expect when we deploy,” Squadron Leader Scott said.

South Island residents will see the large military aircraft over the period 17 – 19 September as crews conduct flying operations from the Wanaka airfield.

Residents of the Central North Island in and around the Raumai Drop Zone should keep an eye out for the C-130 as it conducts low level approaches and air drops to the dedicated targets from the 22nd.

The bi-annual exercise for RNZAF 40 Squadron aircrew and maintenance personnel will operate from the Air Force base at Ohakea.

ENDS

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