Orion fleet marks end of era
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-3K2 Orions landed at Base Woodbourne for the last time to be greeted with an arch of honour from the fire service. Photo: Emily Harper/Supplied
It was the end of an era for the New Zealand Royal Airforce yesterday as two special planes made their final landing.
The last two of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-3K2 Orion fleet arrived at RNZAF Base Woodbourne following a formation flight of the South Island.
The late afternoon landing marked the official retirement of the entire fleet after nearly 60 years of service.
Aviation fans and well-wishers gathered outside the base next to Marlborough Airport to watch the duo come in.
Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short and Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark, both former No. 5 Squadron personnel who cut their teeth in the Orion, were on board the aircraft.
In a release from RNZAF, a spokesperson paid tribute to the service, which has been key in finding hundreds of missing vessels in the Pacific.
“Over the past six decades crews have found hundreds of missing people drifting in vessels in the Pacific and have been the first to arrive at scenes where natural disasters have struck.
“They have also operated beyond our region in security and stability roles.”
The service has employed six P-3K2 Orions for airborne surveillance and reconnaissance of New Zealand’s areas of economic interest, exclusive economic zone, the South Pacific, and the Southern Ocean including Antarctica.