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Orion NZ4203 flies to Woodbourne and into retirement

Caroline Williams

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s first retiring Orion maritime patrol aircraft has departed on its final flight after 55 years of service.

The ageing Lockheed P-3K2 Orions are being retired in preparation for the arrival of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes from the United States, due to be in action by 2023.

The Government announced it would purchase the new fleet, which have submarine hunting capabilities, for

$2.3 billion in July 2018. The new planes, known as submarine killers, will mark a new era in defence procurement. They have been dubbed the most significant defence purchase in a generation.

Orion NZ4203 is the first of the six planes to be retired, after 55 years of service and more than 27,000 hours of flying.

NZ4203 arrived in New Zealand in 1967 and has served the RNZAF in deployments and exercises, such as to the Middle East and Antarctica, where it aided in monitoring fisheries, search and rescue and piracy missions. Yesterday at 10.40am, the plane took off for its final flight from Auckland’s Whenuapai air base to Woodbourne, near Blenheim, where it will be dismantled, the air force said in a statement.

The plane also flew at a low altitude over the base at Ohakea – where the new P8-A Poseidon fleet will be based – and the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Wigram, where the Defence Force intends to keep and exhibit one of the retired Orions.

Flight Lieutenant Phil Brock, who commanded the flight, said it was the pinnacle of more than 100 missions on the aircraft, the equivalent of circumnavigating the world more than four times.

The fleet of Orions has undertaken military deployments and managed New Zealand’s maritime area of responsibility for the past 60 years.

The Orions have been involved in humanitarian relief efforts and provided support during natural disasters, and have also supported the Ministry for Primary Industries, Customs, police and the Department of Conservation.

National News

en-nz

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281633898384958

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