We had an invitation to tour RNZAF Ohakea on the 13th of November, so I decided I wasn't doing anything that day and joined in. There was the promise of finishing up at the Officers Mess that also made it an attractive proposition.
Getting a briefing from one of the PTS instructors on how the airforce trains its guys.
Mooching around PTS
Recently restored Spitfire ZK-SPI. It has free room and board at Ohakea. Good deal!
A gaggle of CT4E's, the RNZAF's primary trainer. Made in NZ!
The Spitfire from another angle. Awesome!
A Kingair 200 from 42 Squadron undergoing some maintenance.
Some of the Aermacchi 339's in storage. They're all still airworthy and about to be sold. A sad sight seeing them all in the hangar.
More Macchi's.
View from Ohakea tower. It was a very quiet day!
A bunch of switches. ILS, runway lighting, various coms etc.
No 42 Squadron's hangar.
The tower and Operations complex. Ohakea Control used to be housed there but was moved to Christchurch in 2000 and something.
In the 3 Squadron hangar. Surrounded by Iroquios and Sioux.
Yes, the Sioux is still the primary trainer for 3 Squadron but due to be replaced by a fleet of Augusta A109's from next year. A HUGE jump in performance and technology!
More UH-1's
Five Sioux.
..and a bunch more Iroquois.
Overall a great day, and as promised we finished off at the Officer's Mess. Bloody cheap drinks, like a bag of chips and a handle of Monteiths for $3.00! Fantastic!
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