Latest news with #NH90
National Business Review
7 days ago
- Business
- National Business Review
RNZAF claims world first in NH90 helicopter software upgrade
The RNZAF's NH90 helicopter fleet has been updated with software and equipment that will now allow the aircraft to better integrate into New Zealand's controlled airspace. Capability Development Officer Squadron Leader Austin Smith said this was a world first and was done in record time at RNZAF
Scoop
21-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
RNZAF NH90 Formation Flight: A Maintenance Success
Seven of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's fleet of eight NH90 helicopters have taken to the Manawatū skies in a rare large formation flight. Tuesday's flight was a testament to the hard work of No. 3 Squadron's maintainers at RNZAF Base Ohakea, who ensured the helicopters were available for the flight, NH90 Training Section commander Squadron Leader Andrew Stewart says. There was also an element of the stars aligning with all aircrew available and only one of the fleet undergoing scheduled maintenance, he said. 'It was planned a few days in advance. Duties were delegated and it all came together.' Contingency planning played an important role in the flight and on the day, low cloud meant a last-minute change of route away from the built-up areas of Palmerston North and Feilding. Instead, it was over rural areas where the aircraft could fly at a lower height. For many of the crew it was their first large formation flight and was valuable training for this year's Australian Exercise Talisman Sabre, where they will be flying in formation alongside different nations' aircraft. 'It's not often we have seven helicopters available, and the formation flight opportunity was due to the hard work by maintenance staff - you've got to take your hat off to them,' Squadron Leader Stewart said. The aircraft have recently been fitted with updated software with improved navigation and radio features. The NH90s are the first fleet in the world to have the upgrades installed and the maintainers completed it well before deadline. Avionics technicians Corporal Ben Crowley and Corporal Rory McLachlan were part of the team to install the new software, and it was gratifying to see it used, they said. They said it was great to see the fleet flying in formation – the first time in their memory that so many had taken to the sky at once. 'It's not very often we have so many serviceable aircraft flying at the same time,' Corporal Crowley said. It was a testament to their tight team that the flight was able to happen, he said. 'Everybody chipped in and to get all seven up is a big win for us.' 'We always try to have as many aircraft as possible serviceable, but we have to work around scheduled maintenance as well.' No. 3 Squadron maintainers have an enviable international reputation of having the highest NH90 serviceability rate in the world, with the fleet so far clocking up 18,250 flying hours and availability to fly sitting about 70 per cent. The next goal for the team was to get all eight helicopters flying at once, but 'the stars definitely need to align for that', Corporal McLachlan said. One of the roles for helicopter loadmaster Sergeant Evan McKenzie was keeping an eye on the distance between the aircraft in the formation. 'I was working with the pilots to make sure we were at a safe, but appropriate distance. 'It was pretty special; it's not often you get to fly in a seven-ship formation.' Co-pilot Flight Lieutenant Jason Anderson was also keeping a close eye on the gap between each helicopter, which was about 40-50m apart. 'The main outcome of the flight was a thank you to the hard work done by the maintenance team who made the fleet serviceable. To have them fly with us in the back while we worked on training outcomes in the front was epic.'
NZ Herald
24-04-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Live: Anzac Day 2025: Commemorations taking place around New Zealand
Anzac Day services are under way around New Zealand today. The national remembrance day services begin at dawn and continue through the day. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will attend services in Gallipoli later today (NZT). Anzac Day services are beginning around the country as Kiwis remember our fallen servicemen and women. Thousands are expected at Auckland Domain on Park Rd for the dawn service, which also recognises the past and present service of thousands of men and women in the country's Army, Navy and Air Force. After a 5.45am parade, the service begins at 6am at the Court of Honour and Cenotaph outside the Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Domain. 'It is the day of the year for the RSA … the day we commemorate all our fallen soldiers," RSA president Sir Wayne Shelford told RNZ on Anzac Eve. Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro would be among speakers at this morning's service in the Domain, Shelford said. In Wellington, the dawn service also begins at 6am at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Buckle St, with the national commemoration to follow at the same site from 11am. FOLLOW THE LIVE BLOG HERE: STORY CONTINUES War veterans are gathering at 6.15am to parade from Worcester Bridge to Cathedral Square for Christchurch's traditional dawn service. Details of other Anzac Day events taking place in other parts of the country today can be found here. There will be many opportunities to learn more about Kiwis' service in international conflicts over the past 111 years. The doors open at Auckland War Memorial Museum immediately after the dawn service, with multiple programmes planned to help those interested in learning more. There will be free entry until the museum closes at 5pm. The museum's underground carpark will also be free all day. MyHeritage is also opening up free access to 2.3 billion historical records from New Zealand and Australia until April 29, including military records. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is planning flypasts in various aircraft around the country today, including in NH90 and Seasprite helicopters. A list of times and places for the weather-dependant fly-pasts is here. Overseas Anzac services are also planned later today (NZT), including in Gallipoli, where Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will take part before travelling to Rome for Pope Francis' funeral the following day. The Gallipoli services come on the 110th anniversary of the New Zealand and Australian troops landing on the beaches of the Turkish peninsula in a disastrous nine-month campaign that quickly turned to trench warfare and cost 130,000 lives - 2779 of them Kiwis. April 25 was subsequently chosen as the annual day to commemorate all fallen servicemen and women across New Zealand and Australia.
NZ Herald
24-04-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Anzac Day 2025: Commemorations taking place around New Zealand
Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro would be among speakers at this morning's service in the Domain, Shelford said. In Wellington, the dawn service also begins at 6am at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Buckle St, with the national commemoration to follow at the same site from 11am. FOLLOW THE LIVE BLOG HERE: STORY CONTINUES War veterans are gathering at 6.15am to parade from Worcester Bridge to Cathedral Square for Christchurch's traditional dawn service. Details of other Anzac Day events taking place in other parts of the country today can be found here. There will be many opportunities to learn more about Kiwis' service in international conflicts over the past 111 years. The doors open at Auckland War Memorial Museum immediately after the dawn service, with multiple programmes planned to help those interested in learning more. There will be free entry until the museum closes at 5pm. The museum's underground carpark will also be free all day. MyHeritage is also opening up free access to 2.3 billion historical records from New Zealand and Australia until April 29, including military records. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is planning flypasts in various aircraft around the country today, including in NH90 and Seasprite helicopters. A list of times and places for the weather-dependant fly-pasts is here. Overseas Anzac services are also planned later today (NZT), including in Gallipoli, where Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will take part before travelling to Rome for Pope Francis' funeral the following day. The Gallipoli services come on the 110th anniversary of the New Zealand and Australian troops landing on the beaches of the Turkish peninsula in a disastrous nine-month campaign that quickly turned to trench warfare and cost 130,000 lives - 2779 of them Kiwis. April 25 was subsequently chosen as the annual day to commemorate all fallen servicemen and women across New Zealand and Australia.
Scoop
23-04-2025
- Scoop
Royal New Zealand Air Force Takes To The Skies To Mark Anzac Day
Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons will be conducting flypasts around the country on Friday, 25 April to commemorate Anzac Day. Multiple flights will be occurring at the same time; all are subject to weather conditions and operational requirements. People looking skyward will be able to catch a glimpse of a range of aircraft, including the NH90 helicopter, Boeing P-8A Poseidon, T-6C Texan II, SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopter and the Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand.
