Important Message From Royal New Zealand Air Force

[Aharon]

Shalom and greetings all my pals,

Here is important message for any of you talented airport spotting photographers. Splitpin, you might want to let your nephew photographer know about this.

Here is official Royal New Zealand Air Force announcement as seen below:

ORION FLYPAST ALERT Before we bid farewell to our remaining Orion fleet, we will conduct a three-ship formation flypast around the North Island to celebrate the fleet's service of more than 55 years. We're not crying, you are

The maritime patrol aircraft will depart Base Auckland on Tuesday 24 January at around 10:00 am. Weather and operational conditions permitting, the main centres we’ll be flying over as follows:

- Whenuapai - close form fly past to begin route.
- Port Waikato – 10:43 am
- Hamilton – 10:55 am
- Cambridge – 10:59 am
- Tāupo – 11:15 am
- Tūrangi – 11:23 am
- Desert Road – 11:30 am
- Ohakea - close form fly past 11:43 am
- Kāpiti Coast – 11:55 am (Paraparaumu)
- Wellington Harbour (close formation flypast) - 12:10 pm
- Carterton – 12:26 pm
- Masterton – 12:31 pm
- Dannevirke – 12:45 pm
- East Coast to Napier - 1:03 pm
- Gisborne - 1:27 pm
- Whakatāne – 1:45 pm
- Tauranga – 1:58 pm
- Pauanui Beach 2:10 pm
- Great Barrier Is – 2.22 pm
- Whangārei – 2:43 pm
- Whenuapai via the Harbour (close formation fly past) - 3:00 pm

To the South Island, we have not forgotten you. The final flight of two Orions to Base Woodbourne, where the retired fleet is being stored, will take place on 31 January with a close-formation flypast over the South Island. Details will be published in due course.
Since the mid-1960s, we’ve employed six P-3K2 Orions for airborne surveillance and reconnaissance of Aotearoa New Zealand's areas of economic interest, exclusive economic zone, the South Pacific and the Southern Ocean, including Antarctica. They have also operated beyond our region. Four Boeing P-8A Poseidons will be replacing the Orions.

Regards,

Aharon

[Splitpin]

Aharon, thanks very much for the heads up ..I have passed it on to the nephews

[Radar88]

Today's RNZAF Farewell P-3K2 Orion formation flypast along the Kapiti Coast, Paekākāriki, North of Wellington.

Watch on youtube.com

[deeknow]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

Bit of a co4k up in Hamilton, they altered the route and cloud was low and basically no one saw them really, I caught a wee glimpse through a tiny gap in the cloud for about 5secs, shame really

[Aharon]

Radar88,

WELCOME BACK to NZFF forums. Long long time no hear from you and your famous explanations!! Hope all is well with you!! Happy New Year to you!

Regards,

Aharon