Last flight of the P-3 Orions Tues 31 Jan

[deaneb]

Tomorrow marks the end of an era as the last two Orions make their final flights.
Here is the Orion flypast schedule from the Air Force FB page:

ORION FLYPAST ALERT ✈️ The last two of our P-3K2 Orion fleet are heading for Base Woodbourne tomorrow following a close formation flight of the South Island. As of tomorrow, the entire fleet will be retired after nearly 60 years of service.
The flying route includes many towns and cities around the South Island with a close-formation-flypast of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram in Christchurch. The formation will travel south towards Invercargill before returning north towards Queenstown, the West Coast, Nelson and then landing at Base Woodbourne.

The route is highly dependent on the weather around the Southern Alps, especially for those towns and cities between Invercargill and Hokitika. If the weather is poor, expect a delay of 15-20 minutes for those towns on the West Coast, and 30 minutes to an hour at Woodbourne (depending on turbulence). The flight plan and approximate times are as follows:

Base Auckland - 1000
Christchurch - 1150-1200
Rakaia - 1308
Ashburton - 1312
Timaru - 1322
Wamate - 1328
Oamaru - 1334
Dunedin - 1349
Gore - 1407
Invercargill - 1415
Riverton - 1419
Nightcaps - 1426
Mossburn - 1431
Athol - 1436
Kingston - 1439
Queenstown - 1445
Cromwell - 1451
Wanaka - 1458
Hokitika - 1539
Greymouth - 1544
Westport - 1556
Murchison - 1606
Nelson - 1620
Havelock - 1626
Woodbourne - 1630

We’ve employed the 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.
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, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and in our neighbouring Pacific Islands. They have also operated beyond our region in security and stability roles.
#NZAirForce #Force4NZ

[deaneb]

It will be a poignant moment for me. I first worked on an Orion in 1987 as a new mechanic in the Airforce in my second year. In 1989 I was posted to 5 Sqn as a technician and spent over 4 years there as a groundie. I did just over 200 flying hours as a passenger during my time and travelled to numerous places included Australia, Singapore and Canada. It was a great Sqn with great people and the some of the best times in the Air Force. My son followed my footsteps and is an Acft Tech as well and also spent time on 5 Sqn. We will both be at Woodbourne to farewell old friends.

[deeknow]

Exciting and emotional time for you Deane. Hope you get some good viz!

[deaneb]

Cheers. Weather should be ok here. Further south maybe a different story!

[cowpatz]

Many of my colleagues are ex "Fishheads" from 5 squadron. None of them had a bad word to say about the aircraft or the operation.
It will be sad to see these icons disappear from NZ skies. Especially sad for the likes of yourself that have worked on them.

[Splitpin]

They tracked right over school ...very low, loud, and smokey ...we could smell the kero.
Actually got slightly sweaty eyes .... glad I got to see them.

[chopper_nut]

They came past Nelson just before, low, fast and in perfect formation. Very well done indeed to those crews. No real affinity for the aeroplane as such but it's nice to see a 50s aeroplane flown like that... I do feel a bit nostalgic now...

[Charl]

What happens to them now?
I may have missed the reporting but there doesn't seem to be much discussion about this.
There can't be too much of a market for them.

[aerofoto]

There can't be too much of a market for them

S'pose that depends upon how much airframe life's left in them .... and their supporting components.

Despite how good a condition they may each be in/that we've kept/maintained them in they're still old technology now.

S'pose they could simply end up being "a cheaply acquired spares resource" for another service still flying the type

During the late 1990's AIR NZ ENGINEERING extensively overhauled 3 P3's for the ARMADA DE CHILE/CHILEAN NAVY (I shot all 3 as they were completed over more than a year). Wondered if they might end up going there .... BUT .... the FUERZA AEREA DE CHILE's gone the KC-135E and E-3D way over the past 3 years or so ....







Hoping against hope (perhaps), but, would like to see one of the five (or six) RNZAF P-3K2's (possibly NZ4201 .... since it was historically our first) go to the Wigram Museum in CHC.

Similarly like to see one of the five RNZAF C-130H's (probably NZ7001 .... since it was historically the prototype of the "H" series) go there too considering they're also up for replacement either later this year or or next .... if I recall correctly.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[Splitpin]

When I was working out at the museum years ago, they were talking about display options for a P-3 and a Herc. Both 01's were the preferred airframes at that time anyway.
4201 is special as it was, I believe, the first P3 to be sold outside the US. They were also talking about flying the Herc onto the site, given the amount of land they retained, not sure if that's an option now, due to all the civilian invaders close by. The P3, according to the regime then, could be partially dismantled at Harewood and taken by road. Im not sure, but I think an Orion in the right configuration may be able to get in on the grass. Maybe someone can try it in the sim.
I guess we'll find out soon.

[Splitpin]

"since it was historically the prototype of the "H" series" good point Mark.
7001 was referred to as a "Super E" not an H originally by Lockheed, the difference being ...I may be wrong, it was fitted with the T56-A-7 , but later repowered with the A-15.

[deaneb]

What happens to them now?
I may have missed the reporting but there doesn't seem to be much discussion about this.
There can't be too much of a market for them.

One aircraft will go to the RNZAF Museum. It will have to have wings removed and trucked. There are rumours that the other 5 may be bought by a US company for firebombing, but not heard much more. The first Hercules will retire soon also.
No - they will not be flying into Wigram. An impossible proposition now.

[Splitpin]

Thanks Mr B , some interesting times ahead.

[deaneb]

Thanks Mr B , some interesting times ahead.

You will have to remove the wing centre section of the Herc. Don't think NZ roads would be wide enough !!