ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! - Royal New Zealand Air Force
ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! - Royal New Zealand Air Force
ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! - Royal New Zealand Air Force
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new capability<br />
“this is a very significant day for the air<br />
<strong>Force</strong> and the wider NZDF”, the Defence<br />
Minister, Dr Jonathan Coleman, said on 09<br />
March as he officially welcomed the first<br />
of the air <strong>Force</strong>’s new medium utility Nh90<br />
helicopters at air Movements rongotai<br />
HAere MAi AnD Bien<br />
Venue To THe nH90!<br />
with the chief of <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>, <strong>Air</strong> Vice-Marshal Peter<br />
Stockwell, and in the presence of His excellency<br />
the Governor-General, dr coleman said: “The<br />
NH90 helicopters are state of the art machines with better<br />
capabilities [than the Iroquois] and full self–protection. They<br />
are the most advanced and capable helicopters the <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong><br />
has ever had.”<br />
The Minister explained that the helicopters will undergo a<br />
rigorous operational test and evaluation phase of some 12 –<br />
18 months, to ensure the aircraft are safe and fit for purpose<br />
before they are committed to operational use. “The NH90s<br />
will deliver the priorities outlined in the defence white Paper<br />
and improve the defence <strong>Force</strong>’s ability to conduct disaster<br />
relief, search and rescue, or other operations. The NH90 is<br />
particularly important for our future Joint Amphibious Task<br />
<strong>Force</strong>.”<br />
dr coleman concluded by praising the constructive<br />
relationship with the manufacturer, NHI, and he commended<br />
the work of the Ministry of defence and RNZAF acquisition<br />
team.<br />
The chief of <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> explained: “This is a very special<br />
occasion for the RNZAF, as it marks the next step in our<br />
transition to becoming a 21st century <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>. I would like to<br />
acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of the Mod<br />
team in getting us to this stage. As well, a large number of<br />
NZdF and RNZAF personnel in France and in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> have<br />
6 <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> news<br />
been an important part of the project.<br />
“I would particularly like to acknowledge the Acceptance<br />
Test and evaluation Pilot, SQNldR chris Andrew as project<br />
Test Pilot for the flight test programme. other key individuals<br />
include wGcdRs Shaun Johnson, Pete Sutherland, Shaun<br />
Sexton, and Mark brunton, SQNldR Mike chalmers, and Mr<br />
Steve Smyth. And of course there are many more, going back<br />
several years, whom I haven’t mentioned. collectively, they<br />
have all done a great job in reaching this important milestone.<br />
“I also want to emphasise the sacrifices the families have<br />
made, particularly while team members have been abroad. I<br />
want to mark my appreciation of their support by conveying my<br />
heartfelt thanks for their contribution to this fantastic effort,”<br />
AVM Stockwell said.<br />
Following their formal speeches of welcome, the new<br />
helicopter was blessed by the RNZAF chaplain, before<br />
it conducted a short flyby over wellington <strong>Air</strong>port. on<br />
completion, the aircraft departed to ohakea, to resume the<br />
current test and transition programme.<br />
Since the delivery of the first two aircraft, NZ3301 and<br />
NZ3302, last december [see AFN 133] both NH90s have<br />
been undertaking a test and transition programme aimed at<br />
achieving limited taskings from late 2012, with a full capability<br />
release—following operational Testing and evaluation—by<br />
2015.