12 January 2007
Seventy five metres above the ground at a speed of 350 kilometres per hour, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130 Hercules on Exercise Skytrain weaves through valleys to avoid detection.
The 50 tonne aircraft is on a mission to deliver a 16 tonne load within seconds of a given time and within metres of a target on the ground.
Exercise Skytrain is a RNZAF 40 Squadron exercise focusing on tactical low level flying, involving aircraft from New Zealand and New Caledonia.
An Iroquois from RNZAF 3 Squadron will provide helicopter support.
Up to 250 aircrew, maintenance and support personnel from the RNZAF will be assisted by soldiers from the New Zealand Army.
Exercise Skytrain will be conducted out of the Napier Airport from 15 - 26 January 2007. A public open day will be held on Sunday 21 January between 10am and 3pm. This will include a flying display at 1pm.
ENDS
Photo: A C-130 Air Force Hercules successfully hits it target on Exercise Skytrain in 2006.
Media Participation
Media are welcome to participate in flying operations, observe equipment drops and talk to defence personnel. Access to the camp will be controlled and media wishing to attend should contact Squadron Leader Glenn Davis, Air Force Public Relations, 021 420 899.