Air Force bringing Exercise to Wanaka
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will be bringing Exercise Skytrain to Wanaka and the surrounding regions from 15 – 26 March 2021.
12 March, 2021
Exercise Skytrain is a C-130 Hercules training activity used by No. 40 Squadron to consolidate skills learnt at Base Auckland. The exercise provides crews with a range of flying training including over unfamiliar and challenging terrain, coordinating pallet drops into drop zones and landing the aircraft on runways different to those in Auckland.
Detachment Commander Squadron Leader Rob Attrill says one C-130 Hercules and personnel from Auckland, Ohakea and Woodbourne will deploy to Wanaka for the exercise.
“An important part of our training is being able to operate effectively and successfully away from our home base so every year we run a Skytrain exercise in New Zealand to further hone these skills. Skytrain exercises our support elements in supporting airborne operations and further prepares us for overseas-based exercises with our partners, and ultimately operations in support of New Zealand interests.
“We have used these skills in real-life scenarios, for instance in December 2019 we deployed on US Air Force led Operation Christmas Drop out of Guam where we delivered pallet loads of goods via C-130 airdrops to people living on remote islands and atolls in the Pacific.
“We are looking forward to coming to Wanaka, communities in the south are largely supportive of the Air Force and it will be great to support local businesses while we are here,” Squadron Leader Attrill said.
While the exercise will be based out of Wanaka the Hercules will also be conducting landings at Timaru and Oamaru airfields, and flying around the lower South Island. Some of this flying will be low-level tactical flying which is a core skill aircrews need to maintain. Members of the public may see the aircraft flying lower than it normally would.
RNZAF refuellers help enable air operations in North Territory
Ops & exercises
RNZAF firefighters lay down a challenge during Exercise Pitch Black
Ops & exercises
RNZAF communications and information systems technicians in the field
Ops & exercises
RNZAF Police on duty at Exercise Pitch Black
Ops & exercises
Ground Support Equipment technicians enable air operations at Pitch Black
Ops & exercises
Exercise heating up for Military Working Dogs
Ops & exercises
In the heart of RIMPAC
Ops & exercises
NZ Army engineers tackle South Camp Sinai projects
Ops & exercises
5/7 polish urban soldiering skills
Ops & exercises
NZ Army thanks villagers for Nausori Highlands military exercise
Ops & exercises
Communications in the field
Ops & exercises
Armed response
Ops & exercises
NZDF returns to Pacific building scene with work on Niue school
Ops & exercises
Using stealth as a weapon: Exercise Kalami
Ops & exercises
NZDF joins RIMPAC exercise in waters around Hawaii
Ops & exercises
Facing down the threats
Ops & exercises
Ground control at Exercise Steel Talon
Ops & exercises
Simulated reality in exercise
Ops & exercises
Heads up at airdrop exercise
Ops & exercises
Antarctic fuellies – first in, last out
Ops & exercises
Official release of all NZDF personnel from MIQ duties
Ops & exercises
NZDF's support continues as part of international efforts to deliver aid to Ukraine
Ops & exercises
U.S. Air Force participates in RNZAF day and night flying exercise
Ops & exercises
Shoot, move, communicate and medicate
Ops & exercises
Line of sight
Ops & exercises
NZDF assistance in search and rescue off North Cape
Ops & exercises
Reaching the peak of mountain flying
Ops & exercises
Successful resupply mission to Antarctica proves capability of NZ Navy ship
Ops & exercises
NZ Navy ships to return from Tonga after roles in relief efforts
Ops & exercises
RNZAF fire personnel deploy to Antarctica
Ops & exercises
Update on NZDF support to Tonga: 27 January 2022
Ops & exercises
Update on NZDF support to Tonga: 26 January 2022
Ops & exercises
Update on NZDF support to Tonga: 24 January 2022
Ops & exercises
Update on NZDF support to Tonga: 23 January 2022
Ops & exercises
Update on NZDF support to Tonga: 22 January 2022
Ops & exercises
NZDF update on response to Tonga: 19 January
Ops & exercises
Defeating the Device
Ops & exercises
NZ Army swaps training ground for the Heaphy Track
Ops & exercises
New Zealand and Fiji Navies collaborate in border patrol operation
Ops & exercises
Putting 2nd/1st soldiers to the test
Ops & exercises
Training our Future Leaders
Ops & exercises
Third drug seizure by Kiwi-led naval operation around Arabian gulf
Ops & exercises
Patrolling the seas
Ops & exercises
NZ Navy ship delivering Raoul Island refurbishments
Ops & exercises
HMNZS Te Kaha joins military partners on transit of South China Sea
Ops & exercises
Kiwi-led naval operation seizes more drugs in Indian Ocean
Ops & exercises
From Afghanistan to Antarctica: Herculean tasks done in all conditions
Ops & exercises
Hercules completes second flight from Kabul with evacuees
Ops & exercises
New Zealand Hercules airlifts evacuees from Kabul
Ops & exercises
Update on Afghanistan evacuations: 22 August
Ops & exercises
NZDF takes command of Maritime Combined Task Force
Ops & exercises
RNZAF completes North Korea sanctions enforcement deployment
Ops & exercises
HMNZS Aotearoa sails into Wellington
Ops & exercises
NZDF sends medical team to Sinai to help with COVID response
Ops & exercises
Navy and Police train for the search and recovery of missing divers
Ops & exercises
NZDF Summer Season in Antarctica Proves Busy Times for Air Movements Personnel
Ops & exercises
RNZAF delivers water tanks to Chatham Islands
Ops & exercises
Relief supplies and PPE delivered to Timor-Leste
Ops & exercises
Final deployment lowers flag on NZDF’s time in Afghanistan
Ops & exercises
Navy retrieves drifting Pacific tsunami buoy
Ops & exercises
RNZAF delivers PPE supplies to Timor-Leste
Ops & exercises
Sailors in Sinai
Ops & exercises
RNZAF delivers PPE to Papua New Guinea to help with COVID-19 response
Ops & exercises
Essential tasks Raoul radar for HMNZS Canterbury
Ops & exercises
