Spectators line up for Hercules

Few planes come bigger than the air force's hulking Hercules: Hamish and Cameron Bennett's tiny frames were swallowed by its shadow.

The C1-30H Hercules attracted a big crowd over the weekend, as spectators lined up to look inside.

The plane is one of only five Hercules in New Zealand and yesterday it took 40 minutes to walk from its tail to its cockpit.

The flight deck can accommodate only six people at a time and despite the soaring heat, the interior was a popular place.

Papamoa brothers Hamish and Cameron nodded enthusiastically when asked if they enjoyed their look inside. "It was cool and there were heaps of buttons."

Dad, Ryan Bennett, said the air show was always a great day out for families.

Corporal Gareth May, of Whenuapai in Auckland, was manning the display. He has travelled around the world in the Hercules, including Antarctica, as an aircraft technician or "maintainer".

He said he prefers the Hercules to "normal commercial flying" because you can stretch out and aren't confined to a seat.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force took delivery of the first three Hercules (NZ7001 to NZ7003) in 1965.

They were the first C-130H models off the Lockheed production line.

A further two C-130H planes (NZ7004 and NZ7005) were added in 1969.

Currently they are all undergoing, or have undergone, reconstruction and structural improvement so they last until 2015.

Meanwhile, also enjoying the air show yesterday were Rhys McLeod-Fakaosilea, her cousin Micha Porter, and Rhys' dad, Manase Fakaosilea, of Mount Maunganui. The three posed for photos with camouflaged members of the Tauranga Airsoft Club.

Mr Fakaosilea said he best enjoyed the display by an Iroquois helicopter.

"It reminds me of the 'Vietnam' movie," he said.