RNZAF planes 'not for flying'

The Royal New Zealand Air Force is getting 10 new aircraft - but they are not for flying.

Over the next four months four Mitsubishi MU-2F fixed-wing aircraft and six Kaman SH-2F Seasprite helicopters will be delivered to the air force to be used as training aids.

They will be stationed at RNZAF Ground Training Wing (GTW) at Woodbourne near Blenheim.

"This is an exciting time for the air force to move our maintenance training capability onto aircraft systems and airframes that are more akin to our current aircraft types, but also creating the training capacity and skill sets for our new aircraft capabilities and systems we will receive in the near-future" said the air force deputy chief Air Commodore Gavin Howse.

The first two MU-2Fs are due to fly into Woodbourne from Texas either this weekend or early next week, depending on the weather. The second two aircraft are undergoing pre-flight maintenance and are scheduled to leave the United States early in August.

Six 2F Seasprite helicopters have been in storage in the Arizona desert for 14 years and are due to be shipped to New Zealand late this year.

The aircraft will be used by the GTW for technical trade training. They will replace the ageing de Havilland Devon aircraft and Bell 47 Sioux helicopters which have served their purpose but are no longer relevant training aids as the air force undergoes modernisation across all fleets.

- NZPA