Finally, after months of speculation, the NZ Government has finally announced the acquisition of four King Air 350i turboprop aircraft to replace the current fleet of King Air 200's based at Ohakea. Interesting to read the three aircraft currently in Australia (VH-ZPF, VH-ZPG and VH-ZPJ) are not due to be fully commissioned until 2019. Their delivery into Australia is recorded in the blurb further down this post.
Full press release can be found HERE
Posted 25 March 2018:
The Royal New Zealand Air Force, operator of 4 Beech King Air 200's with 42 Squadron, Ohakea, has taken delivery of their first Beech King Air 350i with MSN FL-1017 arriving in the country.
Full press release can be found HERE
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Posted 25 March 2018:
The Royal New Zealand Air Force, operator of 4 Beech King Air 200's with 42 Squadron, Ohakea, has taken delivery of their first Beech King Air 350i with MSN FL-1017 arriving in the country.
Initially registered as N817AP, the 2015 edition King Air turned up at Sydney/Bankstown 15 August 2017 having arrived from Jakarta/Halim and Broome. It headed north to Hawker Pacific's Cairns facility 26 November 2017 for painting. It was later registered to Hawker Pacific as VH-ZPE MSN FL-1017 on 18 December 2017.
VH-ZPE conducted post maintenance test flights from/to Cairns 09 and 20 March 2018 before heading to Brisbane 23 March 2018. From there it made the journey to Lord Howe Island and Ohakea arriving not long before sunset 24 March 2018.
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| VH-ZPE at Cairns. |
The aircraft, painted charcoal grey, was delivered with its VH registration boldly applied but its RNZAF identity covered up. We await with interest if it keeps the King Air sequence of numbering and becomes NZ7125. And given it's somewhat utilitarian colour scheme, what is its role with Air Force, or is it a straight replacement for the 200 fleet?
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| Arriving to a grey, damp Ohakea evening, Padre007 photo |
Three more Beech King Air 350i appear destined for the RNZAF with N979KA FL-979 arriving at Sydney/Bankstown on delivery in mid December 2017. This 2015 edition King Air is effectively brand new with a mere 7 hours on the clock when it departed the USA on its delivery flight. It was later registered VH-ZPJ MSN FL-979 on 04 January 2018.
Beech King Air 350i N5062T FL-962 arrived at Cairns 20 December 2017 and was later registered VH-ZPG.
Beech King Air 350i RP-C1834 FL-897 fits in the sequence of expected RNZAF deliveries with it becoming VH-ZPF and arriving at Sydney/Bankstown 23 February 2018 from Manado via Darwin and Mount Isa.
Beech King Air 350i N5062T FL-962 arrived at Cairns 20 December 2017 and was later registered VH-ZPG.
Beech King Air 350i RP-C1834 FL-897 fits in the sequence of expected RNZAF deliveries with it becoming VH-ZPF and arriving at Sydney/Bankstown 23 February 2018 from Manado via Darwin and Mount Isa.
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| VH-ZPF during its Darwin overnight stay. |