© NZ Defence Force via Lockheed Martin
The first of five new Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules transport aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) was painted in its final livery in December 2023.
Earlier this month it was also adorned with the RNZAF Kiwi roundel and the Mariners compass of 40 Squadron Ki Nga Hau e Wha (To the four winds). The serial number for this first Super Hercules is NZ7011 (c/n 382-5978). The second airframe will follow soon as it is ready to receive its full paint job. Deliveries of all five aircraft should be completed in 2025.
In the meantime the first three aircrews have now been trained and certified and they participated in a USAF exercise whilst being embedded in the 19th Airlift Wing. Back at the RNZAF Base Auckland Whenuapai, the building that will house the simulator is well underway with the roof just being completed.
The RNZAF ordered the Super Hercules to replace its current fleet of five ancient C-130H(NZ) transporters of which the first three were delivered in 1965. Two of the legacy C-130s were already retired in February 2023 (NZ7003) and November 2023 (NZ7004).
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