RNZAF C 130H Hercules aircraft final Flypast before retirement - 2024.
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND December 4, 2024. The last remaining RNZAF C130H Hercules aircraft made a low altitude formation flight over towns & cities in the lower North Island today.
Nothing but respect for the R.N.Z.A.F ground crews who have kept these Aircraft airworthy for the last 60 years you people have worked magic in the years of NZ governments cost-cutting !!!✈
Not sure if we will have the J model for such a long time?
@@AirflowNZ Yep i think you could be right on that one modern things don't same to last that long nowadays!!
Great video of the venerable work horse any plans to preserve any or are they destined for the scrappers, miss ours 👍
Hear hear.
@@ianstewartaviation2634 I believe one is going to be sent to the RNZAF museum
In the belly of our noisy saviour, we come home safe. The rumble of her sweet vibration tells me I'm with a friend. Farewell humble giant, you always got us home.
Nice ode to the mighty H!
Yea, they brang me home twice.. safe and sounded.
My dad, god rest his soul, worked on these incredible aircraft at Whenuapai. He was an Avionics technician and also kept the plans flying in the Malayan war. He was absolutely passionate about these aircraft. They always give me chills and a big lump in the throat see these majestic beasts flying. Thank you for the footage.
Thank you sharing your memories.
Much respect to RNZAF. Thank you for your service!
Great comment, thank you.
05- Flt Lt Ray Robinson, Erebus body recovery story
I got a call at night telling me I was captaining the flight. We left Whenuapai Air Force base in Auckland the next day, bound for Christchurch. Once we landed we found out the weather in McMurdo Sound was no good and recovery workers had not been able to get all the bodies off the mountain. That was our first delay. We sat tight in Christchurch and got word that night that the weather in Antarctica had improved and they were ready for us.
The next morning we prepared to leave. I did a quick walk-around of the aircraft and noticed a faint oily smear on the underside of the left wing. It was a fuel leak. When the engineers took a closer look they found 20 millilitres of fuel sloshing around inside the wing. You absolutely don't want to be getting airborne with a fuel leak and it was going to take 48 hours to fix, so the Air Force flew another Herc down for us. That was delay number two.
On plane number two and day number three we finally took off for Antarctica. As we got close to the point of no return - when you had no choice but to continue on to McMurdo - a warning light came on that a door might be unlocked. We decided to drop our altitude to depressurise and return to Christchurch. It turned out the offending door was the ramp at the back of the plane. This was a big problem because an unlocked ramp meant we had to cut our speed, and cutting our speed meant we might not have enough fuel to get back to New Zealand. We climbed as much as we could to where the air was thinner to conserve fuel and made it back with a tiny bit spare. Delay number three.
The next day, with the ramp lock fixed, we tried again. Seconds after we took off the co-pilot said his windscreen was disappearing. Aircraft windscreens are made of perspex plates laminated together, and slivers of the outer pane were just peeling off from the bottom. I couldn't believe it. That's an almost unheard of problem. It was too risky to carry on so we landed. Again. We were looking at another 24-hour repair job. Delay four.
Flight Lieutenant Ray Robinson took this photo of Mt Erebus out the cockpit window as the Hercules left to come home.Flight Lieutenant Ray Robinson took this photo of Mt Erebus out the cockpit window as the Hercules left to come home. Photo: Supplied
By this point we were all starting to feel like the mission was jinxed. We'd had four problems, each more unlikely than the last. And on a job like this, it was all a little bit spooky. Then, we got a fifth problem. McMurdo Sound was in a "heat wave", which means temperatures were above freezing. The frozen bodies of the victims were thawing out. And everyone down there was anxious for us to arrive. Having not long landed because of the windscreen problem, I got orders to just tape it up and get airborne. I said no. It was too risky. Then I got told if I wouldn't do it, another pilot would.
That pilot had only flown to Antarctica once and I'd been doing it for four years. The crew weren't keen on this solution and told me so. I really didn't want to take a patched up plane down there, but we were looking at a potentially mutinous situation if I didn't. I decided that if my crew had to go, it should be with me. Off we went. We had to fly at a lower altitude the whole way so we didn't have any more problems with the windscreen.
Everyone at McMurdo was pleased to see us. Like I said, with the warm weather, there was a bit of concern about the condition of the bodies so a medic and I had to inspect them. I didn't want to do it, but I was the captain so I guess I had to. The bodies weren't in individual bags or anything. I think they'd run out of those. They were put into big crates, kind of like apple boxes. About a couple of metres square. It was really unpleasant but necessary. With the thawing we were worried about fluids leaking or something like that.
The flight back to New Zealand was uneventful. We kept the cargo compartment temperature at below freezing to try and refreeze the bodies. Soon after take off I took a photo of Mt Erebus out the window behind me, its smouldering crater shrouded in the haze.
I still think about that mission now and again. Every time Erebus comes up, you remember. It's not a good memory. Our old neighbours from when I was a kid were among the victims. They were really nice people. I guess it was just something that had to be done and the job fell to us. You just had to grit your teeth and go do it.
Shitty thing to do by threaten to replace over a safety issue.
Wow what an interesting piece of reading, in reality it could have gone on & on as far as I was concerned. Thank you for sharing this indeed!!
wow, that was interesting reading. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your memories. You have enough information for a book it is so interesting.
Thank you for your service
These gracious old girls worked hard to bring those poor souls back home after the 1979 disaster on Mt. Erebus, thank you beautiful ladies from all New Zealanders xx
Thank you for your kind words!
Thank you so much for putting this up, it was amazing to hear them when they flew over Hamilton yesterday.
Thanks for your comment, Hamilton was a great location for viewing!
I drove out to the top of Waimarie Road, to watch, exact place where used to ride my bike and watch them back in the 70's ( Orions, Andovers, etc, when we had an Air force) Went to Whenuapai Primary, grew up with them flying around, could even tell the pitch heavier sound to the Orions.
When you get older becomes "moving & bit emotional" something you related to, been around all your life goes away. Respect to all those the served & flew, they certainly earned it.
Exactly, if the C 130H were not used for civil defence in NZ and Pacific Helen Clark might have sold them at the same time as the Skyhawks.😂
@@brentsummers7377
Yep seen the last fly out them too. In some ways it just as well they all gone, rather left in hands of DEI woke PC muppets that would result in some undignified ending. Rainbow stripes & flying drag queens
Thanks for sharing your memories.
Absolute workhorses. Certainly a welcome sight in Australia when they came over to help during the bushfires.
Many thanks for your comment.
Thanks for the post .. didn't know they were being retired now.
Such an iconic aircraft, always rushed outside to see them whenever I heard that distinctive sound flying over.
Much respect to aircrews, and maintenance crews, for keeping these Herc's airworthy, all those years.
Thanks for your comment. The new one are so much quieter!
It was wonderful to see them fly over us as we were fishing on Lake Rotoiti….much respect
Great comment. Hope you got some other catches!
Had the privilege of being over in NZ for ANZAC Exchange back in 2010, Herc-01 was the one I flew in the most and I noted it had a manufacturers plate on entering the cockpit March 1965, that was a great work horse.
Thanks for sharing you interesting Herc association.
The first H model off the production line. NZ also got the next two, so the first 3 H models were all RNZAF, and now they are gone.
@@EarthlingPete That's interesting. I was told completely different back in 2011 as follows:- The NZ GOV was offered a deal with the last 5 E- models off the C-130 production line, but they would be fitted with H- model engines?
@@conn007 That's probably news to the RNZAF and Lockheed, not to mention many technical publications on the hercules. It would not have made any economic sense for Lockeeed to update the C130E with new engines, wiring looms, instrument panels and hydraulic lines for only 3 aircraft (not 5, the other two were purchased some years after the first 3 were delivered and by that time the H model was already in full production). It would be much cheaper to just buy the new model anyway, which is what the RNZAF did. Also, if it was true then our first 3 hercs would be designated as C130E dash something, to denote a variation of the E model. Instead, they are Lockheed certified as H models. Cheers, Pete
@@EarthlingPete Thanks Pete, for the historical explanation of the RNZAF C130's. I was based at Ohakea for the 3 month ANZAC-Ex and had numerous flights by just coincidence on the 001. That time period happens to be one of my best in the RAAF.
I saw them over Gisborne at 1:30pm on Wednesday.
I was a meteorologist at Whenuapai during the '90s, and delivered daily weather briefings to the Need crew at Sqn42 across the road from the Met Office in the BaseOps building.
A taxiing Herd was always a great and memorable sound.
Herc (not Need)
Thank you for sharing your memories, it's great to hear from someone who worked near these magnificent machines.
@@AirflowNZ Thanks! Here's a specific memory. Meteorological. I remember one clear, chilly winter morning. The ambient temperature was few degrees C, and the dew point was close. A Herc was on the apron in front of the BaseOps building getting ready to go somewhere. The engines started up, and suddenly, FOG! The prop wash had stirred up the lowest 20 metres of air enough to blanket the area for 100 metres around in good thick fog. What a great machine! In the next meteorological observation I reported "Fog Patches", and in the remarks, "Caused by a Herc starting up".
What a great story, thanks again.
Awesome footage there mate👍 sadly that will be the last time we see them. They flue over us in formation here in Hawkes bay this afternoon which was impressive to see for the last time. I tracked them on flightradar and they landed in Ohakea, be interesting to see where they go next.
They came in low over Rotorua @ lunch time - very impressive fly over.
Steven, many thanks for your comment, they will be missed, but what a legacy!
Saw them fly over Auckland city yesterday evening. It was a sight.
Great comment, thank you.
I just caught them flying past our place on the North Shore Oteha. Thought it was strange seeing 3 of them together but this video has helped me understand why.
Great to see my video working!
Great to see they will be upgraded I wondered why they flew so low over Gizzy the other day, I would like to see our strike wing back as well, we need them :)
Glad that you did see the flypast! Defence ties with Australia and USA will make a return of the strike wing more likely.
Out with a generation of temperamental old birds, and in with a generation of temperamental new birds.
KD, we do not seem to be having breakdowns recently, not like in the past!
@AirflowNZ Not yet as they are still new, give them a few years 😂
I saw these flying over Hobsonville Point whilst out walking, love it.
Nice comment, thank you!
Nice one mate! and the only plane that can replace a Herk is a Herk! 👍✈️🇳🇿
AG, yes you are right on the money!
Super appreciate the footage 😊 awesomeness 👌
Thank you for watching!
Well done to all the crews and ground staff for keeping them going for so long, worked on the new prison nearby and it was a great sight seeing them flying over us.
They are certainly a sight to behold!
They overflew me yesterday afternoon while driving towards Tahuna. It was an awesome display and I wondered why I was so lucky to encouter these. Farewell mighty Alloy Birds!
Great comment, thank you for sharing your experience!
I lived on punga road whenupai for 21 years I saw and herd them every day and night ,my dad worked these on ladys ,as primary school kids we got climb inside them, I'm 55 now, and the world has changed so much ,but when I see Hercs I all ways think of home
Thanks for sharing your memories!
@@AirflowNZ I do recall they all ways passed over my house ..just when doctor who. was about to explain all . or when the news was about to tell you something important. Im, sure they did it on purpose 🤔😀
The 3 hercs flew low over our place in matarangi yesterday. Awesome sight, thought we were being invaded 🤗
When at first you suspect you are being invaded, but then you realise they are Hercs, and you think to yourself "Oh, that doesn't seem so bad", but they're AC 130H Spectres
Great comment, thank you.
Flew over my place in Ohope…..awesome❤️❤️
Great comment, thank you.
Sad to see them go.been so long serving us.mutch respect thank u.got go see a glimpse off them as I drove down the road.they where heading down east coat yesterday.
I hope the new J models will repeat this display.
Very cool video!
Dan, Thanks, it was a memorable day!
One of the nicest RAAF aircraft I had the privilege to stand in at an Airshow in the earlh 80s in Victoria. An the other countries who operated'm Don't remember the bloke that invited in 2 steps past the ramp but. Bludy Rippa Airctaft. Thanks tohe Bludy Rippa Crews that flew'm and those that maintained'm. Thanks to those who served, and those that serve!
Interesting comment, thanks.
Majestic old girls. Pity NZ ended at the lower North Island; Wigram was still operational back then and all NZ had a vested interest and love for the R.N.Z.A.F. Always a thrill to see them come into ChCh. Like the Harvard, will miss their sky song.
Thanks for sharing.
Worked on these back in the 90s and still working on hercs today...thanks for paying my mortgage! 😂
Sounds like you have quite a bit of experience with these beauties.
I will miss the Hercules.
I grew up with Hercs, Bristol Freighters and Orions, witnessed the arrival of Iroquois and Skyhawks and have been thrilled in recent years returning to see the Hercs exercising.
As an Air Scout I got to ride in a Bristol and in an Iroquois doing its manoeuvres.
Dad was head of ground transport and Mum worked in the buffet when Whenuapai was Auckland International Airport.
Family land was taken for the airport and will not be returned. I have one remaining Aunt who is the last who can lay claim to reparations. We have no Maori blood so our ties are severed by time.
Thank you for sharing. Quite a story to tell.
Ta.
For all that I have never really been into planes. If not for your post if I returned to Whenuapai I would not have even known that the new Hercs were not the old Hercs. I rarely leave Whangarei these days. I am sorry to have missed the fly-bys
RNZAF-C130H ... my mokos all saluted you yesturday while you flew by Massey.. O7
Thank you!
These three aircraft passed over Papamoa Beach yesterday & I must say that in formation they not only looked kool but they sounded magnificent as well!! Greatful thanks & sheer appreciation to all those R.N.Z.A.F. crews (land & air) who laboured over all these past years to keep these eldery (respectfully) ladies flying for as long as they did!! A job well done & one you can indeed be proud of!! Looking forward to those new replacement models getting themselves into gear & carrying on the past traditions!! R.N.Z.A.F. flies forever!!
Great comment, thank you!
The three sisters flew low and straight in formation over our house in Auckland today. We thought our driveway was mistaken for a runway they seemed so loud and close…doubt they’d have fit. But they were magnificent.
Great comment, thank you!
Great aircraft & workhorse. Served the country very well. Goodbye Fat Albert.
Great comment, thanks
Was driving over the harbour bridge when they did a low pass along the waterfront. pretty cool. And then today again a low pass down the city before departing to the north
Thanks for sharing your experience. What a fitting farewell!
Maintenance and aircrew are both worthy of highest commendation for dedication above and beyond the call of duty. Not that they’ll get that from ungrateful politicians who thought of them as a taxi service.
Great comment, thank you.
Saw the salute fly over of Carterton for their old boss and the cap who flew the first one here . John Gordon still puts in for others .
Great comment, thank you.
Great shots of a retiring giant. What’s replacing them? Nothing I would guess. Your navy did a great job with reducing their fleet!
Have been replaced in the RNZAF by C-130J Super Hercules
How old are these? I may have flown in one of them. In standard 1/age 7, I flew from Wellington to Ohakea with my friend's wing-commander dad, to stay with them in Bulls. I was so excited I can't believe I didn't pee myself. I loved the sound so much, I couldn't WOULDN'T wear the ear muffs. I'm 55 now, so 48 years ago +/- 1yr.
CF, the Hercs are all nearly 60 so they are still ahead of you! Thanks for sharing.
I was working in a kiwifruit orchard near Opotiki when they flew over
Great that you were able to see them!
My father Flt Lt David Greenlees was the flight Engineer on 02 delivery flight from USA 1965. I still have is flight books.
Wow! That's a great piece of history.
fantastic flypast Putaruru this afternoon......
Glad that you were able to see them!
They passed over my house yesterday all the windows shook the neighbor fell over as he rushed outside to see what was it , a sight to behold 3 of them at tree top level ..damn wish i had my phone.👍
Sounds like it was quite the event!
@@AirflowNZ Won't see that again ...
@@AirflowNZ don't get to smart boy .
Heard them flying over Feilding on their way to Base Ohakea but couldn't see them due low on the runway 27 approach
They are heading back to Base Auckland later today, you may catch a view then?
These guys flew over Waiuku it was quite something as the flew over in formation at low level very cool
Great comment, thank you.
Seen them over Whangamata at Lunch was very cool
So glad that you were able to see them!
@@AirflowNZ Yes same here pretty exciting just perfect timing
Imm imm..saw them fly over head and looked strange- so now i know...impressive pressence and sound...🎉
Nice comment, thank you.
Well done guys 👍
Yes! Thanks for your comment.
It would be nice to think that the airforce considered using the old Hercs for fighting bush fires.
Cost of keeping them at the ready prohibitive. Helicopters so much cheaper and they can undertake other work when not fire fighting.
One was puffing a bit of black smoke as it flow past yesterday 200 feet of the roof.
The new J`s do not leave trail of smoke!
Well the residents of Massey will get a bit more sleep at night now. Still, they did the work for such a long time. They can be proud of their long and reliable service.
I use to live in Massey 47 yrs ago and we always saw them coming in or out
The new J model Hercules are so much quieter, you will able to sleep!
Do you know what the fate of the H series RNZAF aircraft is?
NZ7001 is going to the Air Force Museum
We have one here at Woodbourne alongside the P3 Orions. One of which has gone to the RNZAF museum at Wigram.
Will miss you
But the memories will be with you for ever!
Would have loved to see them, but heard nothing about it till it was too late 😢
It is sad that our media is not interested in defence.
C-140 H model hasn't been around that long.
Why have they been retired?
Where are they going?
At nearly 60 years of service airframe time must be running out. 01 is off to AirForce Museum at Wigram, others are going into storage.
I think they would become great bush fire water bombers with a bit of kiwi ingenuity!
Helicopters which can be used part time are a much cheaper option.
@ Fair comment I suppose.
wait are they being scrapped?
A viewer advises 01 going to Museum at Wigram. Fate of others has not been disclosed.
I suppose the airframes couldn't have been used for fire fighting in New Zealand?
Could they do this with the new versions?
We need something better than helicopters with inadequate monsoon buckets.
Cost of conversion and operating charges prohibitive.
Download that video this morning tk
Glad that you enjoyed it.
And so the Flight Engineer trade ends in the RNZAF. 😢
Wow believe they flow low over Kawerau in the Eastern Bay of plenty also.I am proud to be an ex Air Force female
Brianna, thank you for sharing.
I believe that the RAAF are getting 20 new C130J-30 and four KC130J-30
Many thanks for this info.
That our personnel should have had to fly these relics at the risk of their lives is an indictment of successive governments. We expect people to do a job, we must therefore give them safe airframes to do it.
Lets hope the new J Models do not reach 60 years!
They were always safe - aircraft aren't allowed to fly unless they pass frequent rigorous inspections. Look at the even older B52s the Americans fly
Were they still the longest serving C130s in the world. didn't we buy them in the early 60s? Does 03 still have that odd sound and shimme?
Not sure of any/all answers but they all were purchased brand new nearly 60 years ago.
So thats why they randomly flew over gisborne in formation. First i knew about it.
Glad that you saw them and now know what it was all about!
Did anyone blink, and miss it? Seriously, 4? Should be at least 12.
Craig just three aircraft, most folk thought the display quite memorable.
@ Low expectations?
Proud to be KIWI
Yes, thank you!
We had 3 of them? 😂
5 C-130 H models, now have C-130J models.
saw them fly over Hamilton and that was choice how they come down low choice
Nice comment, thank you.
dept 50mm etc buy shop. below .
Can't for the the next fly past in 60 years 😂😂 NZ airforce is a joke with nothing to offer the real world. They want to be part of the big boys club they learn off Australia.
Trump will force the issue on our low Defence spend if we need help. Chippy from Labour who wants no part with the Nuc. Sub venture may have to form an alliance with China!
Your ignorance is astonishing.
Lay off the cool aid for atleast a year mate.
Trump got nothing to do with it😂 sucked in by the bull 💩💩😅
Absolute joke of an airforce. And they’ve replaced their 1966 Hercs with the same number of C-130s, just when the C-390 becomes available.
Should have purchased the Airbus.
More expensive and not compatable with our allies who have Hercules. We frequently train alongside them and swap crews on ocastions.
What a non-event, you flew so low only those directly under your flightpath actually saw you, we all heard you but at 500 ft the only people who saw you in Napier were those on the extended runway 16 track.
You are welcome back to show yourselves off properly anytime.
Y know, instead of retiring these awesome planes they should convert them into cheap inter region transporters for genuine New Zealanders wanting to stay connected with Whanau-Family instead of making us pay tourist prices to travel our own country [same applies to train prices].
These cost much more to run per km compared to regional airliners and the airframes and engines are almost time expired.
Fatigue life expired bro ….aka unairworthy…..aka not safe anymore.
Yeah we good push out the rear door & save landing fees.
🫡
Is it those Canadian planes dispersing the chemicals stuffing our skies ?
It must be 20+ years since we sprayed Auckland to get rid of the fruit fly!
WTF is NZ doing with Hercules? We can’t go to war as we have no offensive air support to protect them. They are dedicated specialist military aircraft and are total overkill for regional peacetime support missions. (the same can be done with aircraft cast a fraction of what the new J model costs!) at 1.5 billion dollars for 6 it’s way m, way out of NZ’s league considering we have no prime roll needs as we don’t have a military that can fight a war. It’s another case of justification to maintain an old military empire by saying we had them before so we need them again. It’s nonsense and as a retired military aviation analyst with 5000 command hours on Hercules, I do actually know what I’m talking about. NZ can’t afford these machines. (Did you know that a loaded Hercules can’t land at most of our smaller regional strips because they exceed the wheel load limits of the pavement!! So they are useless for civil defence and relief missions) it’s simply a ploy by the NZDF to try to stay relevant in a world where they have absolutely no teeth. They can’t even pay the men enough to stay in the Service. Priorities mate, they need to attend to the priorities rather than spend massive amounts of cash on aircraft we don’t actually need!! It’s nonsense and I can provide the proof if anyone actually wanted to listen… 1.5billion for what? Nothing that’s really useful today. Compared to civil airlifted they cost a fortune to buy and maintain. Has NZ lost the plot?….. again?
Versatile aircraft that have worked tirelessly for the people of New Zealand and many countries. I too spent many hours in these aircraft, though in the back, usually as a passenger but also on AME flights. We do need aircraft like these.
Please enlighten us. What other aircraft, at a fraction of the cost, could fill the roles filled by the Hercules?
Easy there buddy.. theyve saved many lives without conflict... no wars on our shores!
What do you think they have been doing for the past 60 years. Knowall nob.
Our Hercules are not about war.They are all about cleaning up and aiding both sides of the conflict when its over. I always thought of our Hercs as NZs version of International rescue, lol.
the airforce should turn them into flying gunships like the US have
Embarrasing
Exactly what is embarrassing about replacing these C130H model aircraft with brand new C130J model aircraft?
They flew over optiki about 1230 100 o'clock.was wondering what was going on.low as.👌👍
So glad that you did see them!
Flew over my place in Ohope…..awesome❤️❤️
Nice comment, thank you.