Story: Armed forces

Upgraded Orion aircraft, Whenuapai airfield, 2011 (3rd of 4)

Upgraded Orion aircraft, Whenuapai airfield, 2011

In the early 2000s the Royal New Zealand Air Force had six P3K Orion aircraft which were used for marine patrols. The Orions were being upgraded to P3K2 standard as part of a transition from marine patrols to airborne surveillance and response – meaning the aircraft could conduct operations over land as well as marine operations. This is the hand-over ceremony for the first upgraded Orion, at the air force's Whenuapai airfield in May 2011. Secretary of Defence John McKinnon is speaking from the podium to the right of the propeller.

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New Zealand Defence Force
Reference: Air Force News 125, (May 2011): 4-5

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How to cite this page:

Jim Rolfe, 'Armed forces - Contemporary armed forces', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/35723/upgraded-orion-aircraft-whenuapai-airfield-2011 (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Jim Rolfe, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Apr 2020