JASDF Kawasaki C-2 68-1203 - additional coverage

This week's visit to New Zealand by the Kawasaki C-2 not only attracted intense interest from NZDF and government officials but also aviation enthusiasts with like minded "spotters" congregating from far and wide to catch this first of type visitor drop into Christchurch and Wellington.

Thanks to Lanzi for the photographic coverage below, and to Tim for the video of its arrival at Wellington.

King Air 350i demonstrator N350KF

The Beechcraft/Textron Aviation King Air 350i demonstrator N350KF FL-954 touched down at Auckland mid afternoon 27 November 2017 after a direct flight from Sydney.  This 2014 edition machine arrived into Sydney during the predawn hours of 20 November from Juanda via Darwin and Mt Isa and went on to visit Essendon, Newcastle/Williamtown, Port Macquarie, Gold Coast, Brisbane and eventually to Sydney. 

N350KF departed Auckland mid morning 28 November for Wellington, then onto Nelson where a demonstration flight was conducted before proceeding onto Christchurch. 29 November saw the 350i conduct a demonstration flight from/to Christchurch before making its way to Queenstown. It flew from there direct to Sydney 30 November. From Sydney to Mt Isa and Darwin 01 December. 

N350KF at Nelson 28 November 2017. 

Hawker Pacific, agents for the type, have had numerous demonstrator King Air's visit the region over the years, most recent 350 visitor was N136KF during winter 2016. 

http://www.hawkerpacific.com/aircraft-sales/beechcraft/product/4-king-air-350i

Of the 11 civilian King Air's in the country, 2 are the larger 350 models. ZK-PWL is privately operated and domiciled at Ardmore and ZK-SSH is operated by Skyline Aviation, based at Auckland flying on behalf of Starship Childrens Hospital. 

Kawasaki C-2 Downunder Demo - updated 29 November 2017

68-1203 made the flight north from Christchurch to Wellington early afternoon 28 November 2017 and after a couple of hours on the ground conducted a 1 hour demonstration flight. It departed Wellington for Richmond 29 November.

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Posted 28 November 2017:

The Kawasaki C-2 68-1203 crossed the Tasman Sea 27 November 2017 as JF102 touching down at Christchurch mid afternoon from Amberley. It is anticipated the military transport will head to Wellington early this afternoon and be demonstrated to NZDF personnel.

C2 outstaging the RNZAF newest C130H NZ7005 on the Deep Freeze ramp, Christchurch 27 November 2017.

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Posted 27 November 2017:

As anticipated in our blog post from early October, a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Kawasaki C-2 has arrived in the region touching down at Amberley, QLD mid afternoon 26 November 2017 from Guam. 68-1203 as JF102. It is expected to cross the Tasman sometime today - so no doubt another update later!

Not the aircraft in question, however great shot of two C-2's at their Miho base in late October 2017. 

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Post from 11 October 2017:

The Japanese Ministry of Defense is increasing efforts to promote the Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) C-2 medium transport aircraft to international customers reports www.janes.com on 06 October. 

Excerpt from press release:

The MoD said in a statement that, for the first time, it is flying the C-2 to foreign countries to display the aircraft to customers in the Middle East and New Zealand.

The MoD added that the Japan Air Self-Defense Force will fly the C-2 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the Dubai Airshow in mid-November while later that month, it will present the aircraft to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

The MoD cited Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera as saying that the C-2’s capabilities had attracted interest in international markets and that the decision to display the aircraft in the Middle East and New Zealand is an opportunity to demonstrate Japanese defence technologies.

The KHI C-2 formally entered service into the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) in March 2016. The JASDF currently operates four C-2s but it is expected to order about 60 aircraft in total to replace its ageing Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130H transports.

According to Jane’s All The World's Aircraft: Development & Production , the 44-m long C-2 is the largest transport aircraft in service with the JASDF. It is intended to provide greater range than the platforms it is replacing, with a stated range of 3,024 n miles (5,600 km; 3,480 miles) when carrying its maximum payload of 30 tonnes.

And more concisely, the Japanese military have mentioned the C-2 will be demonstrated between 08 and 17 November in the UAE and the Dubai Air Show and also Djibouti where Japan has a large presence with United Nations Peace Keeping efforts. 

The second overseas trip will be the visit to New Zealand and Australia with the aircraft leaving its Miho home base on 25 November and due back on 01 December. 

The C-2 is based with the 403Sqn at Miho and as at late September the production list consisted of:

68-1203 C/N 003

68-1204 C/N 004

78-1205 C/N 005

78-1206 C/N 006 (latest production aircraft still in flight test phase at Gifu)

08-1201 C/N 001 XC-2 based at Gifu in red/white scheme

18-1202 C/N 002 C-2 based at Gifu in standard blue/grey scheme

The following images were taken at Gifu in October 2012

The KHI prototype designated C-1 remains airworthy from Gifu. 

Flying Orangutan visits the Garden City

Tasman Cargo Airlines Boeing 757-200 freighter VH-TCA, operating on behalf of DHL and wearing The Grand Tour promotional decals, visited Christchurch mid morning 26 November 2017. The aircraft arrived as "Tasman 93" from Auckland and departed as TMN92 for Auckland and Sydney.

Piper Cheyenne 400LS joins the ZK register - updated with photo

Having been a frequent visitor to New Zealand since first turning up in July 2011, Piper PA42-1000 Cheyenne 400LS VH-BUR has finally taken up a Kiwi identity becoming ZK-FIS from 02 November 2017 with the Airways Corporation of New Zealand. Throughout its many trips to our shores, the high performance turbine has been employed by the local air traffic control service provider to conduct navigation calibration duties not only throughout New Zealand but also on contract across the Pacific Islands and South East Asia including into Nepal.

It positioned from Palmerston North to Paraparaumu 15 November 2017 and conducted its first calibration flight under ZK markings two days later when it flew upto Whenuapai and ended up at Auckland for the night.

At Wellington 21 November 2017, Lanzi photo

The Cheyenne, previously operated by Burley Air of Bankstown, Sydney, most recently crossed the Tasman in August 2017 arriving at Christchurch on the 12th from Bankstown via a tech-stop at Lord Howe Island.  It appears its last flight under VH marks was conducted 06 September 2017 when it flew from Wellington to Palmerston North as XFX01/Aircorp 01. 

Ardmore 29 September 2012

Southern Katipo 2017 - UPDATED 23 NOVEMBER 2017

Royal Australian Air Force C130J Hercules A97-448 returned to NZ 21 November with a nocturnal run from Richmond to Ohakea and back.

Royal Australian Air Force C17 Globemaster III A41-211 arrived at Christchurch 22 November from Townsville. It departed late morning 23 November for Townsville. 

Royal Australian Air Force C17 Globemaster III A41-206 arrived at Christchurch 23 November from Amberley and after a couple of hours on the ground departed for Townsville. 

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Post from 21 November 2017: 

Looks like the foreign component of flying equipment has exited "stage left" with the RAAF C130J Hercules A97-448 departing Ohakea for Richmond 20 November and RAAF Beech King Air 350 A32-437 departing Ohakea for Norfolk Island the same day. It continued to Amberley and Townsville 21 November. 

RAAF C130J Hercules A97-447 made a brief visit to Christchurch 17 November arriving from Sydney and departing for Richmond. The Herk had overnighted Sydney after flying in from Townsville the previous day. 

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Post from 16 November 2017: 

Exercise Southern Katipo 2017 is nearing its conclusion with the mainstay of heavy lift flying activity being conducted by the RAAF C130J Hercules A97-448 (see HERE) with it flying one or two missions each day. The RAAF King Air 350 A32-437 is also flying daily. The C27J Spartan A34-005 departed Ohakea on return to Richmond 11 November 2017 while the French Casa 235 departed Ohakea 10 November 2017 heading home to Noumea. 

Thanks to Andy Heap for the next batch of photos as taken at Westport last weekend:

United States Army Gulfstream 5/C37A 05-1944 arrived at Christchurch from Pago Pago 14 November 2017 as PAT44 and its visit is reportedly associated with SK17. This airframe has visited NZ on numerous occasions -1944. It departed Christchurch 16 November heading to Guam/Andersen. 

"1944" under lovely blue skies at Christchurch 14 November 2017. 

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Posted 02 November 2017: 

A large number of images to share from the previous few days of activity. Thanks to those providing material for use!

The morning of 01 November 2017 saw the United States Air Force/Minnesota Air National Guard Lockheed C130H Hercules 95-1001 departed Ohakea heading for Pago Pago as "Gofer 01", its participation at SK17 obviously at an end. Also concluding its time with the exercise was United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 99-0168 with it departing Ohakea 02 November for Kalaeloa/John Rodgers Field (aka the old Barbers Point NAS/Honolulu!). 

Late afternoon 01 November 2017 saw Royal Australian Air Force Beech King Air 350 A32-671 arrive at Ohakea from Amberley via Norfolk Island. The King Air had flown to Amberley from Townsville the previous afternoon. It departed Ohakea for Norfolk Island 02 November. 

The French Navy Falcon 20G #65 has been conducting local recon flights and appears to have visited Christchurch and using the callsign "JUDE" with varying numbers. The French Army Casa 235 #66 has also been out and about and heard to use the callsign "GAMBIT".  The Falcon departed Ohakea for Noumea 02 November. 

66/52-ID during a brief visit to Wellington last month. 

66/52-ID arriving at Whenuapai. 

95-1001 short finals runway 03 Whenuapai after conducting parachute operations. 

95-1001 on finals to land at Woodbourne. 

99-0168 meanders down Woodbourne's runway under the watchful eye of its loadmaster. 

Feel the POWER! 99-0168 launches from Woodbourne. 

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Posted 30 October 2017 :

Military lift capacity is moving its focus to Westport as exercise Southern Katipo 2017 moves its area of operation to the South Island's western coastline. So far I understand Westport has not yet been visited by the USAF C17 Globemaster but it can be anticipated like  years ago this will happen.

A second Royal Australian Air Force C27J Spartan turned up at Ohakea for a few days. A34-004 flew in from Richmond 28 October and returned to Richmond 30 October.

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Posted 26 October 2017 :

Visiting foreign military aircraft associated with exercise "Southern Katipo 2017" have been bolstered in numbers with the arrival of two French participants arriving at Ohakea.

Falcon 20G Gardian #65 arrived early evening 24 October from Noumea and it was followed the next afternoon by Casa 235 #66, also arriving from Noumea. 

Meanwhile the US and Australian contingents continue to keep busy providing liaison and battlefield lifting capacity with an airbridge formed between Whenuapai, Ohakea, Woodbourne and Christchurch. 

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Posted 24 October 2017:

99-0168 at Woodbourne 22 October 2017 - Gavin Conroy photo

The aviation component of Southern Katipo 2017 upped the tempo late last week when the participants engaged in airlift activities supplying the military exercise's Marlborough component with support from Whenuapai, Ohakea and Christchurch. Multiple movements by RNZAF C130 Hercules, the USAF C130 Hercules and C17 Globemaster along with the RAAF Spartan were observed in and out of Woodbourne along with the RAAF King Air no doubt providing VIP transport alongside RNZAF examples. Three NH90's and a single Agusta A109 are located at Omaka while at least one SH2 Seasprite is being utilised from onboard the HMNZS Canterbury. Two of the NH90's were transported to the top of the South Island on board the "Canterbury" to provide real world logistics in deploying overseas. 

NH90 on board HMNZS Canterbury docked at the Port of Nelson.Andy Heap photo.  

NH90 trio out in the woop woops at Omaka. Andy Heap photo

Short finals Woodbourne, Andy Heap photo

Gavin Conroy photo

Gavin Conroy photo

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Posted 17 October 2017:

Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed C130J Hercules A97-464 visited Ohakea early evening 15 October when it arrived from Richmond and Amberley before heading back to Richmond.

United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 99-0168 arrived at Ohakea around breakfast time 16 October as FROZN18, presumably from Hickam. The Elmendorf/AK based aircraft visited Whenuapai in September arriving from Andersen on the 17th and departed the next day.

Royal Australian Air Force Beech King Air 350 A32-437 made its way to Ohakea from Norfolk Island 16 October having flown from Townsville and Amberley the previous day. 

Royal Australian Air Force Alenia C27J Spartan A34-005 arrived Ohakea mid afternoon 16 October direct from its Richmond base.

United States Air Force Lockheed C130H Hercules 95-1001 arrived Ohakea mid afternoon 16 October from Pago Pago and was heard to use the callsign "Gofer 01". This aircraft is operated by the 109th Airlift Squadron from the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard.

http://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1342751/southern-katipo-to-kick-off-in-new-zealand/

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Updated 14 October 2017:

Exercise Southern Katipo 17 (SK17) has already commenced with Royal New Zealand Air Force participation involved with transporting overseas troops to region from places like Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

The first overseas aircraft participant to arrive for the exercise was Elmendorf/AK based Boeing C17 Globemaster III 00-0171 with the heavy lift transporter touching down at Whenuapai early afternoon 14 October from Guam/Andersen AFB as TREK305. This particular aircraft has previously deployed to NZ for exercises http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=00-0171

Its visit was brief with the aircraft departing for Pago Pago 15 October then to Andersen 16 October.

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Post published 29 September 2017:

The New Zealand Defence Force will once again host the biannual joint military exercise with 13 countries participating. The area of operation will again focus on the top of the South Island as a continuation of Southern Katipo '15.

Coverage of past exercises can be found here: KATIPO

From the NZDF press release:
The main contingent will arrive at Blenheim Airport in military fixed wing transport aircraft, such as the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H Hercules. You may also see a United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster and a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules parachuting loads onto selected drop zones in the exercise area. The RNZAF's NH90 and A109 helicopters will be based out of Omaka Airfield.

There’ll be a number of Navy Ships off the coast between Kaikoura and the Marlborough Sounds as other elements of the contingent arrive by sea over the beach in Okiwi Bay and across the wharf at Picton.

More than 2,000 military personnel from New Zealand and 13 other countries will descend on the top of the South Island at the start of October for an international exercise hosted by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

Exercise Southern Katipo 17 (SK17), which runs from 2 October to 18 November, aims to test and evaluate the NZDF’s ability to plan and conduct joint operations involving a range of naval, land, and air assets. It will also involve military personnel from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Fiji, New Caledonia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Tonga, Timor Leste, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The exercise areas will be the West Coast, Tasman and Marlborough, extending south to Greymouth in the west and Kaikoura in the east.

The SK17 exercise scenario will be a continuation of that used in Southern Katipo 15, in which New Zealand deployed a military contingent to lead a multinational combined joint task force to will help restore law and order in a fictional South Pacific country called Becara. The multinational task force conducted stability, support and humanitarian operations, including the evacuation of internally displaced people.

However, the exercise director, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Dransfield, said in SK17 higher threat levels would be used to create more challenging training environments across the spectrum of operations.

“Opposition groups and challenges presented will allow for a range of military and non-military responses to be exercised, both individually as NZDF and collectively with other government agencies, non-governmental organisations and international partners,” Lieutenant Colonel Dransfield said.

As well as the international military partners, New Zealand organisations supporting the exercise will include the New Zealand Customs Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Police, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Transport Authority, Immigration New Zealand, Ministry of Health, District Health Boards, Red Cross and St John New Zealand.

SK17 would build on the cooperation achieved between the NZDF, other government agencies, non-governmental organisations and regional defence partners during recent humanitarian aid operations such as in Fiji and Kaikoura last year, Lieutenant Colonel Dransfield said.

Major General Tim Gall, Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said SK17 would provide participants with a realistic portrayal of an emergency that might arise in the South West Pacific.

“In SK17 we will be dealing with challenges that commanders have to grapple with in real-world operations, such as exercising command and control over units that are operating in remote areas,” Major General Gall said.

“Our personnel are well-trained and ready to respond to any crisis at home or overseas. And through exercises like SK17 we get the chance to enhance our ability to operate effectively alongside other militaries.”

Lieutenant Colonel Dransfield said the success of such exercises owed much to the support and involvement of local communities.

“We use their land, ports, airfields and, in some cases, private farmland,” he said. “There was strong community involvement in Southern Katipo 15, with hundreds taking part as role-players in certain aspects of the exercise, and that will happen again this year.”

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will be holding a military exercise in the northern part of the South Island over the period 20 OCT to 17 NOV 17 inclusive. Increased military flying activity will occur from 18 OCT to 25 NOV 17 inclusive due to pre and post exercise. The exercise will include fixed wing operations by C-130, C-17, CASA 235, C27J, King Air, Falcon Guardian and P-3K2 aircraft, rotary aircraft operations by NH90 and A109 helicopters and RPAS operations. The fixed wing aircraft will be based at Ohakea and conduct operations into Woodbourne, Westport and Greymouth aerodromes. They may also conduct parachuting and load drops operations and low level flying down to a minimum of 250 ft AGL. The helicopters will initially be based at Omaka aerodrome, and from early November are expected to be based at Westport aerodrome. Intensive helicopter operations can be expected throughout the exercise area, including in the vicinities of Kaikoura, Ward, Okiwi Bay, Dip Flat, Greymouth, Westport and Reefton. RPAS operations can also be expected throughout the exercise area. Temporary aerodrome control services will be provided at Westport and Omaka aerodromes