Beech 350i King Air VH-ZPF/NZ2354 or NZ2350?

The fourth and final Beech 350i King Air for the Royal New Zealand Air Force 42 Squadron was delivered to Ohakea on the afternoon of 19 November 2018. VH-ZPF MSN FL-897 made its way from Bankstown to Sydney on the afternoon of 18 November ahead of its direct flight to Ohakea the following afternoon. It flew under its VH registration from Ohakea to Whenuapai arriving noon 20 November then conducted a VFR local flight out to Great Barrier Island and back. It then returned to Ohakea that evening. A similar routine was conducted 22 November, however this time the "local" flight extended north towards Whangarei before gravitating back to Whenuapai.

VH-ZPF arriving in Whenuapai 20 November 2018. 

On the morning of 19 November 2018 the RNZAF posted the below "article" on their social media account;

Previous posts on the King Air subject can be found below:

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=VH-ZPE
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=VH-ZPF
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=VH-ZPG
http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=VH-ZPJ

RNZAF takes delivery of first Beech King Air 350i - second time round!

Royal New Zealand Air Force 42 Squadron Ohakea has received its first Beech King Air 350i for a second time with the return of VH-ZPE/NZ2353.

This particular airframe was initially delivered to Ohakea back on 24 March 2018 under its VH markings and was first noted as NZ2353 on 14 May 2018. It subsequently departed the country on 19 June 2018 flying from Dunedin to Hobart and progressively migrated north to Cairns where it transitioned back to its VH-ZPE registration. This was most likely to facilitate additional work to be carried out by civilian owner's Hawker Pacific. 

VH-ZPE moved to Bankstown on 23 August 2018 and it is from there that it positioned across to Sydney 10 November 2018 and onto Ohakea 11 November 2018. 

VH-ZPE prepares to depart Sydney 11 November 2018. 

VH-ZPF is still at Bankstown pending delivery. 

Click HERE for previous posts on VH-ZPE. 

King Air 350i VH-ZPJ/NZ235x

The Royal New Zealand Air Force have taken delivery of their third (or is it second?) Beech King Air 350i  - VH-ZPJ/NZ235x MSN FL-979.

This 2015 edition King Air 350i arrived in Australia under its previous registration, N979KA, touching down in Bankstown 18 December 2017 from Biak and Cairns. It was eventually registered VH-ZPJ on 08 May 2018 and appears to have made its first flight as such on 21 September 2018. 

It positioned from Bankstown to Sydney late 29 October 2018 then flew direct to Ohakea 30 October 2018. 

Taxiing for departure from Sydney. 

Meanwhile, NZ2353/VH-ZPE is still at Bankstown as is VH-ZPF (ex RP-C1834 delivered to Hawker Pacific in February this year). 

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.com/search?q=vh-zpe

RNZAF King Air navex - UPDATED 02 AUGUST 2018

Interestingly, NZ2353 reverted to its previous civilian markings to become VH-ZPE from 05 July 2018 with Hawker Pacific.

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Posted 26 June 2018:

Royal New Zealand Air Force King Air 350i NZ2353 has conducted its first international navex/trip since introduction to service last month. As "Kiwi 561" the King Air made its way from Ohakea to Dunedin then onto Hobart 19 June 2018. The following day KIW561 flew to Tamworth and Cairns.

Cairns is where this aircraft underwent extensive maintenance with Hawker Pacific before its delivery to the RNZAF.  

NZ2353 prepares to depart Dunedin 19 June 2018. 

Military Delivery and Export

Busy times at Lord Howe Island around noon 26 May 2018 with the arrival from Brisbane of the second Beech King Air 350i on delivery to the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the first Pacific Aerospace 750XL on delivery to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

King Air 350i VH-ZPG, registered to Hawker Pacific, arriving at Lord Howe Island from Brisbane having flown south from Cairns the previous evening. After refueling the King Air pressed onto its new home of Ohakea touching down after sunset.

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=VH-zpe

Pacific Aerospace 750XL ZK-KDI had departed Hamilton 24 May 2018 for Ardmore, Kerikeri and Norfolk Island then continued to Lord Howe Island and the Gold Coast 26 May 2018 on its delivery flight to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. This is the first of four such aircraft ordered back in 2014 for the Army.
http://news.pngfacts.com/2017/02/png-army-buys-four-new-military.html

RNZAF takes delivery of first Beech King Air 350i - updated 18 May 2018

The first Royal New Zealand Air Force King Air 350i took to the skies from Ohakea for the first time wearing its Kiwi ensign 14 May 2018 confirming its identity as being NZ2353 (ex VH-ZPE). It made its first foray to Whenuapai 17 May arriving from and returning to Ohakea.

This is the second use of NZ2353. The first was worn by a DH98 Mosquito Mk FB.VI from 1947 until 1952.

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Posted 11 May 2018 :

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

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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. 

https://www.jetphotos.com/aircraft/manufacturer/Beechcraft/serial/FL-1017

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. 

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?

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.

VH-ZPF during its Darwin overnight stay. 

Virgin Embraer's

Virgin Embraer 190's are crossing the Tasman on a scheduled cycle of cabin upgrade work as the type has business class installed with Air NZ at Christchurch.

VH-ZPE arrived at Christchurch on 15 November from Melbourne and returned to Melbourne at the conclusion of its refit 21 November.

VH-ZPA arrived at Christchurch 22 November and it also originated from Melbourne.

VH-ZPM had its work carried out at Santa Maria, California as did VH-ZPK.