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Sunday, June 10, 2018

Highlight of 2018!




As we reach the mid point of 2018 it is perhaps a little presumptuous to trumpet the "Highlight of 2018", but in our view this particular aircraft arrival into New Zealand, especially by its operator, is certainly a significant event. 

Turning up at RNZAF base Whenuapai from Cairns on the afternoon of 09 June 2018 was People Liberation Army Air Force Illyushin IL76MD "Candid" 21047. The four-holer had flown from Davao, The Philippines to Cairns 08 June 2018 before making its 5+ hour flight to Whenuapai.

This example is operated out of Dangyang for the 13 Division/39 Air Regiment transport wing.

The heavy lifter is in the region to participate in Exercise "Skytrain '18" with Whenuapai's sealed runway 08/26 closed for the duration of the IL76 visit.
















The IL76 has been in service with the PLAAF since 1991 http://sinodefence.com/ilyushin-il-76/

My records are a little sketchy, as is my memory, but I do not recall New Zealand having had a visit by a military configured PLAAF aircraft previously so quite a historic moment. The closest noting of a PLAAF IL76 was the deployment of two aircraft to Western Australia in March 2014 to participate in the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. 


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