from the NZ Herald:-
Three RNZAF P-3K2 Orion aircraft took off from the Whenuapai airbase in West Auckland this morning for a farewell tour of New Zealand.The fleet is being retired after more than 57 years of service with the air force and will be replaced by new Boeing P-8A Poseidon planes in July this year.
Since the mid-1960s, six P-3K2 Orions have been used for airborne surveillance and reconnaissance of Aotearoa New Zealand’s areas of economic interest, exclusive economic zone, the South Pacific and the Southern Ocean, including Antarctica.
“They’ve operated from Antarctica through to northeast Asia, through to Europe - all around the world - but predominantly... supporting our Pacific neighbours with things like the search and rescue just conducted, and of course supporting New Zealand and surveying New Zealand’s EEZs and protecting New Zealand’s interests. Looking after New Zealanders with local search and rescues as well.”
The first of the P-8s arrived in December with more arriving by April. The first plane will be operational in July and it will take until the end of 2024 to have crews fully trained and all the replacements in the air.
The final flight of two Orions to Base Woodbourne, where the retired fleet is being stored, will take place on January 31 with a close-formation flypast over the South Island.
Why 'retirement' before the others are active. That does not make sense to me.
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