Flight chance ‘to see history’

All eyes were on the sky as a Dunedin school paused to witness history.

Three of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H Hercules fleet of five planes, which officially retired last Friday, flew over Dunedin at 11.23am yesterday as part of a farewell tour of the country.

Andersons Bay School pupils watch the RNZAF Hercules C-130H fleet fly over Dunedin yesterday...
Andersons Bay School pupils watch the RNZAF Hercules C-130H fleet fly over Dunedin yesterday morning. Photo: Peter McIntosh
Every pupil at Andersons Bay School gathered on the school’s top field to watch the fleet fly past.

Principal Pauline Simpson said it was a great opportunity for the children to see a piece of history.

‘‘It’s so important for our children to get these opportunities to be a part of history and to see history.’’

She said her school was lucky to have such a great view of the fleet’s flight path.

‘‘The whole school came up and they were all really excited about it.

‘‘How lucky are we that they came really close?’’

people watched the Hercules C-130H fleet on its farewell tour fly over Otago Harbour yesterday....
people watched the Hercules C-130H fleet on its farewell tour fly over Otago Harbour yesterday. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
Ms Simpson said seeing the aircrafts up close in real life would spark a curiosity and interest in the children to find out more about them.

In 2020, the government announced the ageing fleet would be replaced by five new C-130J-30 Hercules. The last of the new aircraft arrived in December. mark.john@odt.co.nz

 

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