Monday, 5 March 2012

Big planes big drawcard

    By Lynda van Kempen
    1. Regions
    2. Central Otago

    Jorja Stade (5) visits the cockpit of a C-130 Hercules. Photo by Lynda van Kempen.
    Jorja Stade (5) visits the cockpit of a C-130 Hercules. Photo by Lynda van Kempen.
    After viewing the underbellies of several C-130 Hercules flying over the region for a week, Central Otago people jumped at the chance to get closer to the aircraft.

    A crowd estimated at more than 1000 people spent several hours at the Alexandra Airport during an open day on Saturday, inspecting two Hercules aircraft, inside and out, viewing the communal areas of the Royal New Zealand Air Force camp at the airport and talking to RNZAF personnel.

    The air force is holding two training exercises based at Alexandra Airport - Exercise Skytrain, which began last Monday and finishes on Friday and Exercise Wiseowl, which runs from March 12-23 and involves CT-4E Airtrainer planes.

    Frano Flannery (10), of Poolburn, kitted out with an oxygen mask and bottle and a parachute,...
    Frano Flannery (10), of Poolburn, kitted out with an oxygen mask and bottle and a parachute, tests himself on the 'loadmaster challenge'. Photo by Lynda van Kempen.
    About 180 personnel are involved in Exercise Skytrain.

    Warrant Officer Greg Barrett said it was pleasing to see so many Central Otago residents taking the chance to view the planes and the camp on Saturday.

    The most popular part of the open day was the opportunity to walk through a Hercules plane, and long queues of adults and children formed. Another open day will be held at the airport on March 17, focusing on the Exercise Wiseowl aircraft.

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