The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H Hercules fleet is taking a final bow around the country.
The fleet of five aircraft officially retired last Friday but have spent the past few days flying around the country saying goodbye.

They left Invercargill at 10.45am today and headed north.

The New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement four of the aircraft would then go to the RNZAF Base Woodbourne while another is planned to go to the Air Force Museum at Wigram.
The fleet clocked up more than 155,000 accident-free flying hours and nearly 100,000 landings at home and around the world.
The first three Hercules were delivered to No40 Squadron at RNZAF Base Auckland in 1965 and were quickly put to work, transporting personnel from NZ Army 161 Battery and aid to Vietnam.

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, allowing the C-130H to take a well-earned retirement. - APL