	helis.com
	helicopter history site

Home \| Database \| Countries \| Helicopters \| Ships \| Forum \| Contact us \| Login		Search C/N Go \| Help

Royal New Zealand Air Force

Organisation History:

Military flying in New Zealand began in 1923 when two civilian flying schools passed into Government ownership. The New Zealand Permanent Air Force was formed in Jun 1923. A reserve organisation, the New Zealand Air Force (which had no aircraft of its own) was established at the same time. In Feb 1934, these two organisations were merged into the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), but still as part of the Army. On the recommendation of an RAF adviser, Wing Commander R A Cochrane, the RNZAF became an autonomous organisation on 1 Apr 1937. Like many other organisations, a dramatic contraction occurred at the end of WWII in Aug 1945.

Following a major review, replacement of obsolete types was authorised in1962 and by the mid 1960s, the new fleet began to be delivered, together with the first RNZAF helicopters, the Bell 47G Sioux and the UH-1D Huey.

In line with the New Zealand Government's policies of de-regulation and contracting out, budget constraints and the Defence Strategy Review of 1991 initiated a contraction of the service which has continued into the 21st century.

Rotary Wing Aircraft Units in this Organisation:	Login to Edit

Rotary Wing Aircraft Unit	Created	Disband
6 squadron	1942	--
3 squadron	1930	--

Bases/Heliports of this Organisation:	Login to Edit

Viewing: Current Bases/Heliports | Historical

Base / Heliport	Units of this Base/Heliport
Ohakea Airbase	3 squadron 2002/now
Whenuapai Airbase	3 squadron 1998/now

Models in this Organisation:	Login to Edit

Model	Del'd	From Year	To Year
bell 205	17	1966	present
bell 47	13	1965	present

Individual Helicopters on Database:	Login to Edit

Model	C/N	Built	ID / History
47G-3	6514	1965	NZ3701: dd Dec 1965 as 47G-3B-1, to 3 Squadron. Crashed 19 Jan 1979.
47G-3	6515	1965	NZ3702: dd Dec 1965 as 47G-3B-1, to 3 Squadron.
47G-3	6516		NZ3703: RNZAF. w/o 30jun77
47G-3	6517		NZ3704: RNZAF. w/o 16jan87
47G-3	6518		NZ3705: RNZAF 3 sqd
47G-3	6519		NZ3706: RNZAF 3 sqd
47G-3	6809	1970	NZ3707: RNZAF. w/o 02apr74
47G-3	6810		NZ3708: RNZAF
47G-3	6811		NZ3709: RNZAF. w/o 11nov83
47G-3	6812		NZ3710: RNZAF. w/o 16jul85
47G-3	6813		NZ3711: RNZAF. w/o 15nov71
47G-3	6814		NZ3712: RNZAF 3 sqd
47G-3	6815		NZ3713: RNZAF 3 sqd
UH-1D	4812		NZ3801: RNZAF 01. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-9768. Conv UH-1H
UH-1D	4813		NZ3802: RNZAF 02. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-9769. Conv UH-1H
UH-1D	5158		NZ3803: RNZAF 03. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-10114. Conv UH-1H
UH-1D	5159		NZ3804: RNZAF 04. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-10115. Conv UH-1H
UH-1D	5160		NZ3805: RNZAF 05. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-10116. Conv UH-1H. United Nations East T ...
UH-1H	11705		NZ3806: RNZAF 06. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15417
UH-1H	11706		NZ3807: RNZAF 07. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15418
UH-1H	11707		NZ3808: RNZAF 08. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15419
UH-1H	11708		NZ3809: RNZAF 09. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15420
UH-1H	11938		NZ3810: RNZAF 10. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15650. w/o 27apr72
UH-1H	11939		NZ3811: RNZAF 11. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15651
UH-1H	11940		NZ3812: RNZAF 12. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15652
UH-1H	11941		NZ3813: RNZAF 13. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15653. w/o 31mar95
UH-1H	11942		NZ3814: RNZAF 14. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15654
UH-1H	13849		NZ3815: RNZAF 15. 3 sqd. BuNo 74-22525
UH-1H	11702		NZ3816: RNZAF 16. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15414

29 Construction Numbers in this organisation found