The Air Force Museum is set to receive an ex-RNZAF Orion.
A former P-3 Orion aircraft, previously in service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ4203, is slated for donation to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand!
Image: Noah Stohr-Waldren
On Wednesday, the Air force Museum of New Zealand was thrilled to announce that they will be acquiring an ex-RNZAF P-3 Orion.
In a few weeks time, the airframe will be transported from RNZAF Base Woodbourne down to the Air force Museum in Wigram, Christchurch. Due to the large nature of the aircraft however, it will have to take an extended route via the Lewis pass to get to its final resting place.
Image: @nzaa_avgeek via Instagram
During their service, the Orions were tasked with a range of missions that varied from fishery patrol all the way to attempting to help find the remains of flight MH370.
NZ4203, the orion heading to Wigram has been active the skies over New Zealand for almost sixty years and has helped out the RNZAF in an extensive number of ways. The Air Force has retired all six of their hard working P-3 Orions. Recently the aircraft were sent out with a bang, conducting a formation flight consisting of three Orions. They departed from RNZAF Base Auckland and flew south, preforming low passes over multiple different airports around the nation. This allowed for everyone to pay respect to the popular P-3 Orion.
Image: @nzaa_avgeek via Instagram
“The life-saving presence of a P-3 flying overhead, a sound familiar to many, will no longer grace our skies. Nevertheless, for all those who have shared any connection with this aircraft, she will forever remain in our hearts and memories.”
The airframes were registered as, NZ4201, NZ4202, NZ4203, NZ4204, NZ4205, and NZ4206 which was an ex RAAF Orion. All these aircraft have had avionics and radio upgrades. Sadly these aircraft have been withdrawn from use and no longer fly in the skies over New Zealand. Although they have been replaced with state of the art P-8A Poseidons.
