RAAF C-17 visits NZ, delivering training aids and transporting RNZAF Seasprite

This week a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17 Globemaster III visited New Zealand, stopping in RNZAF Base Woodbourne (Blenhiem) and Base Auckland.

The aircraft is from No. 36 Squadron at RAAF base Amberley in Queensland.

The RAAF C-17 at Woodbourne Aerodrome | Photo: NZDF

On Monday afternoon, the C-17 transported an ex-Defence Australia training aid helicopter frame to be used at the RNZAF’s Trade Training School at Base Woodbourne.

It then departed to the north, taking off from Woodbourne, the C-17 flew over Base Ohakea before flying low level across the North Island en route to Base Auckland.

At Base Auckland, an RNZAF/RNZN SH-2G(I) Seasprite was loaded onto the C-17 on Tuesday before departing to Singapore via Darwin on Wedensday. The Seasprite will be delivered to HMNZS Aotearoa for the ship’s next mission.

Acting Air Component Commander Group Captain Pete Gibson said “our two Air Forces work and train together all the time, in lots of different ways.”

“It’s great they’re giving us a hand with these moves, and we all learn something from everything we do together, it all helps build our interoperability,” said Gibson.