Air display for Waiouru

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 510, 2 November 1993, Page 5

Air display for Waiouru

The New Zealand Air Force's Skyhawks were seen buzzing around the skies for the most part of last week, treating Waiouru to an impromptu air show. The Skyhawks, from 75 Squadron, based at Ohakea spent the week taking some target practice on Waiouru 's training range. They are an extremely versatile aircraft, able to fly very low at high speeds, and perform various functions, such as close air support for ground troops. The Skyhawks of 75 Squadron were purchased from the Australian Navy and prior to joining the RNZAF, were attached to the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. In last week's exercise the Skyhawks were

used as fighter groundattack aircraft, being called in to bomb targets on the ground. During the exercise two training objectives were met, as an Army mortar course was run in conjunction, giving the Artillery some practice, providing smoke targets for the aircraft. Enemy submarines were also spotted in some of the ponds in the training area, or so was the scenario described by SAS personnel who were also there to call in the bombs. It's not known whether this provided some extra incentive to the pilots in charge of the aircraft but one thing is for sure; it takes quite some skill to hit targets as small as car bodies while travelling at 600 k/ph.