RNZAF Base Ohakea
| RNZAF Base Ohakea | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Characteristics | |
| ICAO code | NZOH |
| IATA code | OHA |
| Coordinates | |
| Height above MSL | 50 m (164 ft ) |
| Transport links | |
| Distance from the city center | 14 miles west of Palmerston North |
| Street |
|
| Basic data | |
| opening | 1939 |
| operator | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Runways | |
| 09/27 | 2445 m × 45 m asphalt |
| 15/33 | 2133 m × 45 m asphalt |
| 09L / 27R | 575 m × 27 m grass |
RNZAF Base Ohakea is a military airfield of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) 22 km west of Palmerston North in the Manawatu-Wanganui region on the North Island. In the first decades after the end of World War II, the airfield was the main base of New Zealand fighter jets and is now home to most of the RNZAF's training planes and helicopters .
history
The country's government decided in 1935 to expand the RNZAF. As a result, some new military airfields were built and the future Ohakea site, where, according to older plans, a civil airship port had been planned as early as the late 1920s, was to become a bomber base. Therefore, two large hangars that are still in use today were built here in the following years.
Due to the outbreak of World War II in Europe, however, the bombers were no longer delivered, as they were handed over to the British RAF . Instead of the bombers, Ohakea became the basic training base for flying crews.
After the end of the war, the 14th, 42nd and 75th squadrons of the RNZAF were reorganized in Ohakea. The 14th Squadron was initially equipped with Vought F4U Corsair for a few years and then flew the Mosquito for a short time . The 75th Squadron has been using this type since its reorganization and flew it until 1951. In that year, it prepared for the Vampire u, which it used until 1971. The 14th season also flew the Vampires from 1952 to 1959 and Venom from 1955 . The 14th squadron was then from 1959 to 1970 a Canberra equipped bomber squadron, and the 75th squadron also operated some Canberras on loan from the RAF from 1958 to 1962. Both squadrons were often used outside of New Zealand in these decades.
In contrast, the 42nd Squadron was a transport unit that was stationed here until 1984. During these years she was equipped with Dakota and then with Andover until 1977 . Then there were Devons . During the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953/54, the transport to the country was the responsibility of the 42nd Squadron .
The 75th Squadron received the Douglas A-4 from 1970 , which it operated until the end of 2001, after which it was deactivated. With the 2nd Squadron , a second "Skyhawk" squadron was in Ohakea between late 1984 and early 1991.
The 14th Squadron's role changed in 1970 when it became a school relay for advanced training. She flew for years, from 1972 to 1991 the BAC Strikemaster and from 1991 until its temporary disbandment in late 2001 the Aermacchi MB-339 .
After the 14th and 75th squadron were decommissioned, the 42nd squadron, which was now based in Whenuapai , moved back to Ohakea, where it had already flown the Super King Air B200 , which it exchanged for new B350i models in 2018.
In 2012, the 3rd season relocated to Ohakea with the start of their conversion to the NH90 , whereby they continued to fly their old UH-1H until 2015. A new hangar was built on the base for the helicopters. As the third squadron, the 14th Squadron was reactivated in early 2015 and began training on the T-6C the following year .
The construction of another hangar began in 2019 in view of the planned relocation of the 5th Squadron from Whenuapai to Ohakea in 2023 as part of their conversion to the P-8A .
Military use
At the moment (2020) there are four flying associations:
- 3rd Squadron , helicopter squadron , equipped with AW109LUH since 2012 and NH90 -TTH since 2012
- 14th Squadron , school relay , equipped with T-6C since 2015
- 42nd Squadron , school relay , equipped with Super King Air B350i since 2018
The Central Flying School , which is also located here, uses the machines of the 14th season. In addition to the headquarters of flight training, a number of non-flying formations are stationed here. The RNZAF museum is also located here .
Civil use
The airfield is an alternative location for the major commercial airports in the country. There is also a passenger terminal in Ohakea for this purpose . In January 2017, for example, an Airbus A380 was diverted here from Emirates .
