Australia To New Zealand, Covering 1,765 Miles Over Water

Two NH Industries NH90 helicopters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force flew from Australia to New Zealand on a two-day record-breaking trip that covered 1,765 miles (1,533 nm) over water, more than three times the previous longest over-water flight of 521 miles across the Coral Sea between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The flight departed from Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, near Brisbane, via Norfolk Island, to RNZAF Base Auckland. The longest leg of the trip was 660 miles and took four and a half hours. Both of the 3 Squadron aircraft landed on September 30 at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

Air Commodore Andy Scott, commander of New Zealand’s air component, noted the importance of the long-distance flight that demonstrated the utility of the aircraft and its ability to deploy over a vast area.

“These types of flights give our crews confidence in the system,” he said.

The long-endurance flight had been signed off on in 2023, but the opportunity did not come up until this year, according to Squadron Leader Lachie Johnston, the NH90 flight commander.

He said, “We knew the aircraft could do it and we knew the crews were appropriately trained. It’s not unheard of for helicopters to fly long trips, but this is a unique capability in the context of doing such long legs over large bodies of water.”

New Zealand’s defense leaders selected the NH90 in 2005 to replace the RNZAF’s aging Bell UH-1 Iroquois, also known as the  Huey. Eight of the NH90s have been in service since 2015, with a ninth as an extra.

NH Industries, based in Aix-en-Provence, France, is a collaborative program between Airbus, Leonardo, and GKN Fokker Aerospace.

FMI:  www.nhindustries.com/