New Zealand’s Christchurch Airport has bid a fond farewell to three RNZAF C-130 Hercules aircraft as they departed the airport for the final time on Tuesday 4 February.

Hundreds of aviation enthusiasts gathered to witness the aircraft flying the length of the runway before heading over Christchurch city on their New Zealand-wide retirement flight.

An ideal operating base for a C-130 Hercules, Christchurch has the capacity and facilities to accommodate the aircraft. It has a long affiliation with the Hercules, which has played a critical role in supporting Antarctic missions for decades, carrying scientists, passengers and essential cargo to support research programmes. Christchuch is typically used as the launchpad for these flights for the New Zealand Defence Force. The aircraft was also instrumental in providing an airbridge for the transport of essential supplies and to ferry casualties between Christchurch and Wellington during the 2011 earthquake.

Speaking on behalf of the airport, Sean Tully, Manager Strategic Communications, said: “The Hercules is an icon of the skies -versatile, dependable, and an important part of Christchurch’s history. From Antarctic missions to disaster response, it has served our city and beyond with distinction. We’ll certainly miss seeing it fly over Otautahi – Christchurch.”

Image source: Christchurch Airport

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