#1190 C-130H(NZ) Hercules
Purchased products will not feature the Squadron Prints watermark
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1190 - C-130H(NZ) Hercules, NZ7004, 40 Squadron, RNZAF Base Auckland.
No. 40 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force was formed on 1 June 1943. The Squadron initially operated Lockheed Hudson and Lodestar aircraft augmented by Douglas DC-3 Dakotas in 1944. Based at Whenuapai, the Squadron provided transport to New Zealand and allied forces in the South West Pacific. After the war the Squadron undertook internal air services until 1947 when these were taken over by the newly formed National Airways Corporation and 40 Squadron was disbanded. It was reformed in December 1954 with four Handley Page Hastings. In 1961 three Douglas DC-6s were added making the Squadron capable of Global Air Transport operations, however the increasing burden of duties highlighted the need for a larger, faster aircraft. Between 1965 and 1969, five Lockheed C-130 Hercules were purchased and the last of the older aircraft were phased out. This fleet of C-130s has been used in support of New Zealand’s commitments in the South Pacific but has also operated to Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East. Since 1965 the Squadron has operated annual flights from New Zealand to Antarctica during the Southern Continent’s summer months. Following a Life of Type Study in 2001, the decision was made to extend the C-130H life by another 15 years. The C-130 Life Extension Project produced a standard avionics configuration for the modified RNZAF C-130H fleet, with the use of digital computers and electronic displays to provide efficient presentation of flight data to reduce crew workload. Additionally, the upgrade addressed equipment obsolescence and compliance with modern international air traffic regulations. The Squadron lives up to its motto which translates to “to the four winds”. 40 Squadron is currently based at RNZAF Base Auckland in Whenuapai, New Zealand flying five C-130H (NZ) Hercules and two Boeing 757-200. The aircraft are regularly tasked to conduct airlift operations on a variety of strategic and tactical tasks throughout the world.