Royal New Zealand Air Force / Te Hokowhitu o Kahurangi
New Zealand became independent from the United Kingdom on 26 September 1907. Military aviation in New Zealand started in 1912 with two Army Staff Officers being sent to the UK to learn the science of flying. The flying corps received its first aircraft, a Bleriot, in 1913. The Royal New Zealand Air Force was established as a separate arm of the Defence Force on 1 April 1937.
World War II led to a rapid expansion of the Air Force and New Zealand's airmen played a role in several regions, with the majority of activities being on behalf of the RAF. Post-war activities also included aircraft being stationed in South East Asia and in the Pacific. As time progressed the Air Force element was reduced more and more. Specific details on the history of the Royal New Zealand Air Force can be found at the below mentioned link.
In 2001 the government decided the Air Force had to withdraw its Air Combat fleet. As a result, all A-4 Skyhawks and MB339s were withdrawn from active duty on 13 December 2001. This leaves the service at the start of 2006 with a maritime squadron flying Orions, a transport squadron with C-130s and B757s, a helicopter squadron operating Hueys and Bell 47s, a maritime rotor squadron operating the SH-2Gs, a multi-engine conversion squadron with Beech 200s and a Flying and Pilot training school with leased Airtrainers.
Starting in December 2022, New Zealand received the first P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The last Orions were withdrawn from use in January 2023. The venerable C-130H Hercules transport aircraft was replaced with the latest model C-130J-30 Super Hercules.
Source http://www.airforce.mil.nz/flightplan/past/index.htm
