Ohakea Plane Spotters (Manawatu) Traditional Cache

Cache on: Frecklington Rd - signposted public. Log only. BYO Pen. Park well to the side, maintenance vehicles use this access. Night o.k, quietly.

Plane spotters: Easily recognised toting binoculars, fm radios, large cameras and notepads to record serial numbers of planes, plane wheels, plane fuel tanks and pylons. Do not encourage them!**NOTE** A caching strategy around airfields is to pack binoc’s and camera to blend in.

Background Info on Aircraft you might See…

• The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (unofficially Huey) production run began 1960’s. A military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed to be a medical evacuation and utility helicopter. More than 16,000 had been produced worldwide. The RNZAF has 8 of these. They are over 40 yrs old, based here at Ohakea
  
• The NH90 (prototype 1995, first shipments 2006), is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter. The NH90 will be used for frontline military and civil operations. It has the capability to support ground operations, counter terrorism, disaster relief, search and rescue and counter-drug operations. The new helicopters can carry up to 18 passengers. They can lift an army Light Operational Vehicle (LOV), or up to 3,200kgs of cargo. The NH90s have twin engines for better safety over water. The RNZAF currently has 4, with a further 4 to come. Base: Ohakea
  
• The A109LUH (developed 1970’s) is a training and Light Utility Helicopter, and will be used for training pilots and aircrew that will later fly the NH90 Medium Utility Helicopter and SH-2G Seasprite naval helicopter, and perform light helicopter missions. RNZAF has 5 of these, based at Ohakea.
  
• The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. Capable of using unprepared runways for take-offs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in a variety of other roles, including airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refuelling, maritime patrol, and aerial firefighting. It is now the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. Over 40 models and variants of the Hercules serve with more than 60 nations. The RNZAF currently operates 5, based in Auckland.
  
• The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy in the 1960s. Based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner, the aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or "MAD Boom", used for the magnetic detection of submarines. Over the years, the design has been improved, particularly its electronics packages.The P-3 Orion is still in use by numerous navies and air forces around the world, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. The RNZAF operates 6, based in Auckland.

UH-1 Iroquois: Looks like a tadpole and sounds  like a poorly tuned eggbeater.	A-109 Looks like a flying shark. Looks like it’s traveling 100mph while it’s still parked on the tarmac.	NH90 Helicopter:  Looks very efficient, angular/blocky in a European way.
CT-4 Airtrainer: It’s small, yellow and keeps going round in circles	C-130 Hercules: Big, fat and dark grey colour	P-3 Orion: Big and light grey
Beech Kingair: small twin engine trainer. Grey.	Tigermoth: Old fashioned, two wings (bi-plane)	Harvard: Orange and grey sounds like a fart
B757: Grey Twin jet with 757 painted on the tail.