A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules has been a regular sight over Central Otago and the lakes district as the Defence Force ran Exercise Skytrain out of Wānaka Airport.

The training centred on tactical low-level flying and delivering or picking up loads in scenarios where areas could be under threat. Crews also practised landing, loading and unloading with engines running to minimise time on the ground.

Personnel from Bases Auckland, Ohakea and Woodbourne deployed to Wānaka alongside New Zealand Army staff, with a wide cross-section of RNZAF ground trades involved, including security forces, air movements, maintenance, rescue fire, fuel, logistics, intelligence and communications specialists.

“An important part of our training is being able to operate effectively and successfully away from our home base,” Detachment Commander Wing Commander Brad Scott said. “So every year we run a Skytrain exercise in New Zealand to test and build our deployment resilience. It exercises our entire deployed system, including our support elements, which are critical for airborne operations.”

Scott said the skills maintained and tested on Skytrain link directly to real-world tasks such as the Cyclone Gabrielle response and participation in the US Air Force-led Operation Christmas Drop, flying palletised aid to remote Pacific islands.

The exercise area covered much of Central Otago into the Mackenzie Country, with sorties ranging as far as Hokitika, Timaru and Invercargill. Air drops were focused on three drop zones in the Ida Valley and the Maniatoto Valley near Ranfurly.

“The terrain around Wānaka is irreplaceable for low-level flying techniques and it’s great to exercise there and engage with the local community while supporting local businesses,” Scott said.