RNZAF C-130H Hercules Final Departure Auckland - 2025

AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND February 3, 2025. Three recently retired RNZAF Lockheed
C-130H Hercules aircraft departed RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai) for the final time today on a two day tour over North Island`s West Coast and South Island towns.

[@druckerman247]

Thank you old friend. You always got us home safe, even if a little deaf. Seeing you alongside your much rougher cousin, spectre, you still have an admirable reputation.

[@AirflowNZ]

Thank you for your kind words. These Hercules have served us well.

[@alister_grigg]

My Dad, Brian Grigg, was involved in the purchase of these when stationed at Defence Headquarters in Wellington and over the 10 years after that we took several trips in them up and down NZ for various reasons. It was always an experience, I'll never forget the one trip from Ohakea to Whenuapai on a wet and stormy Friday evening not knowing if we would actually be able to land due to the weather. That flight was the single roughest ride I've ever had in an aircraft, but the crew was chill and basically said "if we can't land we'll try Mangere and if we can't land there we'll come back to Ohakea". Talk about confidence in your ride; and yes, we landed at Whenuapai 1st attempt.

[@AirflowNZ]

Thanks for sharing your family memory of the Hercs.

[@matthewrikihana6818]

Where I work, Kereru Marae, is a well-known air navigation reference point north of Levin. 1432hrs, They came in low from the direction of Shannon then banked to the south over us. They then shook out into a wider formation to cover more of Levin. Many happy memories in the back of our C130H. Looking out the open rear flying over Vani Levu, dropping onto remote island runways, and the best in flight meal I've ever had- eaten on the pallet of equipment in the back. I'll miss the big girls ( new ones- I know), but we'll always have Fiji ❤.

[@AirflowNZ]

Matthew, thanks for sharing your great memories!

[@rexamus75f54]

Salute 👨‍✈️

[@AirflowNZ]

Thanks for your comment!

[@dtaviation]

Nicely done Mike! It was nice to meet you out there and see the Hercs depart.

[@AirflowNZ]

DT, thanks for making contact, nice to meet up with you also.

[@jasonlooij5431]

Thank you so much for putting this up, I missed them today! Forgot all about it until suddenly they flew over work and were gone 😢

[@AirflowNZ]

Sorry you missed them! It was a very emotional day!

[@SPEEDBLOX-SOUTHLAND]

Saw them flying over my school today, Had to stop and salute them for their work!

[@AirflowNZ]

Many thanks for your comment!

[@Noofsmissus]

My son and I saw them. What a sight and incredible sound. I did not know it was a farewell flight 😢. Those craft have served our country well over the years. Thankyou RNZAF for the fly over. It was awesome.

[@AirflowNZ]

It's a sad day indeed, but a fitting farewell!

[@Bristoll170]

If Dad was still with us, he would have a tear in his eye after spending quite some time in Whenuapai in the force as an electrician working on the C-130's. A big step up from the B-170's he said 😉.

[@AirflowNZ]

Thanks for sharing that memory of your dad.

[@HamishDunlop-c3b]

Flew out to diego garcia which is a joint US Brit military base in the Indian Ocean . I was serving with the RNZN and was sent up there to met up with HMNZS Canterbury where we were going to patrol the indian ocean and Persian Gulf on Amilla Patrol.Flew from RNZAF base Auckland overnighted in Darwin,then onto Singapore,overnighted there then onto DG.,small airstrip on a coral reef.this was back in 1982. The herc must rate as one of the most versatile aircraft everbuilt and good looking as well and that sound.

[@AirflowNZ]

Hamish, thanks for sharing your most interesting Herc memories!

[@peterkotara]

I saw one of the replacements showing off over Woodburn, Blenheim a couple of months ago. I hope these come down here for a farewell.

[@AirflowNZ]

Peter, we should see more of the new J’s once they have settled in.

[@CarolineAndrews-rc3id]

So glad I saw them yesterday as they flew from Whenuapai, as I was walking to the train out West. I will miss seeing them fly over looking so low, and watching the kids at the North Shore school I was teaching at, waving and shouting.

[@AirflowNZ]

Caroline, thanks for your comment. The new J model will carry on the tradition!

[@MrJohnreader]

Drove over AHB today and saw 3 of them flying by - looked awesome

[@AirflowNZ]

JR, thanks for your comment.

[@carlosnzer]

Flew over this afternoon. What a spectacle. Thank for your service to our country

[@AirflowNZ]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@redtussock]

What a moment here in Clyde as they passed over ... fittingly 'low' ... a sad farewell for sure ... so many generations of aviators have piloted these birds around NZ ... often much lower than any other airforce in the world.

[@AirflowNZ]

RT, glad that you saw them!

[@michaelcuthbert6956]

Banked in formation over our house in Lower Hutt today before heading off to overfly Wellington.

[@AirflowNZ]

You must have had a great view!

[@TheGreatOutdoorsNZ]

61 years of service. These old war horses have served our country proudly. The Hercs were a big part of my childhood and fueled a passion for aviation. It was a very bittersweet moment seeing them taking one of their final legs over Orewa last Friday

[@AirflowNZ]

Thank you for sharing fond memories!

[@janetclairelord4014]

Sad to see these awesome work horses retiring 😢. The crews will miss flying them.

[@AirflowNZ]

Yes, it is a sad day to see them go. The new J model is much better equiped and easier to fly!

[@RaymondSwift-p8u]

They flew over greymouth this afternoon brought back memories of my time in the RNZAC flew in them several times wonderful to see farewell to the C- 130😢😢

[@AirflowNZ]

Raymond, great comment, thank you!

[@waltervanderzandt8105]

't was great to saw them flying over Westport yesterday!!

[@AirflowNZ]

Yes, they must have put on a great show!

[@InvercargillAviation]

I got it in Invers!

[@AirflowNZ]

Great news!

[@davidlarman5302]

Saw them fly over Levin today really low was an awesome sight.

[@AirflowNZ]

David, glad that they passed over you!

[@julieandrews8414]

I remember that sound of the planes starting up! We lived on the North Shore Auckland and I would here the planes warming up in the morning if the wind was from the west. Goodbye old friends!

[@AirflowNZ]

Juliean, They continue to warm up the new aircraft but they are so much quieter!

[@RaglansElectricBaboon]

Saw them over Raglan then they went round the back (landwards side) of Mount Karioi, a lot lot lower than the 749m summit!

[@AirflowNZ]

REB, great report, thanks!

[@jameslovering9158]

Were there originally 5 in service ?

[@AirflowNZ]

Yes, just five purchased originally.

[@allgood6760]

Awesome mate.. I saw them over the Lower North Island.. a good book to read is Herk Hero of the Skies 👍✈️🇳🇿

[@AirflowNZ]

AG, glad that you were able to see them. Thanks for your book recommendation.

[@frankegan4888]

Where are they off to

[@AirflowNZ]

All parked up at Woodbourne for disposal except one earmarked for Wigram Museum.

[@frankegan4888]

👍

[@LouiseSutton-z7b]

They flew over New Plymouth awesome sight..

[@AirflowNZ]

Great comment, thank you!

[@LouiseSutton-z7b]

Thankyou for your service..👏

[@Mike500912]

Their engines sure spew out a lot of smoke.

[@AirflowNZ]

The new J models are clean burning!

[@proteusnz99]

Well done thou good and faithful servant

[@AirflowNZ]

Great comment, thank you.

[@KarloHiriwa-oz9id]

Theses beautiful machines flew over my place in freemans bay today it was special bye

[@AirflowNZ]

KH, thanks for sharing!

[@karlbarnett5863]

Would have been nice to see them over tauranga. Haere ra Hercules. You've done so much for our country.

[@AirflowNZ]

Yes they have been great workhorses. Perhaps the new J models may call your way?

[@karlbarnett5863]

@AirflowNZ hopefully. Thanks for putting up a great video. 👍

[@lovemyhuntingnz]

Saw them in Christchurch yesterday.

[@AirflowNZ]

So glad that you did!

[@samconibear3506]

It's amazing how they fly in rows. Very unusual

[@AirflowNZ]

Sam, glad that you saw them!

[@Arcanace]

Hoping to see them fly over tomorrow :)

[@AirflowNZ]

I do hope so!

[@Shaun.Stephens]

Cool. So what are we replacing these with? Hopefully not Boeings!

[@user-kn4it6zr9o]

You're not allowed to ask that!

[@rednaughtstudios]

New model C-130

[@Shaun.Stephens]

@@rednaughtstudios Thanks.

[@grahamb701]

C130J - old ones were C130H.

[@kiwiheadz.avitaion]

saw the 3 flying over nelson

[@AirflowNZ]

So glad that you did!

[@suzymccallum778]

I was in the office at home and they came over the house. Very low and loud. I ran out the front of the house but missed them. I had no idea what it was I wish I’d known

[@AirflowNZ]

Suzy, sorry that you missed them.

[@alexandermacgillivray598]

It would have been reassuring hearing there sound coming over the horizon ,when you're in need of there help.

[@AirflowNZ]

Yes it would!

[@Motumatai3]

It would be interesting to know just what parts of these airframes are original. In that they were on their aircraft when they rolled out of the factory in 1964/65

[@AirflowNZ]

I think the fuselage is original, the replaced parts would be accessories, instrument control systems etc.

[@so0zielo0]

That's a bit sad... I used to live in Waimauku, and you would often hear them fly over.. or when going past Whenuapai =(

[@AirflowNZ]

It’s a sad day to see them go, but the memories will live on!

[@BridgetLee-u8u]

Me and my mum we saw but it didn't go over our house but my auntie saw it and I went over her house and my dad friend but I will see it tomorrow at school at 10:30

[@AirflowNZ]

Bridget, many thanks for your report!

[@cookiemonstakjs]

As the old saying goes they don't make them like that anymore. That said, we can only hope the new replacements give us that much service.

[@AirflowNZ]

I am sure that they will!

[@georgehayden8818]

Watched them leave near Albany,will be missed as they would fly by into airport..jeanette

[@AirflowNZ]

George, the new J Hercules will do the same just a little quieter!

[@1stcrg]

I saw those planes flying other my school (Scott point school)

[@AirflowNZ]

So glad that you spotted them. Thanks for your report!

[@jacobhaussmann90]

If they work why put them in museums?

[@AirflowNZ]

Jacob, after 60 years of service the cost of maintenance increases hugely. Metal fatigue, old controls and general wear and tear are major factors in decision to upgrade. Just one will go to Wigram Museum, the others could still fly in Africa or even take up a fire fighting role in Australia were use is not that frequent.

[@RogerKissling]

What is happening to them? Goodbye old friends.

[@AirflowNZ]

Four for disposal, one to Wigram Museum.

[@juliusschwencke142]

..would always wave when one flew overhead. When in the playground, students would ask why i did it.😊

[@AirflowNZ]

Great story!

[@Vince-ml9gw]

🇳🇿🫡

[@AirflowNZ]

Vince, thanks for your comment.

[@GALACTUS-WORLD-EATER]

They flew over Putaruru, it was damn cool.

[@AirflowNZ]

So glad that you saw them!