Royal New Zealand Air Force

Royal New Zealand Air Force
Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa
Founded	1913 (first military aviation) 1923 (New Zealand Permanent Air Force formed) 1 April 1937 (Independent service)
Country	New Zealand
Type	Air force
Role	Maritime patrol, Air transport
Size	Available: 2,885 2,603 Full Time 282 Reserves 270 Civilian Staff
Part of	New Zealand Defence Force
Headquarters	Wellington
Motto(s)	Per ardua ad astra
Mascot(s)	Kiwi
Anniversaries	1 April 1937 (founded)
Engagements	World War II Berlin Airlift Malayan Emergency Korean War Vietnam War Iran–Iraq War Sinai Gulf War Somalia Rwanda East Timor Bougainville Campaign Solomon Islands Operation Enduring Freedom
Website	airforce.mil.nz
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	Dame Patsy Reddy as Governor-General of New Zealand
Chief of Defence Force	Lieutenant General Tim Keating
Chief of Air Force	Air Vice Marshal Tony Davies
Deputy Chief of Air Force	Air Commodore Mark Brunton
Insignia
Logo
Ensign
Paratrooper flag
Roundels
Finflash
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	NHIndustries NH90, AgustaWestland A109, Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite
Patrol	Lockheed P-3 Orion
Trainer	Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, AgustaWestland A109LUH.
Transport	Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Boeing 757, Beechcraft Super King Air

Available: 2,885

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) (Maori: Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa, previously Te Hokowhitu o Kahurangi) is the air force component of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zealand elements of the British Royal Air Force, becoming an independent force in 1923, although many RNZAF aircrew continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until the end of the 1940s. The RNZAF fought in World War II, Malaysia, Korean War, Vietnam and the Gulf War plus various United Nations peacekeeping missions. From a 1945 peak of over 1,000 combat aircraft the RNZAF has shrunk to a strength of around 51 aircraft in 2016, focusing on maritime patrol and transport duties in support of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the New Zealand Army. The RNZAF's air combat capability ended in 2001 with the disbanding of the A-4 Skyhawk squadrons. The Air Force is led by an air vice-marshal who holds the appointment of Chief of Air Force.

The RNZAF motto is the same as that of the Royal Air Force, Per ardua ad astra, meaning "Through adversity to the stars."

New Zealand's military aviation began in 1913 when the New Zealand Army was presented with two Blériot monoplanes by the United Kingdom. These machines were grounded after a young woman was given a joyride. Both aircraft were however handed back after war broke out.

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Wikipedia