Media Release 25 June 2003
AIR FORCE 727 FAREWELL FLIGHT
The Air Force's retiring Boeing 727 will conduct a farewell flight Thursday 26th of June over much of New Zealand.
The 727 will fly over Hamilton, Ohakea, Palmerston North, Wellington, Woodbourne and Christchurch before returning for a
final pass over Auckland and landing at Whenuapai.
After 23 years in service with the Air Force, the 727's are no longer operationally viable and have been replaced by two
Boeing 757-200 aircraft.
"The Boeing 727s have served us well on a myriad of tasks. This flight provides the opportunity to acknowledge the
contribution they have made to Air Force operations over the last 23 years" says Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal
John Hamilton.
The final decision on what will happen to the two 727 aircraft is yet to be made.
ENDS
The 727 will fly at regulation 1500 ft over built up areas with a low pass over the runways at each destination. The
timings are as follows:
Hamilton 12.40pm
Ohakea 1.05pm
Palmerston North 1.15pm
Wellington 1.35pm
Woodbourne 1.55pm
Christchurch 2.35pm
Auckland 3.40pm
Whenuapai 4.00pm
ENDS