Current Strength
The squadron has a total personnel strength of approximately 135, and operates the following aircraft:
- Utility Flight of 13 UH-1H Iroquois based at RNZAF Base Ohakea. UH-1H helicopters will remain in service, until the NH-90 is fully operational.
- Training Flight of 5 Bell-47 Sioux based at RNZAF Base Ohakea. These helicopters have now been retired.
- Training and Light Support Helicopter - 5 Agusta A109 LUH helicopters. A procurement to purchase a further 3 A-109 signalled by the Defence Force White Paper.
- Medium Utililty Helicopter - 8 (+1 for spares) NH-90 helicopters. 2 in service now with the rest due by early 2013.
The Ministry of Defense has an ongoing (as of 2008) helicopter replacement program that is to replace the Iroquois with 8 NH-90(+1 for spares) and 8 A-109 helicopters for NZ$771 million. The A-109 will also provide the Air Force with a light utility and counter-terrorist support role.
Read more about this topic: No. 3 Squadron RNZAF
Famous quotes containing the words current and/or strength:
“We hear the haunting presentiment of a dutiful middle age in the current reluctance of young people to select any option except the one they feel will impinge upon them the least.”
—Gail Sheehy (b. 1937)
“In the mountains of truth you will never climb in vain: either you will already get further up today or you will exercise your strength so that you can climb higher tomorrow.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)