RNZAF Base Auckland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
RNZAF Base Auckland
 Te kotahitanga o ngaa maahanga
Unification of the twins
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | New Zealand Defence Force | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
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| Location | Whenuapai, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Occupants |
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| Elevation AMSL | 100 ft / 30 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 36°47′16″S 174°37′49″E / 36.78778°S 174.63028°E | ||||||||||||||
| Runway | |||||||||||||||
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RNZAF Base Auckland is a military base for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). It is located near the Waitematā Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand. This base was once two separate airfields: Whenuapai and Hobsonville.
Hobsonville started as a place for seaplanes in 1928. It was the main base for the RNZAF's flying boats until 1967. Building Whenuapai began in 1937 for Vickers Wellington bomber planes. Its large hangars were finished in 1939. From 1945 to 1965, Whenuapai also served as Auckland's international airport for regular flights.
After World War II, Auckland became a key spot for the RNZAF's transport and maritime (sea patrol) squadrons. In 1965, RNZAF Station Hobsonville joined with Whenuapai. This created what is now known as RNZAF Base Auckland. Hobsonville later became a grass airfield for No. 3 Squadron RNZAF. This squadron later moved to Ohakea.
For a while, there was talk of closing Whenuapai too. The idea was to move all RNZAF operations to Ohakea. Some local leaders even looked into turning Whenuapai into a commercial airport. However, in 2009, the government decided to keep the air force base at Whenuapai. They started a big project to rebuild and improve it.
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Modernizing the Base
Since 2011, a lot of work has been done at RNZAF Base Whenuapai. Major upgrades have happened on the main runway and the paths planes use (taxiways). Some units from the closed Hobsonville base also moved here. More building work is planned to make sure the RNZAF can stay at this location for a long time. The government has spent a lot of money to bring the base up to modern standards.
In 2016, new buildings were under construction. These replaced older ones from Hobsonville or those that didn't meet new earthquake safety rules. These rules were put in place after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. New facilities include a gymnasium, living areas for staff, a 25-meter weapons range, and a medical center. Most of these projects were finished by the end of 2016.
More money will also be used to improve areas where planes are parked and prepared for flight. This comes after a $30 million upgrade to the main runway and taxiways, which was finished in 2012.
Base Personnel
About 1500 people work at RNZAF Base Auckland.
Hollywood Connections
Both Whenuapai and Hobsonville have been used as filming locations for Hollywood movies.
- In 1988, aircraft and base staff helped film the movie The Rescue (1988 film).
- In 2012, Whenuapai was used to film parts of the movie Emperor.
Flying Squadrons
The base is home to several important flying squadrons:
| Squadron | Aircraft | Role |
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| No. 5 Squadron | P-3 Orion | Watches over the sea (Maritime Surveillance) |
| No. 6 Squadron | Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite | Supports the Navy with helicopters (Naval Aviation) |
| No. 40 Squadron | C-130 Hercules, Boeing 757 | Carries people and supplies over short and long distances (Tactical and Strategic transport) |
Other Important Units
Many other units also work at RNZAF Base Auckland to keep it running smoothly:
- Base Headquarters
- RNZAF Operations Squadron
- RNZAF Parachute Training and Support Unit
- RNZAF Security Forces Military Working Dog Training School
- RNZAF Aviation Medicine Unit (deals with health for aircrew)
- RNZAF Survival Training Centre
- RNZAF Police
- RNZAF Fire Rescue
- Base Medical Flight
