A Surprise Visit

The kids at Horowhenua’s Te Horo Primary School were in for a pleasant surprise when a No. 3 Squadron Iroquois and crew literally dropped in on them on the morning of 24 April.

The surprise visit was organised by FGOFF Craig Kenny, a former pupil at the school. In a pre-arranged plan teachers at the school kept the children in the dark about the visit, by involving them in a discussion about ANZAC Day and its significance.

They were then led outside as the Iroquois approached. ‘Do you think it might land here?’ asked the teachers. After a quick circuit the Iroquois did indeed land in the school yard much to the children’s delight. No doubt talk of the visit by a real live Air Force helicopter and crew would have bent the ears of my parents that night and not a few would have gone to bed dreaming of flying their own helicopter one day. The Huey’s distinctive rotor-slap sound can often be heard from the school and along the Horowhenua coast.

After its brief visit to the school the Iroquois and crew headed further south to carry charity cyclist Colin Anderson over Cook Strait (see story page 39 Air Force Aids Charity Cyclist). On the following day the Huey’s crew conducted ANZAC morning flypasts of Picton, Seddon, Havelock, Renwick and Blenheim.

OH07-0284-12-tn.jpg image on right - A future Pilot or Helicopter Crewman (HCM)?

OH07-0284-17.tn.jpg image on Left -Te Horo School children line up to get a closer look at the Iroquois.