24 Apr 2011

Airforce Orion to be used for ANZAC Day flypasts

8:12 pm on 24 April 2011

An Airforce Orion will be used for a series of ANZAC Day flypasts.

The Defence Force has opted not to use an Iroquois helicopter; last year an Iroquois crashed and killed three airmen while en route to Wellington's dawn service.

Weather permitting, the Orion will fly first over Auckland's Waikumete Cemetery commemoration service at 6am.

It's scheduled to fly over Christchurch just before 8am, and New Plymouth at 10am.

The Orion will repeat its flypast at Waikumete Cemetery at 11am, during a service held by the Returned and Services Association.