Mainlander *@*.* wrote in message .nz...
In article ,
says...
snip

From the NZ Defence Minister site
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocum...cumentID=17308
"...
Police Minister George Hawkins said 35 Police officers, including the
10 officers currently in the Solomons, would be deployed for two
years, although there may be some phased reduction in numbers over
that period.

Defence Minister Mark Burton said 105 Defence Force personnel would be
deployed in support. The contingent will consist of four helicopters
and associated personnel; headquarters support staff, logistics,
communications, an engineering element and a small medical group. An
infantry company will also be placed on standby to assist if required.
..."

How do they fly them there.

From
http://www.airforce.mil.nz/latestinf...article_id=216

"DEPARTURE OF FIRST NZDF CONTINGENT TO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
Release Date 22 July 2003
The first contingent of NZDF personnel will depart from Ohakea for the
Solomon Islands on an Air Force Hercules on Wednesday 23 July at 10:30
am. The first flight will comprise 18 Defence Force personnel and an
Iroquois helicopter. This group also includes the New Zealand Senior
National Officer and the Air Component Commander for the operation.
The aircraft will route through Townsville and is scheduled to arrive
in Honiara at 1:10pm local time on Thursday 24 July.

Mark Burton, Minister of Defence and Major General Martyn Dunne,
Commander Joint Forces New Zealand will farewell the deploying
personnel at Ohakea.

A further eight Hercules flights will deploy the rest of the New
Zealand contingent between 24 Jul and 1 Aug 2003. "


They used an AN-124 to get most of the
choppers back from Timor.

They may have used an AN-124 when the detachment was withdrawn, but
the individual helicopters were regularly swapped back to NZ during
the course of the deployment, by Herc. White Hueys were a common sight
from my place (Te Atatu) as they like training over water - you are
allowed to fly lower than you can over urban areas in a single engined
chopper. The RNZAF got an exemption to the normal UN rules that all
helicopters must be painted white, as it would have required an
unreasonable number of repaints. IIRC, the deal was that at least two
of those deployed would be white.

Per this morning's Herald piece:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydispl...toryID=3514159

"The contingent would be housed in tents initially and would carry
enough weapons, kit, food and water to last 14 days, he said.

The helicopters would be brought back to New Zealand once a month for
major servicing. "

Cheers
Errol Cavit