Infern0
Banned
As flying goes, this was pretty much the toughest available.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4215779a11.html <-----video at this linkjavascript:vPopup('/videoplayer/112246a15455.html',0)
Two four-engine C130 Hercules of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's 40 Squadron have recently been winging across the North Island, in close formation and often just 70 metres above the ground.
It's called "tac formation flying" and involves practicising the fine art of dropping combat cargoes in remote areas.
Fairfax Media joined a mission on a fine and clear day over the North Island but we quickly learned that low-level flying is tough work.
For the pilots up front, strapped into their seats and a clear view ahead, it is not quite as physical for those inside the giant cargo holds without windows.
Two air force loadmasters, used to the violent G-forces involved in low level flying, show their experience and lie out on the webbing seats to avoid air sickness.
Others less experienced suffer its effects as we race across the North Island toward Taupo at around 600 kilometres per hour.
Pilot Gus Black says they do this kind of flying in operations around the world, and need to practise.
"We do this sort of training two to three times a year," he says.
"It's very rewarding, it's a lot of hard work at the time, it may look like we are just enjoying ourselves, but there is a lot happening."
We're always close together and on the ground it must be a dramatic sight; we see the occasional herd of cows scatter as we come over a ridge or two.
We head back north, west of Taupo, heading for the air force range at South Head on the Manukau Harbour.
Over the long beaches we can see our sharp shadows race along the beach, while the other aircraft hovers close by.
The loadmasters are in hectic action as the rear doors open, ready to send the cargo out - fast and low.
Harnesses are on and innumerable detail - repeatedly practicised - swings into action as lines are cleared and the cargo slides out.
Heading back to Auckland, the two aircraft get into even closer formation and dance in the air, swapping sides; it's dramatic stuff.
Crews are carefully rehearsed in it all; the radio traffic between them is cool and crisp.
Back to Whenuapei we sweep in low over the runway before banking in and landing.
The crews look like they've run a marathon but no one crashes out; it's into the crew room for a detailed de-briefing on what has happened during the mission.
The RNZAF operates five C-130 Hercules. Its first three arrived in 1965, and they were the first of the 'H' models. Two more arrived in 1969 and they are currently undergoing modernisation and structural improvement to stretch out their operational life until 2015.
The current Hercules model, 'J', has a retail value of US$66 million a plane.
The RNZAF uses them from Antarctica to the tropical Pacific and through many combat zones including Afghanistan and Timor. Their standard capacity is around 92 passengers, or 64 airborne troops. It can take a payload of around 20,000 kilograms.