Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF; Māori: Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa) is the aerial service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed initially in 1923 as a branch of the New Zealand Army, being known as the New Zealand Permanent Air Force, becoming an independent air force on 1 April 1937.
| Royal New Zealand Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa (Māori) | |
Badge of the Royal New Zealand Air Force | |
| Founded |
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 2,388 active personnel 420 reserve personnel 47 aircraft |
| Part of | New Zealand Defence Force |
| Headquarters | Wellington |
| Motto(s) | Per Ardua ad Astra |
| Colours | Red, white, blue |
| March | Royal New Zealand Air Force March Past |
| Anniversaries | 1 April 1937 |
| Engagements | |
| Website | airforce |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro |
| Chief of the Defence Force | Air Marshal Kevin Short |
| Chief of the Air Force | Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark |
| Deputy Chief of the Air Force | Air Commodore Ian Mower |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel | |
| Fin flash | |
| Ensign | |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | AgustaWestland A109, SH-2G, NH90 |
| Patrol | Boeing P-8 |
| Trainer | T-6 Texan II |
| Transport | Super King Air, Boeing 757, C-130 Hercules |
The RNZAF fought in World War II, Malaya, the Korean War, Vietnam and the Gulf War and has undertaken United Nations peacekeeping missions. From a peak of over 1,000 combat aircraft in 1945, the RNZAF has shrunk to a strength of around 48 aircraft in 2022. It focuses on maritime patrol and transport duties in support of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the New Zealand Army. Its air combat capability ended in 2001, with the disbanding of the A-4 Skyhawk and Aermacchi MB-339 equipped squadrons.
The Air Force is led by an Air Vice-Marshal who holds the appointment of Chief of Air Force. The RNZAF motto is the same as that of the Royal Air Force, Per Ardua ad Astra, meaning "Through Adversity to the Stars". The Māori language name Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa, meaning "New Zealand Warriors of the Sky" or more literally "The New Zealand War Party of the Sky", was adopted in 2009; the name had been Te Hokowhitu o Kahurangi ("War Party of the Blue") for the previous 12 years.