Navigation and Air Electronics Training Squadron RNZAF

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The Navigation, Air Electronics, and Telecommunications Training Squadron was a training squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was based at the now-decommissioned RNZAF Base Wigram, near Christchurch. Equipped with 3 Fokker Friendship F27 Mk120s, NATS was responsible for training Navigators (NAV), Air Engineers (AIRENG), Air Electronic Officers/Operators (AEO/AEOP) and from 1977, Telecommunications Operators.

Royal New Zealand Air Force Air force component of the New Zealand Defence Force

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is the air force component of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zealand elements of the British Royal Air Force, becoming an independent force in 1923, although many RNZAF aircrew continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until the end of the 1940s. The RNZAF fought in World War II, Malaya, Korean War, Vietnam and the Gulf War plus various United Nations peacekeeping missions. From a 1945 peak of over 1,000 combat aircraft the RNZAF has shrunk to a strength of around 51 aircraft in 2016, focusing on maritime patrol and transport duties in support of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the New Zealand Army. The RNZAF's air combat capability ended in 2001 with the disbanding of the A-4 Skyhawk squadrons. The Air Force is led by an air vice-marshal who holds the appointment of Chief of Air Force.

Prior to this, it has operated a sizeable fleet (up to a dozen at one time?) of three de Havilland Devon (DH.104) variants. The first being the basic "communications" mini airliner, the next having two nav crates and an astrodome fitted, and the last, the "signals" version, sporting two radio crates for student AEOps to practice their airborne duties. While the aircraft could be operated by a single pilot, Flying Flight of NATS also had four signallers on its establishment and these grand masters of the morse key were essential equipment when the little twin pistons headed off into the cold and icy South Pacific for three hours at a time in the middle of winter. They also gave moral support to the pilot who found himself navigating in the dark on a knee pad to ensure the student passing navigational information forward was not taking him towards the South Pole instead of Wigram airfield.

NATS was deactivated in 1990.

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