RNZAF Beech King Air 350 NZ2350 to NZ2353

RNZAF Beech King Air 350i (KA350)
NZ2350 to NZ2353

Introduced to replace the Beech B200, again the aircraft are leased from a civilian source for a 12 year period. Hawker Pacific were the successful tenderer.

The four aircraft are operated by No.42 Squadron for multi-engine pilot training, Air Warfare Officer training, communications (transport) duties, in-shore maritime patrol and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) tasks.

Consoles for training 2 Air Warfare Officers can be fitted as required and allow for an instructor to also be carried.

In order to assist with maritime patrol capability and to enhance training for Air Warfare Officers, two aircraft have been fitted with under fuselage pods, containing multi mode radar and electro optic/infra red camera. The first aircraft converted was NZ2351, in Cairns by Hawker Pacific Special missions, while the second, NZ2352, was converted at Ohakea by Hawker Pacific New Zealand, after initial modification in Australia. Both aircraft reverted to their Australian registrations while the work was undertaken.

Beech King Air 350 Image Gallery

Serial	c/n	Delivered	Aircraft History
NZ2350	FL-897	19 Nov 18	??/10/2013 Registered as N897HP to Beechcraft Corp. 16/12/2013 to Wells Fargo Bank ??/03/2014 to Ayala Aviation, Philippines, as RP-C1834. 23/02/2018 Sydney/Bankstown from Manado, via Darwin and Mt Isa ??/02/2018 to Hawker Pacific Pty Ltd and registered VH-ZPF. ??/05/2018 To Australia & New Zealand Banking Group 18/11/2018 Bankstown to Sydney 19/11/2018 To Ohakea Registration cancelled In service with 42 Squadron, Ohakea Designated C-12K
NZ2351	FL-962	26May 18	?/09/2014 Registered as N5062T to Beechcraft Corp 16/05/2016 To Wells Fargo Bank 12/12/2017 to Bank of Utah 20/12/2017 Arrived Cairns 21/12/2017 to Hawker Pacific Pty Ltd and registered VH-ZPG To Australia for modification 25/05/2018 Cairns to Brisbane 26/05/2018 Brisbane to Ohakea via Lord Howe Is 13/06/2018 to RNZAF. Flown back to Australia December 2018, arriving at Bankstown 15 December 2018 4/01/2019 Registered as VH-ZPG, to Hawker Pacific P/L, for modifications to bring the aircraft up to standard for use in the maritime surveillance and Air Warfare Officer/Operator training, including a panier for the additional electronics. Returned to RNZAF, registration cancelled. In service with 42 Squadron, Ohakea Designated MC-12K.
NZ2352	FL-979	30 Oct 18	??/11/2014 Registered as N979KA to Beechcraft Corp. ??/06/2015 to Wells Fargo Bank. ??/12/2017 to Hawker Pacific Pty Ltd. (This aircraft had 7 airframe hours logged when it departed USA) 18/12/2017 arrived Bankstown from Biak and Cairns for modification 04/01/2018 registered VH-ZPJ 08/05/2018 to Australia & New Zealand Banking Group as VH-ZPJ 29/10/2018 Bankstown to Sydney 30/10/2018 Sydney to Ohakea To RNZAF, registration cancelled. Modifications carried out to fit the aircraft for Air Warfare officer/operator training, and maritime surveillance duties, fitting a pannier with the additional electronics. In service with 42 Squadron, Ohakea Designated MC-K12.
NZ2353	FL-1017	24 Mar 18	2015 model. ??/06/2015 Registered as N817AP to Textron Aviation Inc ??/12/2015 To Wells Fargo Bank. 15/08/2017 arrived Sydney/Bankstown from Jakarta (Halim) and Broome. 26/11/2017 to Cairns for painting 18/12/2017 To Hawker Pacific Pty Ltd and registered VH-ZPE. 23/03/2018 Cairns to Brisbane 24/03/2018 Brisbane Lord Howe Is - Ohakea Registration cancelled. 14/05/2018 First flight as NZ2353 18/06/2018 Ohakea to Dunedin 19/06/2018 Dunedin to Hobart. 20/06/2018 Hobart to Tamworth, then to Cairns 05/07/2018 Reregistered as VH-ZPE to Hawker Pacific 23/08/2018 Cairns to Bankstown 10/11/2018 Bankstown to Sydney 11/11/2018 Sydney to Ohakea ??/11/2018 Returned to RNZAF and registration cancelled In service with 42 Squadron, Ohakea. Designated C-12K

Page Author: Les Billcliff

Sources: RNZAF News (various issues), MRC Aviation Blog, Airframes.org, WONZ Forum.

Converted to CMS 26th August 2025.

Updated 6 February 2026