# RNZAF Dip Flat > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RNZAF_Dip_Flat > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RNZAF_Dip_Flat.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNZAF_Dip_Flat > Source revision: 1336165570 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Training facility of the Royal New Zealand Air Force This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "RNZAF Dip Flat" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) HESCO Fortification at RNZAF Dip Flat **RNZAF Dip Flat** is the field training facility and mountain flying training area of the [Royal New Zealand Air Force](/source/Royal_New_Zealand_Air_Force). Located at the base of the [Saint Arnaud Range](/source/Saint_Arnaud_Range) at the eastern boundary of [Nelson Lakes National Park](/source/Nelson_Lakes_National_Park) in the [South Island](/source/South_Island) of [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand), on the banks of the [Wairau River](/source/Wairau_River), Dip Flat serves to train recruits from CRTS (Command and Recruit Training Squadron) in "out-in-the-field" practical military training. Recruits usually do a ten-day stint at Dip Flat as part of their Thirteen-week Basic Training. While there, they learn the basics of setting up camp, radio communication, obstacle courses, river crossings, land navigation, military patrols, night and daytime patrols and interdiction, camouflage training, rifle range exercises, and three days "on patrol" practical training away from Dip Flat to mark the end of the ten-day stint (a rough equivalent of the [United States Marine Crucible](/source/United_States_Marine_Crucible)). [New Zealand Cadet Forces](/source/New_Zealand_Cadet_Forces) cadets and officers also make use of Dip Flat in their annual week-long bush craft training camps which take place each January. Both Cadets and Officers achieve Mountain Safety Council qualifications as outdoor instructors. An [AgustaWestland A109](/source/AgustaWestland_A109) helicopter being flown by members of No. 3 Squadron, 2012 RNZAF [No. 3 Squadron](/source/No._3_Squadron_RNZAF) regularly use Dip Flat for their mountain flying training. From time to time the [Australian Army](/source/Australian_Army) has also used the area to practice mountain flying in their [UH-60 Blackhawks](/source/UH-60_Blackhawk) with the RNZAF. There is an annual training exercise named "Blackbird" for this and other helicopter squadrons.[1][2] Dip Flat was a stop on a stock driving track from the East to the West coast of the South Island. Dip Flat was one of the [dipping](/source/Sheep_dip) stops on the route. Dip Flat is also known as Dry Valley or Valley of the dry. Temperatures in the summer can be very hot, often exceeding 30 degrees Celsius with hot north west winds. The winters are extremely cold often with heavy snow, and temperatures fall well below zero degrees. The area can receive huge amounts of heavy rainfall due to the close proximity of the [Saint Arnaud Range](/source/Saint_Arnaud_Range), and many roads and fords become impassible. Dip Flat has also been used for [search and rescue](/source/Search_and_rescue) training for the [New Zealand Police](/source/New_Zealand_Police).[3] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Helicopters take to the skies over Marlborough"](https://nzdefenceforce.medium.com/helicopters-take-to-the-skies-over-marlborough-f44715c082a). *nzdefenceforce.medium.com*. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Military helicopter crews to test skills in Marlborough mountains"](https://nzdefenceforce.medium.com/military-helicopter-crews-to-test-skills-in-marlborough-mountains-37e38685f689). *nzdefenceforce.medium.com*. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Women on the SAR front line"](https://www.police.govt.nz/news/ten-one-magazine/women-sar-front-line). *New Zealand Police*. Retrieved 30 September 2023. [41°53′39″S 172°55′17″E / 41.8941°S 172.9213°E / -41.8941; 172.9213](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=RNZAF_Dip_Flat¶ms=41.8941_S_172.9213_E_type:city) ## External links - [https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/air-force/where-we-are/dip-flat/](https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/air-force/where-we-are/dip-flat/) – official page on RNZAF site - [https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8054545/Air-force-trains-near-St-Arnaud](https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8054545/Air-force-trains-near-St-Arnaud) – Stuff newspaper story - [INNZNA report](https://natlib.govt.nz/records/30125998?search%5Bi%5D%5Bprimary_collection%5D=findNZarticles&search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject%5D=New+Zealand.+Royal+New+Zealand+Air+Force&search%5Bpath%5D=items&search%5Btext%5D=Helicopters) v t e Royal New Zealand Air Force Units and squadrons List of squadrons of the RNZAF Bases and facilities Base Auckland Base Ohakea Base Woodbourne Dip Flat Air Movements Rongotai Air Movements Harewood RNZAF Museum Associated civil organisations New Zealand Air Training Corps Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum Equipment List of active New Zealand military aircraft List of RNZAF and RNZN aircraft Appointments Chief of Air Force Structure of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Symbols and uniform Aircrew brevet v t e Tasman District, New Zealand Seat: Richmond Populated places Golden Bay / Mohua Aorere Bainham Clifton Collingwood East Tākaka Ferntown Ligar Bay Motupipi Onekaka Pākawau Parapara Patons Rock Pōhara Port Pūponga Pūponga Rockville Seaford Tākaka Tarakohe Tata Beach Upper Tākaka Waikato Waitapu Motueka Brooklyn Kaiteriteri Lower Moutere Mārahau Motueka Riwaka Moutere-Waimea Brightwater Bronte Dovedale Mahana Māpua Ngātīmoti Ruby Bay Tasman Upper Moutere Wakefield Woodstock Richmond Aniseed Valley Appleby Hope Richmond Lakes-Murchison Murchison Rotoroa Saint Arnaud Tapawera Tophouse Geographic features Buller River Dun Mountain–Maitai terrane Hope Saddle Lee River Mārahau River Maungakura / Red Hill Newton River Ngārua Caves Roding River Sams Creek Tākaka River Waimea Plains Waimea River Golden Bay / Mohua Appos Creek Archway Islands Cape Farewell Cobb Reservoir Druggans Dam Dry River Farewell Spit Harwoods Hole Lake Killarney Lightband Gully North-west Nelson Forest Park Rawhiti Cave Slateford Tākaka Hill Tata Islands Te Waikoropupū Springs Wainui Bay Whanganui Inlet Wharariki Beach Abel Tasman National Park Armchair Island Awapoto River Awaroa River Ballon Rock Falls River Fisherman Island Motuareronui / Adele Island Simonet Creek Torrent Bay Tata Islands Tinline Bay Tonga Island Torrent River Tōtaranui Wainui River Falls Tasman Bay Bell Island Best Island Moturoa / Rabbit Island Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock Waimea Inlet Kahurangi National Park Brown River Bulmer Cavern Ellis Basin cave system Kahurangi Point Lake Matiri Mount Arthur Mount Burnett Mount Owen Nettlebed Cave Wharepapa / Arthur Range Nelson Lakes National Park Braeburn Range Lake Rotoiti Lake Rotoroa Maniniaro / Angelus Peak Mount Franklin Pourangahau / Mount Robert Rotomairewhenua / Blue Lake Rotopōhueroa / Lake Constance Sabine Valley Saint Arnaud Range Spenser Mountains Facilities and attractions Abel Tasman National Park Coast Track Inland Track Monument Appleby railway station Brightwater railway station Cobb Power Station Ferntown Bridge Gowanbridge railway station Heaphy Track Hope railway station Karamea Aerodrome Kawatiri railway station Langford Store Memorial Park Milnthorpe Model Motueka Aerodrome Moutere Inn Mussel Inn Nelson Lakes National Park Onekaka Ironworks Onekaka Power Station Onekaka Wharf and tramline Proposals for a road through North-west Nelson Pupu Hydro Power Scheme Richmond railway station RNZAF Dip Flat Rutherford memorial Stafford Place St Michael's Church Stoke railway station Tākaka Aerodrome Tākaka Pioneers' Memorial Takaka Tramway Great Taste Trail Tonga Island Marine Reserve Tophouse Tour de Vineyards Wai-iti Dark Sky Park Wangapeka Track Westhaven (Te Tai Tapu) Marine Reserve Wharariki Ecosanctuary Administration Historic Nelson Province (1853–1876) Collingwood County (1877–1956) Waimea County (1877–1989) Richmond Borough (1891–1989 · mayor) Motueka Borough (1900–1989) Takaka County (1904–1956) Murchison County (1909–1965) Golden Bay County (1956–1989) Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council (1989–1992) Current Council Mayor Organisations Golden Bay Air Golden Bay-Motueka Rugby Union New Zealand Energy Richmond Athletic FC Talley's Group Schools Collingwood Area School Golden Bay High School Motueka High School Waimea College Waimea Intermediate --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [RNZAF Dip Flat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNZAF_Dip_Flat) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNZAF_Dip_Flat?action=history)). 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