His Majesty King Charles III unveiled a new aircraft at RAF Northolt and met delegates from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to mark the country’s 50th anniversary of independence and membership of the Commonwealth.
The visit also celebrated the 80th anniversary of the world’s largest humanitarian air operator, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), which was founded in 1945 by members of the RAF and has been operating in PNG since 1951.
The King pressed a button revealing the new Cessna 208 Caravan, the latest aircraft in MAF’s 118-strong fleet, which has been specially modified to withstand some of the world’s most challenging flying conditions.
He shook hands with the High Commissioner of PNG to the UK, Her Excellency Betty Palaso, and PNG nationals, as well as MAF’s PNG Country Director and UK trainee pilots, among others. MAF are recognised by the PNG government and international aid agencies as critical to providing medical care, technology, and education to isolated indigenous local communities.
MAF UK CEO Donovan Palmer said “Meeting and having the support of the King is a privilege and his love for the people of PNG was evident.
“MAF is committed to the long-term support of PNG. By flying food to market, delivering building equipment, transporting teachers and carrying out medical evacuations. Previously isolated villages have been transformed, modernised and connected to the outside world, some for the first time.”
Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia on September 16, 1975, after a period of Australian administration following World War II, culminating in the passage of the Papua New Guinea Independence Act in 1975.
Her Excellency Betty Palaso said: “On MAF’s 80th anniversary and Papua New Guinea’s 50th independence anniversary this year, let me on behalf of the Government of Papua New Guinea sincerely acknowledge His Majesty for today’s momentous occasion and also express our deepest gratitude to MAF’s profound commitment and dedication to the people of Papua New Guina since 1951. The country has immensely benefited from your services over the years. We salute you for your outstanding work and your generosity to Papua New Guinea.
Our partnership with MAF is also a reflection of the strong relationship that Papua New Guinea has with the United Kingdom, not only through exchanges and visits but also through bilateral arrangements and other programmes the United Kingdom offers in the region through various multilateral organisations.
The King also admired a vintage 1930’s De Havilland Dragon Rapide bi-plane, the same model used by MAF to establish flight operations in Sudan in 1950 by former RAF Squadron Leader Jack Hemmings AFC and D-Day Landings Engineering Veteran Stuart King.
Joseph Tua, PNG national and pilot for MAF, said “Being invited to the UK to meet the King means everything to me. I am speechless and unbelievably grateful to MAF for the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with such a renowned organisation and help them serve the people of PNG.”
The event concluded with select guests experiencing the new aircraft’s capabilities first-hand with flights over the RAF station before the plane continued its journey to PNG through Europe and Australia.
MAF currently flies to more destinations than any other airline, including 200 airstrips in PNG alone. The organisation serves approximately 1,500 organisations and visits an estimated 1,000 destinations worldwide.