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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2009 16:51:56 GMT 12
According to the update, One News at 6pm will announce a major new defence deal done between New Zealand and the USA!!
Thread title has been amended
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2009 17:10:26 GMT 12
It looks like the USA wants to return to training properly with New Zealand!
AND NZ has got the permission to sell the Skyhawks to the USA.
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Post by sqwark2k on Oct 7, 2009 17:13:03 GMT 12
Yep, just announced from washngton DC, Skyhawk sale allowed to proceed.... why we need permission to sell back to the country of origin is beyond me. Pilots from purchasing company to come to NZ soon to test fly machines...
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Post by phil on Oct 7, 2009 17:13:16 GMT 12
What about the Macchis?
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Post by skyhawkdon on Oct 7, 2009 17:49:37 GMT 12
I missed the announcement on the TV One News but I have been expecting an announcement for a couple of months... ever since the Gov't announced the SAS were going back to Afghanistan. Rumours have been circulating around Woodbourne for a while. Apparently it is just for the Skyhawks - the Macchis never needed US approval to sell. The reality is no one wants them, that's why they haven't gone anywhere!
Personally I will believe it when I see the money... that is the next "minor" hurdle to overcome (if the purchaser is who I believe it is!). Then there is the other "minor" issue of regenerating them all to airworthy condition.
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Post by yogi on Oct 7, 2009 17:54:17 GMT 12
hmm interesting.... How long do u think that would take skyhawkdon?
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Post by phil82 on Oct 7, 2009 17:56:02 GMT 12
I missed the announcement on the TV One News but I have been expecting an announcement for a couple of months... ever since the Gov't announced the SAS were goiing back to Afghanastan. Rumours have been circulating around Woodbourne for a while. Apparently it is just for the Skyhawks - the Macchis never needed US approval to sell. The reality is no one wants them, that's why they haven't gone anywhere! Personally I will believe it when I see the money... that is the next "minor" hurdle to overcome (if the purchaser is who I believe it is!). Then there is the other "minor" issue of regenerating them all to airworthy condition. It's official: the US State Depertment has approved the sale, and a representative of the buyers is coming to test fly. Then again, we were told that winter was over.........
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Post by corsair67 on Oct 7, 2009 18:03:12 GMT 12
Don, at this stage it wouldn't surprise me if the Nats were actually going to pay the new owner to take them away! ;D I feel sorry for Ernst and Young - they'll be off the teat soon, and will have to actually go back to earning an honest living for a change.
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Post by obiwan27 on Oct 7, 2009 18:19:28 GMT 12
End of an era...
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Post by obiwan27 on Oct 7, 2009 18:31:04 GMT 12
Oh but before they leave the country can forum members get some pics or video footage of these 'test flights'?
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Post by corsair67 on Oct 7, 2009 18:36:57 GMT 12
Er, before anyone starts test flying them, won't they take a wee while to be made airworthy again?
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Post by lumpy on Oct 7, 2009 18:47:06 GMT 12
This will be interesting to watch . I would expect a LOT of details to be worked through yet .
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Oct 7, 2009 19:06:57 GMT 12
Wooohoooo......when do the F-16's arrive?.....
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Post by yogi on Oct 7, 2009 19:44:56 GMT 12
I watched that video on US-NZ training.. very interesting! changes are in our midst i reckon!
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Post by Kenny on Oct 7, 2009 19:51:47 GMT 12
I was just thinking that it was about time another same-story report on the skyhawk sale came about, and here it is In Response - ...... Yeah, Right. Like some, il believe it when i see it. I would like to, but unfortunatley Guyon was the reporter.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2009 20:19:28 GMT 12
I think a really important aspect perhaps being missed by some people here - the USA has decided to move back towards proper defence ties with New Zealand without the nuisance of having to drop our anti-nuclear status. Obama is much more anti-nuclear than any of his predecessors by the look of things and they realise ties with New Zealand are important and need to be reconnected. Surely this is absolutely brilliant.
And by clearing out that musty old Skyhawk deal blocking the path between good ties, it must surely open up the possibilities for better dealings on future aircraft purchases.
Am I reading this right?
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Post by stu on Oct 7, 2009 20:20:02 GMT 12
Wooohoooo......when do the F-16's arrive?..... About the same time as the anti-US protester brigade.... I know, naughty step ;D Even though they were sitting around doing nothing - and with little or no prospect of being used here again - in some ways it'll be sad to see the Skyhawks go. Would be good to see some US hardware down here in the colonies though
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2009 20:36:38 GMT 12
What's the bet even if the A-4's do all get regenerated, shipped to the States and enter service again, they won't last too long before they're replaced and all end up on the scrapheap.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Oct 7, 2009 20:37:55 GMT 12
hmm interesting.... How long do u think that would take skyhawkdon? 10 could be made airworthy with a huge effort within 6-12 months by cannibalizing parts from the 7 that won't be able to be made airworthy in a hurry. But I don't know where they are going to get the people from to do that - you would need a very large team of guys from all trades. Both Safe Air and the RNZAF are heavily committed to the upgrade and replacement projects at the moment. To get them all up & running could take 2-3 years. The cost will be at least $25M. I understand the sale price for just the Skyhawks is only around $35M. Given what has already been spent on them in the last 8 years ($11M by Heather Roy's estimate) there isn't much profit in it! And who is going to test fly them and run a conversion course for the new owners? Remember these aren't just orginary old Skyhawks. Yes the engine and airframe will be familiar to many ex USN pilots, but they have a lot to learn about using the avionics, as do the maintenance guys who are going to have to keep it going. Me thinks there is some water to go under the bridge on this yet
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2009 20:54:47 GMT 12
Did they remember to put "as is, where is" in the advert?
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