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Post by hairy on Sept 11, 2005 9:04:27 GMT 12
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Post by hairy on Sept 11, 2005 9:21:15 GMT 12
Anybody got some better shots?  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 11, 2005 11:10:28 GMT 12
Yes, I just read this. This for me is very sad to see, I loved the Skyhawks. And we won't get to see Ron Marks' plan of putting them all into childrens' playgrounds.
But at least they ahve a new life ahead (I hope).
I wonder if they will put them back into working order here and do a farewell show before they are exported. I doubt it.
So, I wonder what the US company is, and if it's the same US company that tried to buy them in the first place.
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Post by turboNZ on Sept 11, 2005 12:27:42 GMT 12
Great news alright. No word on what their future life ? Maybe the Yank company are going to onsell them to a third-world type country to aid their civil wars....  J/K TNZ |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 11, 2005 14:38:16 GMT 12
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Post by Bruce on Sept 12, 2005 13:17:40 GMT 12
I wonder (being a cynic as I am) whether there was any pressure to get rid of the Skyhawks before the election (surely not) They were a bit of an embarrassment being at Woodbourne costing money to keep, and they may have wanted to remove the possibility of a new incoming Government (who ever that may be...) reactivating the fleet.
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Post by corsair67 on Sept 12, 2005 17:27:41 GMT 12
A sad day for New Zealand; but at least the Skyhawks are going on to a new life with a new owner who will (hopefully!) appreciate them. Are the Macchi's included in the sale? I really thought it was really funny when Comrade Helen was being asked by the TV One journalist about the sale of the Skyhawks, and she didn't know anything about it! Gee, doesn't she handle being publically embarrassed really well - NOT! I wonder if that particular journalist will still have a job with TVNZ tomorrow?  |
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Post by turboNZ on Sept 12, 2005 18:34:18 GMT 12
lol,,...Corsair67..
I see on the news they all sold for $155m.
Interesting that with all of the de-milled aircraft in USA the Yank-based firm came all the way over here to purchase.
TNZ
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Post by turboNZ on Sept 12, 2005 18:38:09 GMT 12
Hands up here who hasn't seen a Skyhawk do this...a low level high-speed pass.....the trademark of the A4K. (pic from Kiwiaircraftimages)  You will be missed TNZ |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 12, 2005 18:45:50 GMT 12
Personally I am surprised they were not put on ebay as rare working collectables a long time ago after the money raised for that derelict Vulcan hulk at auction on the site! I wonder who they've gone to, perhaps the Confederate Air Force? ;D (oh wait, the Confederates run the real USAF now, the collectors are the Commemorate Air Force...Yehaa!)  I missed the moment on TV sadly, but the scenario reminds me of when Geoffrey Palmer was PM, I saw him asked by a journo why the NZ Govt was cutting down native timber and selling it to Japan for use as concrete boxing. He categorically denied it, statiing the Government would never do or allow such a thing, and that they were not even cutting down native timber. There were a few ahems from his advisors, the camera was switched off, and then if comes back 20 minutes later after he's been briefed and he gives this new statement full of confidence of why his Governemt was doing such good deeds for the country by selling our native timber to Japan for boxing... ;D The Squawks may be gone but we will never forget them or their valuable contribution to this country's defence and aviation scene |
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Post by turboNZ on Sept 12, 2005 18:49:39 GMT 12
from stuff.co.nz
"The Government today announced it had sold the air force's strike wing to a private United States company for $155 million.
Defence Minister Mark Burton said the sale of 17 Skyhawks and 17 Aermacchi aircraft to Tactical Air Services was an "excellent outcome".
The aircraft will be used in the US for training purposes under a US government contract.
The sale was conditional on the US State Department permitting the importation of the aircraft into the United States, he said.
The Aermacchi's were fully operational but the Skyhawks would be regenerated by Blenheim company Safe Air before being sent to the US.
Money received for the fleet would go towards the cost of regenerating and shipping the aircraft with the remaining $NZ120 million allocated for developing a "modern, relevant Defence Force", Mr Burton said.
The sale was not an attempt to ensure a strike force could not be revived, he said.
"I don't think that has been a likely prospect for some time. I don't think either major party had any intention of that."
hmm,...makes you think...who's going to get trained....
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 12, 2005 19:18:27 GMT 12
Ah, so the Maachis are going to.
All that for NZ$155 - seems a snip really considering its 34 fighter-bomber capable aircraft.
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Post by turboNZ on Sept 12, 2005 19:51:14 GMT 12
too true, they're definitely getting a good deal, even with the A-4K's age taken into consideration.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 12, 2005 20:13:13 GMT 12
I guess this includes the entire spares package too. And lets face it, the A4K's will also be in superb condition despite their paper age. The RNZAF really looked after them, as they do with all their aircraft. I wonder if there's any parts left in them remaining from the origianl 1970 production line.
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Post by corsair67 on Sept 12, 2005 20:33:07 GMT 12
I can't understand why Comrade didn't keep a couple of TA-4K Skyhawks as her personal transports? They'd certainly be good for getting to all those important engagements (like Bledisloe Cup games), without the embarrassment of having a whole lot of Police being dragged through Court, and she'd never have to put up with smart-arsed comments from Air NZ pilots again!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 13, 2005 1:58:42 GMT 12
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Post by turboNZ on Sept 13, 2005 11:37:36 GMT 12
Labour govt,..?? Skim..?? That wouldn't be like them, now would it...  TNZ |
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Post by turboNZ on Sept 13, 2005 11:39:34 GMT 12
I can't understand why Comrade didn't keep a couple of TA-4K Skyhawks as her personal transports? They'd certainly be good for getting to all those important engagements (like Bledisloe Cup games), without the embarrassment of having a whole lot of Police being dragged through Court, and she'd never have to put up with smart-arsed comments from Air NZ pilots again! ha ha would'nt it be a shame if she got accidentally ejected into the Cook Strait.... |
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Post by corsair67 on Sept 13, 2005 13:40:20 GMT 12
ha ha wouldn't it be a shame if she got accidentally ejected into the Cook Strait....
especially if they were at 50 feet above sea level - inverted!
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Post by Parrotfish on Sept 14, 2005 10:11:00 GMT 12
I can't understand why Comrade didn't keep a couple of TA-4K Skyhawks as her personal transports? They'd certainly be good for getting to all those important engagements (like Bledisloe Cup games), without the embarrassment of having a whole lot of Police being dragged through Court, and she'd never have to put up with smart-arsed comments from Air NZ pilots again! Now now, your blue slip is showing Craig  Sorry about not replying to your txt mate (snuck in under the radar), but I got here in the end. |
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J/K
