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Post by corsair67 on Jan 25, 2006 21:12:12 GMT 12
I'm sure Comrade Helen would have come up with some excuse to get rid of the ACW anyway, even if they'd got the F-16A aircraft.
I mean to say, they're nasty, violent, noisy war machines and they're built by men! ;-)
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Post by phil on Jan 25, 2006 21:28:13 GMT 12
But isn't Helen really a man?
Some of the Macchis have already had their roundels removed. I guess to disguise the fact they are RNZAF aircraft.
Of course without the roundels they could be macchis flown by one of the many other operators of the type in this country....
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 25, 2006 21:41:23 GMT 12
I wonder if Helen Clark will go down to the wharf and throw stones at the Skyhawks as they leave, like she alledgedly did when they arrived in 1970?
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Post by phil on Jan 25, 2006 21:45:31 GMT 12
One of the guys at work had a newspaper photo of her waiving a banner protesting against them. Pity he can longer locate it.
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Post by corsair67 on Jan 25, 2006 22:36:26 GMT 12
Maybe the Exclusive Bretheren own some Macchis now? They could be used to help 'convince' the general public that it's a good idea to vote for Don Brash in the next general election?! Or maybe the Mongrel Mob or Black Power have recently upgraded their weaponry?  |
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Post by Calum on Feb 5, 2006 13:42:24 GMT 12
Lateset rumour, from a reliable source.
Macchis to be flown to Tauranga then put onto a ship. Ship to sail to Picton to pick up A-4's (a-4's will be airworthy) A-4's will be taken by road from Woodbourne to Picton and loaded on the ship.
Look for an announcement re the deal being done, around 4 Mar 06.........
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Post by rnzafhusband on Feb 9, 2006 15:56:20 GMT 12
That reminds me of the famous pictures of the A4's in transit up Aucklands NW motorway form the port when they first arrived in NZ. its ironic they are leaving in a similar way to how they arrived. A sad day indeed.
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Post by SEAN on Mar 24, 2006 10:37:31 GMT 12
Latest:  |
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Post by Bruce on Mar 24, 2006 11:31:09 GMT 12
duh!!!!!
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Post by Calum on Mar 24, 2006 20:38:13 GMT 12
LOL ;D ;D
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Post by corsair67 on May 17, 2006 10:12:36 GMT 12
Has there been anymore news about this: have the aircraft actually gone yet?
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Post by phil on May 17, 2006 18:49:42 GMT 12
No, they are still here. Machis still flying most days at Ohakea, A4s in storage in Woodbourne.
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Post by corsair67 on May 18, 2006 11:37:49 GMT 12
Is it just me, or does anyone else think this is all very strange?
I mean, someone is allegedly paying $100 million for all these aircraft, but they still haven't managed to either seal the deal or organise to have the aircraft delivered yet, and it's been nearly a year since the deal was first announced.
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Post by phil on May 18, 2006 17:34:33 GMT 12
I've stopped trying to second guess.
But buying anything in the aviation world takes a long time, so I don't think it is that strange.
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Post by steve on May 19, 2006 0:30:56 GMT 12
The strike wing sale is very strange...we know that the a4k had f16 technology in the drivers seat which required US govt approval before sale...however i believe that the US\ state dept has dragged their feet on this as a payback for this socialist govt disarment policies etc....I for one hope they never sell...or leave or shores...to give balance however I believe that the long term plans for the navy and army under labour are on the mark
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Post by Calum on May 20, 2006 21:15:12 GMT 12
Yeah, it's getting curious. especially as the Government trumpeted the sale just before the election. I do believe though they are working on the A-4s at the moment
Also saw a report in Janes last week or so that confirmed Mayasia was interested in the Macchis but missed out. They are talking with Aermacchi to get some 339's
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Post by SEAN on Jun 1, 2006 6:37:23 GMT 12
Latest on subject... looks like there are some problems: This is off stuff.co.nz this morning: stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3686007a11,00.html Skyhawk sale in trouble, National says 01 June 2006 The $155 million deal to sell the Air Force's redundant strike wing appears to be in trouble, although the Government says it is just taking longer than expected. The sale of the 17 Skyhawks and 17 Aermacchi jets to a private United States company, Tactical Air Services, was announced in September last year, just before the general election. Eight months later they are still here and the National Party says no deposit has been paid, no planes have been prepared for delivery and the US State Department has not given consent for the sale. "There appears to be significant problems," said National's defence spokesman Murray McCully. "It's starting to look like this transaction, announced so triumphantly a week before the election, has turned into a major bungle." Acting Defence Minister Jim Sutton said the Government did not realise how long it would take to get the planes to the buyer. "We judged it by what sort of time frame you'd expect in New Zealand. That was clearly a mistake but not a capital offence," he said on TV One News. Mr Sutton confirmed that no money had been received. "I understand it's essentially a COD (cash on delivery) contract." The Government said when it announced the sale that it was conditional on the State Department permitting the importation of the planes into the United States. Mark Burton, defence minister at that time, said the jets would be used for pilot training under a US Government contract. Mr McCully suggested there was a problem gaining State Department consent for the sale, and said the Government should explain precisely what was going on. The Government scrapped the strike wing in late 2001, and storage and maintenance costs were put at $300,000 a month – a four-year total of more than $14 million. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 1, 2006 7:59:34 GMT 12
Does anyone else get the feeling Don Brash did a deal with the US State Department that sees them refuse permission for all sales, so when National finally gets back in our Strike Wing is still in NZ and will be 'back by Friday'?  ;D |
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 1, 2006 9:47:36 GMT 12
The plot thickens! Personally, I would have thought that if you had US Defence contracts to fulfill, then you're not going to wait around for nearly a year to get these aircraft on the books and earning money for you. You'd either be in your local Senator's or Congressman's ear trying to free up the State Dept. approval process, or looking for other aircraft to do the job for you. Surely there are plenty of other similar aircraft that could do the job sitting in storage at AMARC, and that they would be easier for TAS to obtain? You've got to be joking?  ? We're talking about $155 million worth of aircraft and spares here: not a bloody doona cover on Ebay!  I'd expect some sort of deposit to be paid before the aircraft were even towed out of the hangar. What happens if the aircraft are lost at sea (don't laugh - it nearly happened to the Skyhawks in 1970!) or damaged in transit: who carries the can then - the NZ taxpayer? |
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 1, 2006 10:55:26 GMT 12
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;D
? We're talking about $155 million worth of aircraft and spares here: not a bloody doona cover on Ebay! 
