Heine's hot rod Skyhawk

[Stormbird262]

Do you guy's in Nz have a few static Skyhawk's about the place??

What would it take to have a civil flying Skyhawk, In N.Z or Oz???.

Are those in the State's Civil??

Are there any major problem's with this, other then the expence of conversion and running the bugger!

I suppose the 9/11 thing might come in to it somewhat



Ciao I must be off Tally Ho! Phil in Oz

[mumbles]

There are two static Skyhawks on display in NZ (not counting the 17 in the hangar at Woodbourne).

TA-4K 'NZ6257' at Ohakea, which is a composite airframe built from spares.
A4-L at the Airforce Museum at Wigram in Christchurch, which is a US Navy airframe on loan that has been altered to resemble an A4-K (NZ6207 which was lost in 1974)

At least two civilian registered A-4's have flown on the airshow circuit in the US. An A-4C (painted as an A-4G), and a TA-4J.

A syndicate of sorts was established in 2001 with the aim of flying a civilian Skyhawk in NZ, but the aircraft were never made available for this. I don't know enough about the running cost and technicalities of that kind of operation to really say any more about how feasible it is.

[Stormbird262]

Thank's Mumble's mate! ;D

I became a Skyhawk fan, year's back when in Cub/Scout's, and my troup got a full tour of the HMAS Melbourne (when in port here in Melb ;D).

I was very impressed with the Skyhawk , but thought the Melb was a bit of a joke(I had seen the original Yank Enterprise in Sydney, and this was like a toy! :

Let's hope that between Oz and Nz that at least one Civil job will be done eventually, as the Skyhawk's are fast becoming historic in their own right!
And should be seen in their element, not just static .

Cheerio all, Far and WIDE!

Tally Ho! Phil in Oz. ;D

[corsair67]

Phil, here's a photo I took of 'NZ6257' at Ohakea in April.

[turboNZ]

Nice pic Craig.

Oh how I miss them

[corsair67]

Yes, I know what you mean, Chris.

I was thinking on the weekend that I wish I'd taken the trip up to HMAS Albatross more often to see the Skyhawks in action while No 2SQN was there. No good crying over missed opportunites though!

[xr6turbo1]

Heres shot I took of the magnificent example at the RNZAF museum in Wigram.

[mumbles]

Nice. What does the fastback Mustang have to do with it though?

[xr6turbo1]

Not sure, the photos were taken at there open day with cars etc.

[skyhawkdon]

mumbles said:

Nice. What does the fastback Mustang have to do with it though?

Fred Kinvig brought a Mustang back from the US after he did an exchange posting there flying Phantoms in the late 60's/early 70's. The display board in front of the Skyhawk has his photo on it and a photo of his Skyhawk crash (NZ6207 in 1974). I wonder if it is his old Mustang? Fred died of cancer a few years ago - I wonder if he donated his Mustang to the Museum? He was a bachelor so wouldn't have anyone to leave it to. He left the 75 Sqn Association money in his will which was used to get a silver die cast model made (I can't remember if it was of a Vampire or a Canberra?) for 75 Sqn. That will now be in the RNZAF Museum too.

[phil82]

I knew Fred well. A gentleman! I was living in the Mess at Shelly Bay when he came back from the tour on F4s, and I had many lifts here and there in that Mustang. Itv was the envy of every car dealer in Wellington! He bent it once coming back from Northland, and had a spare whatever within days after contacting a mate in the USAF at Hickham.I don't recall it being green however!

He was very approachable guy in my book, and when he went back to OH as OC Ops, he arranged a back seat in a Skyhawk for me! He always had a nice car, being a single guy. When OC 14 on Canberras he had an immaculate Sunbeam Rapier. Smoking was his downfall unfortunately. He was invariably seen with one of those black cheroots in his hand.

[Stormbird262]

:oThank you guy's so very muchly!!!!!!! ;D

Ya just made my SSDD week

Magic just magic, sorry it took so long to get back, I have had another bad flare up of Sciatica, NOT fun at all and with the M.S. already, Walking about and even moving at all bring's constant pain.
Made the leg's a bit more stranger then usual to use as well, bit more foot drop!

Sound like an interest old dude, has or did he do any book's about his travel's??.

And YOU lucky lucky lucky B@STARD , you had some very cool ride's hey!

Thank's again guy's, they are fantastic shot's,
I do hope to get back over to N.Z. one of these day's, last visit was about 1969 seeing me Dad's land's and Nank relly's from around Petone and Welly.
BUT I was only 3 year's old .

NOW this time around, I can atleast remember what I will see there,
Only have a few flashes, Going past that ship/ferry that went over in typhoon like weather between the Island's, BIG loss of life, think it was Wahoon or some like that.

We where getting a free family trip overnight to the south Island, care of the Union line, on some ferry, I had to sleep in a hard metal cot in the centre of the cabin floor, I cracked the darky's during the night and climbed in wid me mum. ;D.

Me dad was a Union Steam ship company of N.Z. dude of some type, just loved all thing's sailing, and steam powered ship's

Hey if anyone has anymore Skyhawk picture's I would love to see em, and I am sure a few other formite's would not as well.

Any Skyhawk goss of yonder day's, what ever, Let's still talk Skyhawk's!!!!!!!!.

PLEASE!!

Cheer's all ;D, Far and WIDE!

Tally Ho! Phil in Oz.

Baaa Baaa ya all now