Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 9, 2007 20:54:18 GMT 12
When it comes to pensioning off ex-RNZAF aircraft these days, the golden era of collectors getting Harvards and Devons seem to have faded away.
When you look at some recently retired RNZAF types like the Andover or the Strikemaster, the Boeing 727 and the Cessna Golden Eagle, not one of these types has stayed in NZ in civil hands to display and keep in the air.
There are reasons for some, but it could be done for others.
I'm wondering, do you think that years into the future when current aircraft like the Hercules and Orions are retired, is there any chance at all that groups will try to keep examples flying in New Zealand as Warbirds?
I mean if they can do it with a Catalina or Dakota through clubs and syndication, is it feasible that one of our Hercules will be flying in civil hands at airshows in about 50 years time?
All our Hercs are genuine warbirds, having served in wars around the world. Same goes for the Orions. Both types are awesome airshow displayers and popular with the crowds. There'd be lots of ex-service engineers and pilots who know the types backwards. And lots of spares from sources around the world. they could form a club like the Catalina Club,and raise the funds to preserve our heritage.
Could we ever see ex-RNZAF Iroquois syndicates keeping them flying?
Will we ever see someone displaying one of our A-4K's in civil hands, or even an imported foreign A-4 dressed up as one of ours (like the Vampires on the circuit)?
I guess the bottom line to all this is no. Our heritage will not be maintained and those aircraft will all be scrapped and melted down, because there's no way in hell if the interfering US State Dept won't allow collectors to buy our APC's then they will never allow combat aircraft to be owned by civvies. It stinks.
When you look at some recently retired RNZAF types like the Andover or the Strikemaster, the Boeing 727 and the Cessna Golden Eagle, not one of these types has stayed in NZ in civil hands to display and keep in the air.
There are reasons for some, but it could be done for others.
I'm wondering, do you think that years into the future when current aircraft like the Hercules and Orions are retired, is there any chance at all that groups will try to keep examples flying in New Zealand as Warbirds?
I mean if they can do it with a Catalina or Dakota through clubs and syndication, is it feasible that one of our Hercules will be flying in civil hands at airshows in about 50 years time?
All our Hercs are genuine warbirds, having served in wars around the world. Same goes for the Orions. Both types are awesome airshow displayers and popular with the crowds. There'd be lots of ex-service engineers and pilots who know the types backwards. And lots of spares from sources around the world. they could form a club like the Catalina Club,and raise the funds to preserve our heritage.
Could we ever see ex-RNZAF Iroquois syndicates keeping them flying?
Will we ever see someone displaying one of our A-4K's in civil hands, or even an imported foreign A-4 dressed up as one of ours (like the Vampires on the circuit)?
I guess the bottom line to all this is no. Our heritage will not be maintained and those aircraft will all be scrapped and melted down, because there's no way in hell if the interfering US State Dept won't allow collectors to buy our APC's then they will never allow combat aircraft to be owned by civvies. It stinks.
