New Zealand Skyhawks

[Silver]

I read today that the Royal New Zealand Air Force have sold their 17 Skyhawk jets.
The jets were sold to an Atlanta-based flight training company for $28 million.
At least six of the aircraft are expected to be based in Australia for training duties.

Sounds cheap for 17 jets ?

[Imshi-Yallah]

Silver I suspect the NZ SSkyhawks are either being stripped for parts or the airframes are being fitted with new parts, either way the purchase would only have had benefit for someone with inexpensive access to a skyhawk boneyard running into the dozens at least.
Keep the ideas coming tho.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

not really there old, vietnam era aircraft with alot of time on the airframes, you would probally only get 5 or 6 worth maintaining. as far as i know they were taken out of service because of rising operation costs.
spare parts are not made for it anymore

[Turkey]

As far as I know , the Skyhawks were in working order, albeit barely, up to recently anyway, there was a thread on the military part of pprune, which I cannot access at present, will post link when I can.

[IAS]

My understanding is that they were taken out of service purely and simply due to the policies of Helen Clarke's Government (they're fond of citing Ireland's defence policy as being a good role model for NZ).

By all accounts the NZ Skyhawks were very well maintained and are in very good condition despite their age. They are also well fitted out with both intercept and BVR strike capabilities.

IAS

[FMolloy]

Regardless of their condition, their attack aircraft. We'd need a multi-role airframe.

[irishsamourai]

for information , the NEW ZEALAND government sold the 17 aermacchi MB339 to the royal malaysian air force ,the only armed aircraft are the P3K and the SH-2G

[Silver]

I wasn't suggesting that the Skyhawks would be at all suitable for the AC - I was merely sharing what I had read and expressing suprise at the sale price.

[Silver]

Apparently, the NZ government believe that no enemy force  would travel so far to attack their country !

[alpha foxtrot 07]

the price they were sold for was about right and the aer corps does not need more old aircraft never mind broken ones too

[Imshi-Yallah]

I hate to rain on your parade Silver (I really do) but the NZ Skyhawks were due a major overhaul (maintenance can do very little about airframe hours), and since just maintaining them costr 25% of the defence budget I would hav e scrapped them too, not replacing them was a dodgier proposition, especially considering that unlike us the Kiwis live among a whole lot of well armed potentially hostile Neighbours.

[FiannaFail]

No matter what you think Silver has a point here especially if you are interested in our great Air Corps.
FiannaFail :'>

[Silver]

I didn't claim to know what condition the Skyhawks are in, I was merely throwing out the information that I had read to generate some discussion.

If they are in the condition you have stated, then they obviously weren't the 'bargain' they seemed !

[Silver]

As if your opinion counts for anything here, FF   '>

[FiannaFail]

Well put Silver, Its always good to get discussion going. Keep up the good work!
FiannaFail '>