RNZAF A-4 disposal

[Don Mask]

Not sure how much to read into this one but I stumbled across a Marlborough Aero Club newsletter the other day. Helengrad has approved a donation of coin to assist in the set-up of a heritage centre/airpark at Omaka. The newsletter reports that when she was being escorted around the site and given the run down on things, she was jokingly asked if the museum could have a Skyhawk to display. Her reply was along the lines of "If they don't sell soon, each aeroclub in the country can have one".

I guess that after nearly five years since HER decision was made public we should be over it but it stings a bit that that part of NZ's history to her, is so forgettable.

If you read DOUGLAS in the side of a Coke can in years to come, you'll know where it came from.

Am I the only one that dislikes her so much?

Don :mad:

[flying ginge]

I'll agree with you Don, she isn't cool at all. Don't know if they A4s are still flying but in NS last month saw a Macchi come streaking down the runway at low level. "Just trying to buck up the civilians, sir".:cool:

[tinpis]

Its happened before in 1948
RNZAF had 424 FG 1D Corsairs
These are some and P40 kittyhawks at Rukuhia scrap yard in 1948
When I was a little kid used to drive past these every day with my Dad in a bus.
When I got a bit older used to bike out and play in em.
http://www.cyberweb.co.nz/warbirdbrokers/Pages/5503_Project/images/Rukuhia.jpg
For those that know the field they were on the southern corner near the main road and the planes faced Pirongia.
What was left in 1965? was moved so the main sealed runway could go in. :{

Me dad never took any notice of my pleading for him to take one home :{

[Captain Sand Dune]

You voted for her...................:uhoh:

[cribble]

Any other ex-A4 drivers out there who would be interested in putting a syndicate together? It would be a big money-sump but what a blast! :D

[NoseGear]

Yeap, I'm in for a syndicate. Depends if George Dubba would let us though I suppose:p

Be fun to attack the Navy on days off:E

Nosey

[Obiwan]

Any other ex-A4 drivers out there who would be interested in putting a syndicate together? It would be a big money-sump but what a blast!
Now if you got some corporate sponsorship you could buy 6 and have your own A-4 formation team ala Blue Angels in the 80s :ok:

Back to watch Van Halen 'Dream' video clip again...

[OVERCHINA]

What does an A4 sell for these days .?

[thekite]

An expat kiwi now living in Darwin, I took out Australian citizenship in the 80s in protest at the NZ weaseling out of the ANZUS Pact.

And I took my kids. I wanted them to have a nationality that they could be proud of.

How right I was. Next Helen dumped the fighter wing. ie "The RNZAF is a wonderful spear, but it has no point."

Unspoken thought, but tacitly accepted by the NZ voter -

" NZ has no enemies, who would invade us - we do not care about the rest of the world - and Australia would defend us if need be"

It may be so, but it is a slave's comfort. "Someone else will look after us."

Has Helen-- no -- HAS THE NZ VOTER ever heard of the Faulkland Islands? Who would invade there? Nations do not necessarally attack for obvious reasons.

Current humiliation: RNZAF 40 year old Hercs cark out in Australia on the way to tsunami relief.

Do we have no pride? Dump the bitch!!!

thekite

[kumul1]

Obiwan, I saw that blue angels , Van Halen 'Dream' vedio years ago and would love a copy. Any chance of a copy? .....obviously beers, or the equivalent ( nothing non alcoholic though), are involved ;)

[Buster Hyman]

That's a big move thekite. I don't know if I'd be so strong and have the courage of my convictions to do something like that. Lets hope I never feel the need to!:(

[tinpis]

Quite painless the lobotomy now Buster.

[N2000]

Kumul1

After a quick search, I found a link the the Van Halen clip at http://www.usna.edu/FlyNavy/archived%20-%20September%202000.htm

Enjoy!!

N2000

[Buster Hyman]

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!;)

[N2000]

Kumul1

.....obviously beers, or the equivalent ( nothing non alcoholic though), are involved

VB please

N2000

[AerocatS2A]

An expat kiwi now living in Darwin, I took out Australian citizenship in the 80s in protest at the NZ weaseling out of the ANZUS Pact.

And I took my kids. I wanted them to have a nationality that they could be proud of.

Actually, it would seem you wanted them to have a nationality you could be proud of.

If politics is what makes you proud or otherwise of your country, then good riddance sir. I hope the Howard government's actions are more in line with your world view.

Kind regards

[Runaway Gun]

Hopefully if the USA rightfully punish Uncle Helen, and continue to refuse her permission to sell to other militaries, then the Skyhawks and Macchis could be sold to warbird collectors.

Anything to avoid them being melted down.
:*

[tinpis]

then the Skyhawks and Macchis could be sold to warbird collectors.

How many lawn darts the folks around Ardmore prepared to put up with?

[The Holy Grail]

perhaps the fearsome sight of Helen in the flesh would put any prospecting invader off landing on these shores.....getting offside with the America's was the worse thing we ever did.........who really cares if we are nuclear free.......

[BCF Breath]

Skyhawk non-sale a $10m shambles

02 September 2004 - 17:03 - John Carter
Defence
The failure of the Labour Government to sell the mothballed Skyhawks and Aermacchi jet trainers has become a very expensive shambles, says National's Defence spokesman, John Carter.

"The cost of preparing the sales process and maintaining the 17 Skyhawks and 17 Aermacchis has rocketed to almost $10 million over three years - and they still may not be sold," says Mr Carter.

He is commenting on information from Defence Minister Mark Burton which shows that up till the end of March, Ernst and Young have been paid $677,145 in disbursements, on top of their initial $400,000 fee for attempting to sell the aircraft.

"Add to that the $8.76 million to maintain and store them - which rises by $320,000 for every month they are not sold - and you have a colossal waste of taxpayer money.

"Quite honestly, we would have been better off keeping an air strike force and having the ability to defend New Zealand rather than following the peacenik attitude of this minister and the Prime Minister," Mr Carter says.

[splatgothebugs]

Its funny that the comment was made "WHO WOULD ATTACK NZ" unfortunatley that is wht the average voter thinks and thats why Uncle is in power.

Ive said it many times (like the Faulklands) if you want to get a point across to a bigger country ie OZ and Yanks you hit one of their little buddy countries first to make them open there eyes.

Now I know that uncle didn't side with the ozzys and yanks when it came to the war, but we have supported them for years (ANZAC and sorting free trade deals ect) we are one of there buddies and we are sitting ducks.

That is just my opinion :ok:

splat:ok: