RNZAF Skyhawks go to museums
The decade-long saga of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's 17 mothballed Skyhawk fighter-bombers has come to end, with nine being given away to museums and some being sold as spare parts.The Skyhawks had been on the market since 2001, when the previous government scrapped the Air Force's strike wing, with an initial asking price of $155 million.But attempts to sell the fleet had failed to attract a buyer.
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp today said he would offer eight of the jets to public museums in New Zealand and one to Australia."We have decided to secure this piece of our aviation history for future generations of New Zealanders to enjoy."Dr Mapp said four museums have already been chosen. Two, one single-seat and one two-seat, would go to the Air Force Museum at Wigram, near Christchurch.A third jet would go to the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland, and another would go to the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Arm Museum at Nowra, New South Wales.