Borneo Wild Man: I wouldnt worry old bean, they'll be based in Ohakea soonest. (Theres a job for you if Emirates doesnt come off......"Boeing Flight Commander". I hear there current one has just 717'd - again.)
The reason the kiwi airforce wants the 757 is the 'combi' pax/freight option. ie: it must be able to carry El Presidento Clarke and her band of merry brown-noses + all the spare parts for the broken down Hercules.
Hopefully it'll be RNP5 compliant to avoid all those embarassing stop-overs every 90mins in Europe to realign the INS's.
I note the article states that strategic transport is now the back-bone of the RNZAF. (Goodness knows with the sharp end gone it cant be the 'balls of the RNZAF'; although in the days of sexual equality I guess thats inappropriate?)
Does that mean the word 'tactical' is being written out of their raison d'etre too? Strategic = backbone.....thats just plain spooky. Soon it'll be the womens auxilary balloon corps and the typing pool will be the backbone.