RNZAF Skyhawks go to museums

[Samuel]

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.

[Buster Hyman]

Well, that's generous donating one to the RAN.

Pity the capability was never replaced for the Kiwis.

[Samuel]

The reason for the RAN donation is that some of the A4s came from the RAN when they scrapped the last carrier. It is fitting that they will get one of their own back and especially for Nowra.

[Buster Hyman]

Indeed. I just meant that it was a nice gesture to return one to where it started out.

[dat581]

Then it will have to go all the way back to the US Navy....

[TBM-Legend]

First ten RAN A-4G's were purchased NEW from Douglas in 1967. USN Bureau numbers were assigned as they were ordered through them, not owned by them..

Second batch in 1971 were ex-USN A-4F's rebuilt to G models.

[Buster Hyman]

So there!!!!

[Krakatoa]

Looks like Wigram will be able to form a squadron, they already have one.

[cribble]

As a Spotter's aside: return of one of the RAN jets after we'd finished with them was part of the acquisition deal with Australia.

[Hammer Head Too]

Surely someone linked to Warbirds at Wannaka would want to get one of them airborne again ?

[dat581]

First ten RAN A-4G's were purchased NEW from Douglas in 1967. USN Bureau numbers were assigned as they were ordered through them, not owned by them..

Second batch in 1971 were ex-USN A-4F's rebuilt to G models

I stand corrected!!!

(Standing by to check which batch it's from when it turns up at Nowra!!)

[Samuel]

It could be flown to Nowra...but whether anyone would want to is another story! They all flew into Woodbourne, and are all theoretically airworthy....

[Ex Douglas Driver]

... theoretically airworthy when flown in - but not any more!

[Like This - Do That]

Are there any suitable museums in Ms Clark's old electorate of Mount Albert?

Sorry - couldn't help it. I'll get me coat.

[GreenKnight121]

The A-4 on display in Australia is not a former RAN bird.

154903/154910 Douglas A-4G Skyhawk
To Australia as N13-154903/154910 (RAN codes 882/889) November 1967.
N13-154903 (RAN code 882) to RNZAF July 1984 as NZ6211. Crashed 2001. Fleet Air Arm Museum Skyhawk, ex-USN A-4B Bu No. 142871, was repainted to represent Skyhawk 882 in 2007.
N13-154904 (RAN code 883) to RNZAF July 1984 as NZ6212. Now A-4K
N13-154905 (RAN code 884) to RNZAF July 1984 as NZ6213. Now A-4K
N13-154906 (RAN code 885) Crashed 1980. The aircraft that was displayed as '885' at the Naval Aviation Museum, then Australia's Museum of Flight until it was repainted as 882 in 2007 is really ex-USN A-4B Bu No. 142871.
N13-154907 (RAN code 886) Rolled off deck during move 1979.
N13-154908 (RAN code 887) to RNZAF July 1984 as NZ6214. Now A-4K.
N13-154909 (RAN code 888) Crashed 1979.
N13-154910 (RAN code 889) Crashed 1973.
154911/154912 Douglas TA-4G Skyhawk
To Australia as N13-154911/54912 (RAN code 880/881) November 1967.
Both to RNZAF as NZ6255 and NZ6256. Now TA-4K


EX-USN Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk
154647 to Australia as N13-154647 (RAN code 878) August 1971. Crashed 1980
154648 to Australia as N13-154648 (RAN code 879) August 1971. Crashed 1974
Ex-USN Douglas A-4F Skyhawk
155051 (A-4G) to Australia as N13-155051 (RAN code 870) Aug 1971. Crashed 1979.
155052 (A-4G) to Australia as N13-155052 (RAN code 871) Aug 1971. To RNZAF Jul 1984 as NZ6215. Now A-4K
155055 (A-4G) to Australia as N13-155055 (RAN code 872) Aug 1971. Crashed 1975.
155060 (A-4G) to Australia as N13-155060 (RAN code 873) Aug 1971. Crashed 1973.
155061 (A-4G) to Australia as N13-155061 (RAN code 874) Aug 1971. To RNZAF Jul 1984 as NZ6216. Now A-4K
155062 (A-4G) to Australia as N13-155062 (RAN code 875) Aug 1971. Crashed 1980.
155063 (A-4G) to Australia as N13-155063 (RAN code 876) Aug 1971. To RNZAF Jul 1984 as NZ6217. Now A-4K
155069 (c/n 13885) to Australia as N13-155069 (RAN code 877) in Aug 1971. To RNZAF as NZ6218 Jul 1984.

[Dangerboy666]

A4 to Australia

The return of one bird to Oz was actually part of the original condition of sale. Unsure whether it was written or a verbal agreement, but good to see it honoured.