Kiwi dave From New Zealand, joined Aug 2000, 895 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1924 times:
Today in the skies over New Zealand the A-4 skyhawks and Macchi's of the RNZAF bid a farewell to the New Zealand public, by flying from as far north as Auckland and as far south as Christchurch.
it was great to see and hear the Skyhawks but the sad as it was for the last time.
2912n From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 2013 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1766 times:
Kiwi-Do you know how many 727's RNZAF operates and in what capacity? I was amazed the other day when one came in at San Diego....They spent about an hour on the ground then packed off to somewhere else....Long haul for a 727!
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 6, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1735 times:
So now New Zealand has now way to defend itself!
Smart guys....Really smart
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12702 posts, RR: 80 Reply 8, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1733 times:
Very sad, but when the RNZAF planned to lease 28 F-16A/B's a couple of years ago it ran into political trouble right away, and set off a chain of events leading to this years absurd descision to phase out the Air Combat Wing.
Maybe if they had gone for something cheaper and more balanced like 15-20 Hawk 100/200's, sold the Skyhawks and MB339's, and used the proceeds to get some ex-US Army UH-60's and a couple of AS355 Squirrels from the civil market, to replace the Hueys and Bell 47's respectively, the whole thing could have been prevented.
But that F-16 deal looked great, who can blame them for going for it?
And perhaps Helen Clark was hell-bent on wrecking the RNZAF anyway.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 11, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 1716 times:
Hey you guys did vote for those yahoo's
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12702 posts, RR: 80 Reply 12, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1713 times:
True the F-16 was the better plane, my point is that if something like the equipment buy I outlined had been proposed, it could have been presented as a more 'balanced' force upgrade, in line with the tasks the highly-capable NZ forces are likely to be involved in.
Lower running costs too.
Those choppers will still need replacement.
Is the C-130J buy going ahead?
Are the P-3s going to get Harpoon missiles?
Kiwi dave From New Zealand, joined Aug 2000, 895 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1708 times:
About the P-3's I guess so but I'm not to sure about that.
The hawk would be cool but it lacks the range, maybe the right plane for the job could be the F/A-18E/F if the cost of them wasn't so high.
The C-130J buy may not go ahead as we might upgrade the C-130H's, I know that they are some of the oldest C-130H's in the world.
The Helicopters who knows.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 15, posted (11 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 1704 times:
IMHO the RNZAF should make a bid on some Saab Griffons.
They small defense fighter seems to be the role that the Skyhawks used to have.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
S.P.A.S. From Liechtenstein, joined Mar 2001, 950 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (11 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1680 times:
Hi Dave..
Sad indeed..
We don't get to much news from down under here, so could you breifly tell me why all this happend ? By reading the other replies I got more or less the history..
Thanks and season greatings..
Renato "Ötzi" Salzinger
PS. Just send those nice A-4s to us...maybe the Brazilian Navy is interested (like with the A-4KUs)
Aviatsiya From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (11 years 4 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1677 times:
L-188/Kiwi Dave
Who on earth is doing to attack New Zealand? Maybe some Niueans who are upset about lack of flights to Alofi? Maybe the New Caledonians or Fijians? Fact is, in this day and age New Zealand has no outside threat to the security of the country.
Plus any attack which may be headed for New Zealand would have to pass thru Australia first, which RAAF will take care of. You may even see the RAAF become a sort of rent-an-airforce for New Zealand.
Kiwi dave From New Zealand, joined Aug 2000, 895 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (11 years 4 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1674 times:
S.P.A.S the reason for the combat wing going is that the defence budget was overspent by the last Goverment.
I also agree that any attack made on New Zealand will have to go though Australia, but we should not have to totally relie on the RAAF to provide air cover for New Zealand troops.
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