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The A4 Skyhawk has long been the premier aircraft of the Royal New Zealand
Air Force. Not only does New Zealand not have any fighter aircraft
at all, the Skyhawk is the only ground attack plane in the force.
The A4 first flew in 1954 and although it's sub-sonic, it remains a capable
aircraft. You can see photos of a Skyhawk
solo display, the Skyhawk
team display and the Skyhawk
team's special tricks.
See the P3 Orion submarine hunter, the Andover transport and some hair-raising
low-level C130 Hercules maneuvers.
The New Zealand Air Force is a pipsqueak by world standards.
The year 2000 was supposed see it extend its capabilities, when we anticipated
delivery of a squadron of F16 Fighting Falcons. Originally intended
for Pakistan, they were withdrawn from sale when Pakistan did something
naughty (the details escape me). They were then offered to
Indonesia, whose economic train had the misfortune to derail in 1998.
Enter New Zealand, once again apparently going to pick up some classy military
equipment at bargain basement prices. However, a newly elected
Labour government cancelled the deal, then went further and ordered the
shutdown of the two Skyhawk squadrons. As a sop to the opposition
party's defense concerns, Labour then arranged for the Orions to be fitted
with sidewinder missiles to give them an air-to-air attack or defense capability! |
