Skyhawk - Final Air Displays for RNZAF in New Zealand

[Robbybobbybob]

Apparently they were supposed to be replaced by F-16's but the Govt. scrapped that too...

[nzww2buff]

What a woeful decision by the then Govt. Thanks Auntie Helen. Dump the Strike Wing on budgetary grounds while over the course of her tenure, growing the 'Nany State' Public Service sector by 100%.

[heatherunderwoodcmc]

@nzww2buff

True. But think of how many dollars NZ has saved.

[wkwhite74]

What a wast the KAHU Hawk was a sheep in wolfs clothing, Onboard war cmputers of an F-16 the NZ Gov't fracked up.

[huiarama]

This is a DISGRACE. NZ should never have lost its air combat capability. There was language that we could not afford a combat wing & the assessment was loosely based on a Defence White paper from 1997 & Beyond 2000. The select committee assessed that it was not necessary. However, if you look who were on the select committee you can she the Defence Review was based on political ideology. The NZ Defence assessment was based on a security assessment of 3 years. The standard assessment is 20-30 yrs

[huiarama]

The rhetoric language at the time, used cost as the reason, a point to note the GDP on Defence was (approx) 0.8%. NZ Defence traditionally offsets cost of acquisition of equipment by staggering the purchase or be successful negotiations. Investment in our Defence declined over time to the point where equipment was run down & not replaced which placed risk to our ppl & opted overseas. The reason for our current upgrade was the international climate made the 5th Labour govt invest

[huiarama]

in replacing equipment, not re-invest as they would make you believe. The bottom line is defence has always been a low priority until casualties happen. Successive govts reflect an ideological view from the 1970s from the rise of social movements, that focus on individualism. To quote a strategic studies specialist Lance Beathe, A combat force is the integrated element of our Navy & Army. A reader mentioned the Swedish Gripen as an alternative & I would agree.

[huiarama]

For reader reference, I would suggest: David McCraw's 'NZ Defence: A triumph for Ideology' & Lance Beathe's 'Why we need another Defence White Paper'....

- Finally, despite what ppl may feel we need to remember that our service ppl represent NZers overseas, our views & interests as a sovereign state in a turbulent international environment.

[Trouttaranaki]

Great investment NZ gov, thanks for making a total hash of the sky hawk.

[ThereOnceWasAnIdoit]

I see these in storage every time me and my dad go to base to swim

[ginjaninja1988]

An excellent replacement for these would be the Swedish Saab made JAS 39 Gripen NG. It has good combat range, out maneuvers even the Eurofighter and Rafale, has a huge combat payload, is mutlirole, net centric with advanced data systems and sensors, super cruise and has been 100% reliable so far with no engine failures. They are extremely cheap, have plenty of upgrade potential for long service life and can operate from forests and country roads instead of being tied to an vunerable airbase.

[AirflowNZ]

I visited Blenheim in August, 2011, and have two photos of the RNZAF Skyhawk aircraft in storage ready for disposal. View on Flickr - AirflowNZ ( If you can not find just use key words)

[saltydog45]

So miss that sound .We would be working on the ship in refit in the naval base and they would open the throttle right up over the harbour

[zimmermann10]

Much better than Italian AMX!

[nzravensfan]

Who was the pilot for this display?

[Antifaith29]

A real shame, still i guess NZ's loss is Australias gain. We have all your jet pilots now.

[DarthFanta]

@Antifaith29 Actually, no. That means our boys have less chances of becoming pilots now and we have to spend MORE to protect both ourselves and New Zealand, since the NZ gov has effectively shoved their defence obligations to us now via the ANZUS treaty. It was cunning for the Americans to withdraw their guarantee to the NZ, perhaps we should do the same as well.

[AirflowNZ]

Hi - The Air Show was held at RNZAF Base Whenuapai on March 17, 2001. The Final Flyover at Mystery Creek, Hamilton June 13, 2001 and the Final Visit to New Zealand Cities was on December 11, 2001. Thanks for your enquiry, Airflow.

[foshizz87]

when was this flight