Skyhawks and Macchis Sold

[Martin Edwards]

It looks like the remaining Skyhawks and Macchis have been sold to Draken International

see http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board...ad=1605&page=58


That is one hell of a private airforce Draken possess!

[Luig]

List of ex-A4Gs / ex-A-4K Kahus - the survivors - gone to DRAKEN below:

Bu.No. then NZ then RAN numbers
154904 ex NZ6212 = ex RAN 883
154905 ex NZ6213 = ex RAN 884
154908 ex NZ6214 = ex RAN 887
155052 ex NZ6215 = ex RAN 871
155063 ex NZ6217 = ex RAN 876
155069 ex NZ6218 = ex RAN 877
______________________________

155061 ex NZ6216 = ex RAN 874 is now the only ex RAN Skyhawk in a New Zealand museum at Omaka.
_______________________________

154911 ex NZ6255 = ex RAN TA4G 880 is at FAAM Nowra.

[Dave Masterson]

Luig

Its amazing that after all the flying the A4's have done in their service life...that they will continue to fly. They would have clocked a few hours up now. :o

[Luig]

Don Simms from RNZAF A-4K book fame was suggesting that the original Kiwi Skyhawks racked up some 8,000 hours approx. each while the RAN A4Gs had something like 5,000 hours (depending on whether they were new or second hand of course). I'm not privy to all the exact details on the hours but it worked out nicely that most of the original Kiwi aircraft stayed in museums in NZed while ours have another life.

Here are the new USA Civvie numbers:

List of ex-A4Gs / ex-A-4K Kahus —
Survivors – gone to DRAKEN below:

Bu.No. then RNZAF RAN numbers = DRAKEN

154904 ex NZ6212 = ex RAN A4G 883 = N142EM
154905 ex NZ6213 = ex RAN A4G 884 = N143EM
154908 ex NZ6214 = ex RAN A4G 887 = N144EM
155052 ex NZ6215 = ex RAN A4G 871 = N145EM
155063 ex NZ6217 = ex RAN A4G 876 = N146EM
155069 ex NZ6218 = ex RAN A4G 877 = N147EM
______________________________

155061 ex NZ6216 = ex RAN A4G 874 at Omaka Museum
_______________________________

154911 ex NZ6255 = ex RAN TA4G 880 FAAM Nowra

[Luig]

First flight one of the original TA-4K Kahus ex RNZAF NZ6252 took place on 05 April 2013. I believe the ex-RNZAF Macchi 339Cs had flown already.

Attached Image

[Luig]

ex NZ6252

Attached Image

[Luig]

ex RNZAF NZ6252

Attached Image

[Brendan Cowan]

Amazing,

Having beeen in storage for so long it is a minor miracle that these aircraft are returning to the air!

BC

[Luig]

New life for RNZAF jets 09 Apr 2013 SHANE COWLISHAW

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/...-for-RNZAF-jets

“After a decade collecting dust, New Zealand’s mothballed combat wing has taken to the skies again – in the United States.

The air force’s fleet of Skyhawks spent more than 10 years grounded after being decommissioned.

Last year eight were donated to museums across the country, and one was sent to a museum in Australia.

The remaining eight were snapped up US company Draken International for $7.9 million, including spare parts and engines.

Draken also bought nine of New Zealand’s Aermacchi jet training aircraft, which were decommissioned in 2001 but were flown regularly to keep them operational.

A team of New Zealand experts has been working alongside Draken staff at their Florida base to prepare the aircraft for flight.

Three of them – one Skyhawk and two Aermacchis – will take part in their first official fly-by during the Sun ’n Fun Airshow at Lakeland, Florida, at an event called the Royal New Zealand Air Force Heritage Day on Thursday.

The guest of honour for the event will be Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott, who is currently acting as defence attache at the New Zealand embassy in Washington.

Retired Air Commodore James Barclay and Wing Commander Barry Nelson will also attend as guest speakers.

Draken chief executive Jared Isaacman, one of the few civilian-trained pilots in the US authorised to fly Skyhawks, said the first Skyhawk had its first test flight only three days ago, while the two Aermacchis flew for the first time about two weeks ago.

When the Skyhawk took to the air, there were tears in the eyes of some of the New Zealand staff, and Mr Isaacman admitted it was a bittersweet moment for many.

‘‘Most of them probably wish the airplanes were still flying in New Zealand, and I don’t blame them, but the next best thing in their mind is that they’re flying again.’’

About 200 guests had been invited to the RNZAF celebrations, and the greater airshow would attract about 100,000 people.

After this week’s celebration it was planned to have another Skyhawk and Aermacchi operational each month, and they were likely to be used for combat simulation with the US Air Force and its allies, he said.

Since New Zealand’s air combat force was disbanded in 2001, it has cost $37.4m to maintain and operate.”

This post has been edited by Luig on Apr 10 2013, 05:57 PM

Attached Image

[Rod Farquhar]

That's a great testament to the Scooter's durability.
Rod

[Brendan Cowan]

Absolutlely!

You can find some more great shots of the ex Kiwi A-4K's and MB-339CB's at http://www.flickr.com/photos/fujiboy/86374...in/photostream/

Now, any know the serial tie ups to the their US civil registrations now that Draken have them?

Cheers

BC

[Martin Edwards]

Two TA-4K twin seaters

N140EM
Manufacturer:DOUGLAS
Model:TA-4K
Serial:157914
NZ6251

N141EM
Manufacturer:DOUGLAS
Model:TA-4K
Serial:157915
NZ6252

The following are all ex-RAN A-4G single seaters (Just add N13- to serials below)

N142EM
Manufacturer:DOUGLAS
Model:A-4K
Serial:154904
NZ6212

N143EM
Manufacturer:DOUGLAS
Model:A-4K
Serial:154905
NZ6213

N144EM
Manufacturer:DOUGLAS
Model:A-4K
Serial:154908
NZ6214

N145EM
Manufacturer:DOUGLAS
Model:A-4K
Serial:155052
NZ6215

N146EM
Manufacturer:DOUGLAS
Model:A-4K
Serial:155063
NZ6217

N147EM
Manufacturer:DOUGLAS
Model:A-4K
Serial:155069
NZ6218


Would one of our KIWI brethren like to update the NZ Skyhawk page?