To kick off in this forum I thought I might post some images I took when I worked at RNZAF Base Woodbourne where the mothballed fleet of RNZAF A-4K Skyhawks were kept. This thread is based on another I've posted elsewhere, but I thought you all might be interested in what's going to happen to our spent combat force. The fate of these iconic aircraft has now been decided; a number of them are going, or have gone to museums around the country, with the others having been sold to a US based holding company.
For those of you not familiar with the Kiwi air force A-4 debacle, a little background:
In December 2001 the RNZAF took the unprecedented step of disbanding its strike force of A-4s and Aermacchi MB-339CB combat trainers. It was hoped, somewhat ambitiously as it turned out that the fleet of aircraft would be sold abroad. This did not happen and earlier this year it was announced that the aircraft would be passed on to museums, as many in NZ predicted.
The images I am supplying here are of the A-4s in storage indoors and outside, which took place because the hangar they were kept in was required for upgrades to the RNZAF's fleet of C-130 Hercules. Although I never worked on the A-4s I did help with prepping them for storage outside. It was believed that with the ambient humidity of the region where Woodbourne is located is very low (it's the largest wine growing region in NZ), the Skyhawks could be stored outdoors. This decision did not take into account the fact that it rains a lot in Marlborough! Because of this there were corrosion issues with instrumentation and ingress of water into the aircraft panels, despite them being sealed with 100 mph tape, was a problem.
Firstly, the A-4s in their holding pen outside, which was nicknamed Guantanamo Bay:
-Next, some images of the aircraft outside after we had washed them and prepped them for spraying with Spraylat:
Some of a couple of the aircraft kept indoors between major servicing of the air force's heavy aircraft; NZ6205:
NZ6215, which was used as a 'demo' aircraft for prospective buyers:
In the mid 'Eighties under Project Kahu (Hawk) the Kiwi A-4s underwent an extensive upgrade, which included a re-spar and fitting out with modern avionics, APG-66(NZ) radar, HOTAS, a HUD and such like. Cramming all this into the confines of the A-4 is still regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. This is '6215's upgraded cockpit:
Finally, NZ6254:
The following A-4s have been disposed of to museums.
The RNZAF Museum received A-4K NZ6205 and TA-4K NZ6254
Ashburton Aviation Museum has NZ6201
Wanaka Transport Museum is getting NZ6202
Museum of Transport and Technology has NZ6206
New Zealand Warbirds is getting NZ6209
Royal Australian Navy FAA Museum at Nowra are getting either NZ6213 or '6215, both former RAN A-4Gs
Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka has NZ6216
This list is current as of today, but it might change yet. The places where I've listed as "having" their aircraft have already received them.
I hope you have enjoyed this thread.
Cheers
