New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

17 September, 2007

RNZAF Skyhawks to Move from Woodbourne Hangar

The Royal New Zealand Air Force is preparing to move its A-4 Skyhawk aircraft from their Safe Air hangar at Woodbourne.

The hangar is required next year to house the RNZAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft while they undergo a life extension project to extend their operational capability until 2017.

Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott said alterations on the Hangar would begin in November to prepare it for the C-130 fleet upgrade. The Skyhawks will need to be moved for the duration of the hangar work and C-130 fleet upgrade.

“The C-130 Life Extension Project will significantly improve the availability and reliability of the RNZAF C-130 fleet and ensure it continues to comply with evolving air traffic control regulations. As there is limited space in the hangar, the only way to carry out the C-130 life extension is to move the Skyhawks elsewhere.”

An options paper is currently being prepared for Defence Minister Phil Goff outlining alternatives for the storage of the Skyhawk fleet.

The paper, outlining all the possibilities and their respective costs, will be presented to Mr Goff this week.

ENDS

CORRECTIONS TO RECENT MEDIA REPORTS:

- A number of options are being explored for the future storage of the Skyhawk fleet.

- The movement of the Skyhawk fleet from the Safe Air hangar is no indication of the current sale status of the aircraft.

- The $130,000 monthly cost of maintaining the combat force fleet includes the cost of maintaining the Aermacchi fleet based at RNZAF Base Ohakea. The maintenance of the Skyhawk fleet only accounts for a small percentage of this monthly cost.

© Scoop Media