Hi,
As per requests from forum member A4K in far away Hungary, this thread contains images of Royal New Zealand Air Force A-4K and TA-4K Skyhawks I took while based at RNZAF Base Woodbourne. 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. Those not going to museums are due to be scrapped.
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. 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.
First, a walk around of NZ6215.
Next, three of the aircraft outside the day after we had spent a weekend taping them up ready to be sprayed with Spraylat.
In the early 1990s, the RNZAF Skyhawks were modified with modern avionics, including APG-66(NZ) radar, a sophisticated nav attack system and HOTAS. How they managed to fit all the equipment into the confines of the nose of the A-4 is one of the Eight Wonders of the Modern World. Two of the instrument panel after the Kahu (Hawk) upgrade.
The barbed wire compound where the A-4s were contained was jokingly referred to by personnel I worked with as "Guantanamo Bay".
...and finally, one of my favourite aircraft I've worked on.
As per requests from forum member A4K in far away Hungary, this thread contains images of Royal New Zealand Air Force A-4K and TA-4K Skyhawks I took while based at RNZAF Base Woodbourne. 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. Those not going to museums are due to be scrapped.
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. 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.
First, a walk around of NZ6215.
Next, three of the aircraft outside the day after we had spent a weekend taping them up ready to be sprayed with Spraylat.
In the early 1990s, the RNZAF Skyhawks were modified with modern avionics, including APG-66(NZ) radar, a sophisticated nav attack system and HOTAS. How they managed to fit all the equipment into the confines of the nose of the A-4 is one of the Eight Wonders of the Modern World. Two of the instrument panel after the Kahu (Hawk) upgrade.
The barbed wire compound where the A-4s were contained was jokingly referred to by personnel I worked with as "Guantanamo Bay".
...and finally, one of my favourite aircraft I've worked on.
for both of you. 
