Skyhawks sale approved

Shane Cowlishaw at reports:

The 's fleet of Skyhawks have been collecting dust since they were grounded more than 10 years ago.

It was announced in November that States company JDI Holdings had signed a bargain deal worth $7.9 million for the eight remaining aircraft that have not already been given to museums.

But the deal, including spare parts and engines, relied on approval from the US State Department. A previous deal with US aviation training provider Tactical Air Services fell through late in 2010 because of a delay in similar approval.

Draken , an operating arm of JDI Holdings, confirmed it had received approval to buy not only the Skyhawks but also nine of New Zealand's Aermacchi jet training aircraft.

$8 million is better than nothing. But what have they cost to store?

Figures provided under the Official Information Act show the air combat force has cost the New Zealand Force $37.4m to maintain and operate since it was disbanded in 2001.

Money down the drain.

I'm still quite angry over the killing off of the combat wing – mainly because there was no election mandate for it, and it is one of those changes when once made, is almost impossible to reverse.

 

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