
The Corsair Was An Awesome Low Level Ground Attack Fighter
These 1960's aircraft could cover the distance from UK to eastern Siberia
The Royal New Zealand Air Force operated a force of over 20 McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawks over a period of 31 years from 1970 through to 2001. During this period the aircraft of No. 75 Sqn would often need to travel significant distances due to various deployment requirements, and as such the unit sometimes employed a 'buddy store' system which would enable an A-4 equipped with a centre line fuel tank to refuel other A-4s air-to-air.
Former Royal New Zealand Air Force A-4K Skyhawk NZ6201 is now based at the Classic Flyers Museum in Tauranga, New Zealand. Other former RNZAf Skyhawks can be found in other museums in Australia and New Zealand. Photo: © Historical Aviation Film Unit
Shot sometime around 1992, this inflight video of two RNZAF A-4K Skyhawks illustrates how the aircraft could be refueled in the air from their 'buddy store' via a hose and drogue. Former Wing Commander and Commanding Officer of 75 Sqn, John Lanham, describes how the squadron would often use in-flight refuelling to travel vast distances.
The hopes of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's strike wing was once again dashed in 2000. Initially the National (Party) Government under Prime Minister Jenny Shipley had indicated the Skyhawks would be replaced by 28 F-16 Falcons. However after the Labour Government was elected to power in 1998, Prime Minister Helen Clarke (controversially) announced that the Air Force's Strike Wing would be permanently disbanded, and this finally occured on 13 December 2001.
In 2011 eight former RNZAF A-4K and TA-4K Skyhawks were sold to Draken International in the USA. These aircraft are preserved in their RNZAF colour schemes and are used as an adversary squadron against USAF and US Navy fighter aircraft. Most of the other ex-RNZAF Skyhawks have been gifted to various aviation museums in New Zealand and Australia.Share This Story :
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