Rabie
February 21, 2002 at 10:01 pm

RNZAF is back

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oi kiwis you have an AF

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Navy under attack by planes from past

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2002%2F02%2F19…

By Paul Chapman in Wellington
(Filed: 19/02/2002)

THE Royal New Zealand Navy has called historic aircraft up to 45 years old and flown by civilians to play the enemy in war games after the country’s air force fighter wing was scrapped last year, it was disclosed yesterday.

The frigates Canterbury and Te Kaha carried out training exercises last week in the Bay of Plenty, off the north coast of North Island, engaging three aircraft owned by members of the Warbirds Association, who restore and preserve classic aircraft.

The aircraft – a Hawker Hunter which first flew with the Singapore air force in 1957, a Fouga Magister which entered service with the French military in 1960, and a Cessna A37B built in 1972 and used during the Vietnam War – took the role of enemy aircraft in mock attacks on the two warships.

A Learjet is also expected to be used in exercises this week. The air force’s Skyhawk fighters and Aermacchi jet trainers were scrapped by the Labour-led government in a defence review last year.

Warbirds members, who count a Spitfire among their fleet, include several retired RAF pilots. They stage an annual air show featuring flypasts of classic aircraft.

Gavin Tretheway, the group’s chief flying instructor, said the navy paid for the aircraft time but not the pilots’, although some were understood to have taken time off work.

“We make the moves towards the ships and they try to control the situation and defend themselves,” said Mr Tretheway, who flew the French-built Magister.

Commander Tony Parr, defence force operations and training officer, said the navy was “coping” with having to use civilian aircraft.

“We have done quite well in dealing with a situation which has been difficult,” he said. “It is a bit early to tell how successful it is. An aircraft is an aircraft. It is just a question of performance and availability.”