End of an Era

THE A-4 ALLEY

The End of an Era

New Zealand's Air Combat Force.

RIP 15 December 2001

The Labor government disbanded the Air Combat force on 15 December 2001.

	The RNZAF (and New Zealand) will no longer have a combat capability or the means to launch unilateral offensive action.
	New Zealand has lost it's capability to it's protect shipping and exports from air, surface and sub surface threats.
	New Zealand depends on trade, through many waterways which are potential trouble spots for it's well being.
	One of the best sellers in the defence business are extremely capable conventional powered Submarines.
	New Zealand loses the capability to provide air cover for it's own forces on the ground. Sure we may have Allies that will help out but what if they won't, can't, are too busy with their own troops.

The Last Flight of a RNZAF A-4K Skyhawk
30 July 2004

NZ6205 departs RNZAF Base Ohakea for the final time, heading to a likely meeting with the scrap merchant.

Let's hope some common sense prevails from the NZDF and NZ government (unlikely I know) so that some of these aircraft can be preserved in museum's both in New Zealand and Australia.

I cannot see the scrap value of these aircraft being very high Surely the preservation of a piece or three of New Zealand and Australian aviation history has some value????

Videos and Pictures courtesy Don Simms.

Title	Size
Macchi and A-4 flypast.zip	2008 KB
Farewell my friend.zip	1840KB

Final Days at HMAS Albatross

The Aero's

These shots were taken during the last days of RNZAF A-4 operations at HMAS Albatross
The days leading up to the departure of No 2 Squadron where pretty gloomy both the weather and the event.
Mind you the piss up was good. ;-)

These were taken on the 6th December 2001, Squadron Leader Jason Easthope practicing his display