Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:48 pmhttp://www.3news.co.nz/News/Associate-Defe...ArticleID=88024
The MP who once said the Air Force's decommissioned fighter jets were in poor condition and unlikely to be sold has had a change of heart.
ACT Deputy Leader Heather Roy made those comments while in opposition. But now, as part of government, she says the planes are in good nick.
Associate Defence Minister Heather Roy was always the first to criticise the former government over the Air Force's parked-up A4 Skyhawks. Last year she said the latex covers which protected them had failed - causing corrosion and that the avionics may even be affected. But now that she is in government she is seeing things a little differently.
Roy said “Looking inside they've pointed out where the corrosion is and I have to say you have to look pretty hard to find it. So it’s encouraging and it seems that the latex has been doing it's job.â€
The Skyhawks have been out of operation since 2002 following the then Labour government's decision to do away with the aging fighter-bomber fleet.
They can't be sold without the permission of the United States from where they were originally purchased and that has proved a difficult process.
But last year Labour said negotiations were under way with a possible buyer - believed to be a US-based air training school - which would buy both the 17 Skyhawks and 17 Aermacchi training jets - for $110 million.
While in opposition Heather Roy said that sale would never happen. But now she says negotiations are continuing and that another buyer is also interested.
Roy said “The optimal outcome for NZ is that a sale would proceed and proceed very quickly. If that's not going to happen we need to look at a plan B.â€
Plan B is that the Skyhawks are sold to collectors for far less than $110 million.
In any case, Roy hopes to have them sold by the end of the year.
The MP who once said the Air Force's decommissioned fighter jets were in poor condition and unlikely to be sold has had a change of heart.
ACT Deputy Leader Heather Roy made those comments while in opposition. But now, as part of government, she says the planes are in good nick.
Associate Defence Minister Heather Roy was always the first to criticise the former government over the Air Force's parked-up A4 Skyhawks. Last year she said the latex covers which protected them had failed - causing corrosion and that the avionics may even be affected. But now that she is in government she is seeing things a little differently.
Roy said “Looking inside they've pointed out where the corrosion is and I have to say you have to look pretty hard to find it. So it’s encouraging and it seems that the latex has been doing it's job.â€
The Skyhawks have been out of operation since 2002 following the then Labour government's decision to do away with the aging fighter-bomber fleet.
They can't be sold without the permission of the United States from where they were originally purchased and that has proved a difficult process.
But last year Labour said negotiations were under way with a possible buyer - believed to be a US-based air training school - which would buy both the 17 Skyhawks and 17 Aermacchi training jets - for $110 million.
While in opposition Heather Roy said that sale would never happen. But now she says negotiations are continuing and that another buyer is also interested.
Roy said “The optimal outcome for NZ is that a sale would proceed and proceed very quickly. If that's not going to happen we need to look at a plan B.â€
Plan B is that the Skyhawks are sold to collectors for far less than $110 million.
In any case, Roy hopes to have them sold by the end of the year.
... But of cause our Navy Ships are ready to go in chase of any aircraft that feels like it wants to fly at a building.
BRING IT ON ! .... 
