A-4K Skyhawk: Project Kahu Begins (1987)

*** Video courtesy of & copyright owned by TVNZ ***
Broadcast: (New Zealand): November, 1987.

A "Today Tonight" report on the start of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's A-4K Skyhawk upgrade.

[crankhandle]

As outdated as the rnzaf's A4 were, it produced some of the best pilots and mechanics worldwide.

[curtist]

Did that news reporter just say “shitload” on tv? 😂

[pedrorodriguescoradini]

It is similar to the project of the Brazilian Air Force in the modernization of the F5 Tiger ll of the FAB (Brazilian Air Force) that transformed third-generation fighters into fourth-generation fighters

[thomassmartin]

Ya, I heard him too, he said shitload . That's OK, they are spending a shitload ! Keep those Skyhawks flying

[thegen]

New Zealand should look at the recent T-50/FA-50 (KAI/Lockheed Martin project) combination which serves a dual purpose as an interim advanced fighter trainer and a light fighter/attack aircraft.

(South Korea has recently put into service their first FA-50 squadron of these with Israeli avionics and armed with M61 Vulcan cannon + AIM9X Sidewinders).

Their current combat air wing runs with F-15SK, F-4E and FA-50.

[snapdragon]

All the work done, fighter pilots that beat the latest f16 pilots at top gun with near perfect sortie missions against us pilots. All wasted when Prime Minister Helen Clark in 1997 disbanded those squadrons, also canning their F16 replacements we ordered.

[yellowhammer]

THE SIMPLE DESIGN MAKES THIS POSSIBLE.

[wellingtonian]

Singapore wanted to base an air force squadron in Ohakea a few years ago. I don't know why they couldn't. It might have been something to do with local residents opposing the noise levels.

[TheDustysix]

USMC AirWing 77-81. The Skyhawk was reliable tough aircraft.

[gragrn]

Some of those A-4's are still flying today for Draken International as aggressors against the USAF. So much for them being clapped out Skyhawk's Helen!

[nickthx]

Nz ingenuity at its best! Forging on despite politics.

[hismajestyericcartmanthese]

New Zealand should bring back it's fighter jets.

[TheFunkhouser]

And in the end we just snowballed them all pfftt 😢😢

[tropa]

the Brazilian navy operates the remnants of Kuwait

[richardcordell]

shouldnt helen clark be charged with treason

[andrewgraham]

Which you brought from Australia for a steel.

[yellowhammer]

NOTHING LIKE TELLING YOUR ENEMIES WHAT YOUR AIRCRAFT ARE CAPABLE OF ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

[flyinghigh]

I was in RNZAF in Auckland when the Skyhawks where towed from the ship they arrived in to Whenuapai Air Base I saw them being towed a long the northern motorway a site to be seen. The pilots were like kids with new toys I think most of them had been to the USA to be trained but the Skyhawks where great to see them flying one day saw one take off and went straight up. Few years later I was at the bombing range and we where standing on a hill and one when passed, the pilot waved great fun

[yalmazalpha]

Salam and Respect from Pakistan. Had NZAF purchased those "embargoed" Pakistani F16s then PAF couldn't get the rage of spark it needed to co-produce JF-17 and spend that "wanabe" cash which it could got from the sale of those F16s on purchasing Mirage 2000s.

So, thanks you New Zealand.

[andrewgraham]

With their retirement there NZ now has no fighter aircraft.