R.N.Z.A.F. buys new jet trainer in U.K.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32458, 19 November 1970, Page 3

R.N.Z.A.F. buys new jet trainer in U.K.

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 18. A $7.5m purchase of British Strikemaster jet training aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force was announced today by the Minister of Defence (Mr Thomson).

“Ten British B.A.C. 167 Strikemaster aircraft will be bought as jet trainers for the R.N.Z.A.F.,” Mr Thomson said in a statement. The $7.5m will cover not only the purchase but also spares and equipment, training conversion and freight charges. While the Cabinet had approved an initial order of ten aircraft, further examination or pilot-training needs and long-term cost implications would determine the final number to be bought, said the Minister. “Introduction of this rugged and adaptable new aircraft will meet the inescapable need for an adequate fleet of jet-training aircraft, to give pilots full experience on modern equipment before they.go on to fly the various aircraft now in service with

press ' conference with the Chief of the Air Staff (Air Vice-Marshall W. H. Stratton) also present, said that the Strikemaster fulfilled airforce requirements better than Australia’s Macchi jet trainer. The cost-comparison between the two aircraft favoured the Strikemaster. A life of about 15 years is expected from the new aircraft. Mr Thomson described the credit terms for the purchase of the jets as “very satisfactory.” He said, however, that any additional jets purchased

i would be more expensive in ' terms of credit than the original ten, since the order had been placed with B.A.C. on the final day of an offer of special terms. An N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent in Sydney has seen New Zealand’s decision to equip its air force with British rather than Australian jet trainers as a bitter pill for the Australians to swallow. However, the choice was hardly unexpected, he said. As late as July Australia was still making determined efforts to sell the Macchi across the Tasman—by sending it as a trade exhibit and

flying it for the R.N.Z.A.F. Australian defence officials have known, however, for some time that the Macchi would not be bought by Niw Zealand. •' The sale of the Macchi was seen as the, first major test of last year’s agreement between the two countries on co-operation in defence supply equipment and on standardisation of such equipment. Had New Zealand bought the Macchi she would perhaps have been in a much stronger position when trying to sell defence equipment to Australia.

the R.N.Z.A.F.,” said Mr Thomson. “The Strikemaster comes from a proven stable of Royal Air Force training aircraft, and offers a long in-service life,” he said. It met the high R.N.Z.A.F. technical demands and was flexible, for use as a basic pilot-trainer and for operational conversion to Skyhawk strike aircraft. Initial delivery is expected in 1972—a critical date in the life of the present Vampire training aircraft.

OPTION TAKEN I The possibility that the Government will buy between two and four more jettrainers—in addition to the ten on order—was held open I by Mr Thomson. He told a press conference that the air force was examining long-term training-air-craft needs, and said that the Government had taken an option with the British Aircraft Corporation for the possible purchase of additional Strikemaster trainers. He was also conscious of the desire of Government to hold defence expenditure, he said. Mr Thomson, who held a