New Zealand to sell A-4's

http://3news.co.nz/Skyhawkssalegetsa...7/Default.aspx

Skyhawks sale gets a step closer
Wed, 13 Aug 2008 5:16p.m.

The Air Force's white elephants, the A4 Skyhawks, are one step closer to
finally being sold, seven years after they were grounded.

Defence Minister Phil Goff has confirmed to 3 News the US government has
given him an assurance to fast track a possible sale, which could come
in the next two months.

Since being grounded in 2001 the A4 Skyhawks have proved to be more a
nightmare for the Air Force than the pride they once were, costing
$300,000 a month to maintain.

The Government has tried to sell them for nine years, only to be blocked
every time by the US State Department. But Defence Minister Phil Goff
says they are now wanting to help.

“I have now had an assurance from the Department of Defence and the
Department of State that once the tender has been issued, to one of the
two bidders for our planes, they will fast track the process,” says Goff.

Goff has confirmed to 3 News the sale price is US$110 million dollars
for the 17 Skyhawk jets and a fleet of training Aermacchis.

A contract has yet to be awarded by the US, but Goff is confident that
should be in the next two months, and a cheque written finally by the
end of the year.

“I'll only breathe a sigh of relief when I receive the cheque but so far
the assurance given to me by the American government is very welcome,”
says Goff.

The assurance came from a high level US official who visited Wellington
last week, and it comes less than a month after the visit of Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice.

The Skyhawks have been sitting outside at the Woodbourne Airbase for
almost a year, covered by a hundred thousand dollar latex coating that
ACT MP Heather Roy says is failing.

“Water is seeping in between the layers of the latex. It's pooling the
so called maintenance is somebody going around after rain with a pin or
sharp object piercing the latex covering so that the water drains out
and that’s it,” Roy says.
Safe Air, the company that maintains the Skyhawks, would not comment
today. The Air Force though says the weather damage was expected but
that the important parts of the aircraft are well kept. The Government
says their current condition should not hinder any possible future sale.