Final Farewell Tour
The final farewell tour aimed to overfly as much of New Zealand as possible in the short time-frame available until the retirement of the aircraft. High on the list to visit were the current air force bases where an aerobatic display was performed.
|
|
The flypasts were scheduled as follows:
Morning North Island Tour
Take off Ohakea
Waiouru Napier Taupo New Plymouth Auckland Whenuapai Hamilton Wanganui Land Ohakea |
9.20am
9.30am(display) 9.40am 9.45am 10.05am 10.11am (via Ardmore) 10.15am (display) 10.37am 10.59am 11.06am |
As detailed above the North Island Leg of the tour involved a six-ship formation overflying Waiouru, Napier, Ardmore, Auckland, Whenuapai, Hamilton and Wanganui, with a seventh aircraft as a photo ship to record the event. On the day aircraft faults and the weather intervened resulting in slight alterations to the planned flight.
Red 2, one of the tanker aircraft went unserviceable on start up, this meant Red 6 was unable to fly over Napier as he required fuel from Red 2. An ARC-182 failure forced Red 1 to handover the lead to Red 3 for the display at Whenuapai and Red 3 retained this position for the remainder of the flight.
Bad weather over Ohakea forced Red 6, Squadron Leader Easthope, having performed at Whenuapai what was described by many as the best A-4 handling display anyone had seen, to detach early leaving a formation of four aircraft to overfly Wanganui.
Red 2, one of the tanker aircraft went unserviceable on start up, this meant Red 6 was unable to fly over Napier as he required fuel from Red 2. An ARC-182 failure forced Red 1 to handover the lead to Red 3 for the display at Whenuapai and Red 3 retained this position for the remainder of the flight.
Bad weather over Ohakea forced Red 6, Squadron Leader Easthope, having performed at Whenuapai what was described by many as the best A-4 handling display anyone had seen, to detach early leaving a formation of four aircraft to overfly Wanganui.
Afternoon South Island Tour
Take off Ohakea
Nelson Napier Hastings Christchurch Woodbourne Masterton Wellington Trentham Paraparaumu Land Ohakea |
1.33pm
1.53pm 2.10pm 2.12pm 2.17pm 2.39pm (display) 2.40pm 3.00pm 3.05pm 3.09pm 3.19pm (display) |
|
|
The weather was to play a more significant part in the afternoon sortie. Flypasts were successfully flown over Nelson and Christchurch with a short display over Base Woodbourne. Squadron Leader Easthope once again demonstrating his superb handling skills during the solo demonstration. At this point the weather was to intervene and the flypasts of Wellington, Trentham and Paraparaumu that were planned to have been flown accompanied by four Aermacchi MB339CB's of No 14 Squadron, were cancelled.
Final Display and Retirement Ohakea 13 December 2001
|
|
Under grey somber skies the final operational Skyhawk flight departed Ohakea on December 13th, accompanied by 4 Aermacchics of 14 Squadron the 6 A-4K's transited south to Wellington to bid farewell to the Capital. Following a loop of the harbour and city the aircraft returned to present to the large crowd gathered to mark the occasion at Ohakea their final formation display, with the whole routine being top off by Squadron Leader Easthope's solo demonstration. A demonstration so lively the leading edge slats popped.
12:35 the aircraft made their final landing.
The flying was followed by the final formal disbandment parade and laying to rest of the Squadron Colours.
12:35 the aircraft made their final landing.
The flying was followed by the final formal disbandment parade and laying to rest of the Squadron Colours.
Flown to Retirement
A few days later the majority of the aircraft were flown south to storage at Woodbourne.
Monday 17th December
NZ 6202 Wing Commander Osbourne
NZ 6201 Flying Officer Logue
NZ 6209 FLTLT Keith
NZ 6255 piloted by FLTLT Barnes acted as ferry aircraft.
Tuesday 18th December
NZ 6216 Wing Commander Osbourne*
NZ 6213 FLTLT Barnes*
* Both these aircraft overflew Wanganui prior to transiting to Woodbourne.
Remaining at Ohakea were NZ 6205, 6206, 6217, 6252 and 6254. NZ 6206 was in a poor state of repair suffering airframe corrosion and cannibalisation over the later months of the A-4's career. The aircraft was eventually repaired for a careful flight to join the other aircraft in storage Woodbourne on 12 December 2002.
Monday 17th December
NZ 6202 Wing Commander Osbourne
NZ 6201 Flying Officer Logue
NZ 6209 FLTLT Keith
NZ 6255 piloted by FLTLT Barnes acted as ferry aircraft.
Tuesday 18th December
NZ 6216 Wing Commander Osbourne*
NZ 6213 FLTLT Barnes*
* Both these aircraft overflew Wanganui prior to transiting to Woodbourne.
Remaining at Ohakea were NZ 6205, 6206, 6217, 6252 and 6254. NZ 6206 was in a poor state of repair suffering airframe corrosion and cannibalisation over the later months of the A-4's career. The aircraft was eventually repaired for a careful flight to join the other aircraft in storage Woodbourne on 12 December 2002.