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Air Force to get new training aircraft

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Air Force to get new training aircraft

3News NZ

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman (file)

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman (file)

The Air Force is looking for new pilot training aircraft.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says a tender is being offered for a new system, including aircraft, a simulator package and a maintenance and support package.

The Air Force currently uses single engine CT-4E trainers and twin turbo-prop King Air B200s for advanced courses.

Dr Coleman says the service life of the CT-4Es is due to end in 2018 and the King Air B200s lease expires in the same year.

"The Air Force's entire operational fleet is being replaced or upgraded, including modern avionics and cockpits," he said today.

"The tools to develop the flying standards of our trainee pilots are also required."

Dr Coleman says the eventual decision on aircraft types will be assessed against price comparisons.

NZN

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Comments

25/12/2012 2:09:32 p.m.

Robert M wrote:

Why not be daring and reegine half a dozen of the Aermacchi 339Ds and return them to service with new avionics for navigation training and target practice to train radar and missile operators and forward army air designators.
I was shocked yesterday to read in Wings in the Auckland library that in 2012 the Luftwaffe and BAE still have six mid 70s ex Israeli airforce Skyhawks in service for Eurofighters and the last of the Phantoms to chase.
The Bill English disgraceful promise not to reintroduce the Aermacchi's would be about the only thing he's delivered on. Presuambly his wife keeps him in line with a Rolling Pin in the inhouse sessions of the NZ kitchen cabinet.

12/12/2012 4:48:51 p.m.

keven wrote:

about time if you ask me .

7/12/2012 3:51:52 p.m.

Grayson wrote:

MIKE i couldnt agree more our military is pathetic it should be more funded as currently our military couldnt stand up against a 3rd world nations military its so underfunded it jsut gets drained constantly and we use equipment we brought back from vietnam

7/12/2012 10:40:24 a.m.

Mike wrote:

We had some good 17 as-new jets basically being given to us, signed up for back in 1998. What happened to them? Well with that was the start of talks to replace our old helicopters which were good back in the 1960's but long in the tooth, and our equally old hercs. Imagine if our army drove around in war zones in 40 year old garbage that any modern rifle can shoot through? Oh wait, thats what Labour sent to Bosnia to be shot at!

Labour decided to reduce our airforce from an under funded sub-par force to a taxi service to fly cargo and the odd politiciain and well connected criminal from justice. Someone using diplomatic immunity to dodge justice, and using our RNZAF to fly home I consider criminal. The country where the crime happened thought so too, as they refused commercial transport through commercial airways for the same person, hence the flight to/from to pick them up by the RNZAF.