Skyhawks
- 13:00 Skyhawks: An Introduction
What they were like to fly, Project Kahu and the success of the upgrade, inflight refuelling - and how they almost lost the whole fleet before they even arrived. (9′34″)
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- 13:10 Skyhawks: The Crazy Things They Did
The highest bagpipes performance accolade, Henry Bear Fanshaw and why he was stolen, nicknames - and novel showering techniques in Malaysia. (9′51″)
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- 13:20 Skyhawks: The Best And The Worst
Recalling the drama of a pilot ejecting before his plane crashed into a farm - and the only time a Skyhawk fired its guns in anger. (10′00″)
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- 13:30 Skyhawks: Why They Were Great
The pilots talk about international deployments and the reputation they earned for punching far above their weight. (9′59″)
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- 13:40 Skyhawks - long version part 1
Part one looks back on the 40 year history of the New Zealand Air Force's Skyhawks. Amelia Nurse met with a number of former 75 Squadron personnel all over the country for their insight into what it was like to be part of the Skyhawk chapter of NZ's military history. (22′35″)
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- 13:50 Skyhawks - longer version part 2
Part two looks back on the 40 year history of the New Zealand Air Force's Skyhawks. Amelia Nurse talks with former 75 Squadron personnel about the unique culture and their reputation internationally. (24′53″)
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Information
New Zealand’s strike wing was disbanded ten years ago. Since then the Skyhawks have been awaiting their fate – a fate that’s finally been settled.
To mark their final retirement, Amelia Nurse spent some time with former Air Force personnel from No 75 Squadron.
View a gallery of images.
Special thanks to Don Simms for providing the archival material contained in the programmes and the photos in the gallery. He is co-author of SKYHAWKS: The History of the RNZAF Skyhawk.
Interviewee Ross Ewing has also written a book, Topped Gun - Requiem for the Skyhawk.
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