Alternative buys for New Zealand

[KiwiZac]

This is a fascinating thread, I love it!

I actually did a few of the builds mentioned, without ever having seen the thread:




And now I'm inspired and need some more...

[Weaver]

Nicely done Zac!

[PR19_Kit]

The Gnat looks really good in NZ colours. 

[Dizzyfugu]

The Gnat looks really good in NZ colours. 

Second that. Maybe they bought some beefed-up Ajeets from India?
Reminds me that I have a RNZAF A-7 on the to-do list... 

[Weaver]

The Gnat looks really good in NZ colours. 

Indeed, and now the Special Hobby F.1 is out you could make a very nice pair.

[DarrenP2]

In the 80's I'd liked to have seen either the Leanders replaced with Type 21's or Type 22/III Frigates the inshore patrol fleet getting Peacock class patrol vessels and Castle class or Irish eithne class opv's

[KiwiZac]

Reminds me that I have a RNZAF A-7 on the to-do list...  

And I've got a Hasegawa 1/72 one waiting for paint, decals and a good idea...

And I've got a Hasegawa 1/72 Jaguar...and read several different ideas about RNZAF ones....

[KiwiZac]

Then the Shorts Sunderlands being replaced with Avro Shackleton MR2 or MR3

It seems this may actually have some basis in reality. There's a lot of chatter among Kiwi enthusiasts right now about the Hercules and Orion possibly being replaced (moreso the Orion). Relevant to this thread is this post by one of the Wings Over New Zealand forum members:

I remember the talk of a search for a suitable aircraft while I was at school, before I joined the BES in '64, there was talk of trying to find a flying boat as well as the C-130, I think even the Shackelton was mentioned. A maritime Herc today would be a different bird than 50 years ago.

An RNZAF Shackleton, replacing the Sunderland instead of the Orion as Darren suggested. I really, really like this idea, even though the type would be considered obsolete by 1966 (real-world Orion acquisition). Maybe we buy them ten years earlier, and they end up in Orion-style white-over-grey later on...

I was already going to buy at least one Airfix Shack. Make that two!!

Anyone have any thoughts on this idea?

[Weaver]

In the 80's I'd liked to have seen either the Leanders replaced with Type 21's or Type 22/III Frigates the inshore patrol fleet getting Peacock class patrol vessels and Castle class or Irish eithne class opv's

Well the Type 21s were sold to Pakistan in 1993, so if NZ had got in before then that would have made sense. Not sure they would have been the best choice though, since they proved a bit fragile in the Falklands and the southern oceans don't take any prisoners.

The Castles proved to be excellent vessels and would have made lots of sense for NZ. There were schemes for more heavily armed versions too.

I've always thought the Danish Thetis class would be ideal for NZ: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thetis-class_ocean_patrol_vessel

[Captain Canada]

Love that Gnat Zac !

[jcf]

Then the Shorts Sunderlands being replaced with Avro Shackleton MR2 or MR3

It seems this may actually have some basis in reality. There's a lot of chatter among Kiwi enthusiasts right now about the Hercules and Orion possibly being replaced (moreso the Orion). Relevant to this thread is this post by one of the Wings Over New Zealand forum members:

I remember the talk of a search for a suitable aircraft while I was at school, before I joined the BES in '64, there was talk of trying to find a flying boat as well as the C-130, I think even the Shackelton was mentioned. A maritime Herc today would be a different bird than 50 years ago.

An RNZAF Shackleton, replacing the Sunderland instead of the Orion as Darren suggested. I really, really like this idea, even though the type would be considered obsolete by 1966 (real-world Orion acquisition). Maybe we buy them ten years earlier, and they end up in Orion-style white-over-grey later on...

I was already going to buy at least one Airfix Shack. Make that two!!

Anyone have any thoughts on this idea?

Yeah, a T56 powered Argus. 

[KiwiZac]

BOO!

[Thorvic]

Then the Shorts Sunderlands being replaced with Avro Shackleton MR2 or MR3

It seems this may actually have some basis in reality. There's a lot of chatter among Kiwi enthusiasts right now about the Hercules and Orion possibly being replaced (moreso the Orion). Relevant to this thread is this post by one of the Wings Over New Zealand forum members:

I remember the talk of a search for a suitable aircraft while I was at school, before I joined the BES in '64, there was talk of trying to find a flying boat as well as the C-130, I think even the Shackelton was mentioned. A maritime Herc today would be a different bird than 50 years ago.

An RNZAF Shackleton, replacing the Sunderland instead of the Orion as Darren suggested. I really, really like this idea, even though the type would be considered obsolete by 1966 (real-world Orion acquisition). Maybe we buy them ten years earlier, and they end up in Orion-style white-over-grey later on...

I was already going to buy at least one Airfix Shack. Make that two!!

Anyone have any thoughts on this idea?

By 1966 they would more likely get Shackletons as an interim replacement whilst awaiting for the Nimrod to be delivered in the early 70's (Well its two kits Zac can get hold of and build  )

[DarrenP2]

wonder if RNZAF might pick up some surplus C130J's from the RAF

[NARSES2]

Not wanting to be a killjoy but if New Zealand even considered 10% of these purchases the birth rate would need to go through the roof just to pay for them let alone man them  Volunteering Zac ?  Either that or the price of my favourite meat would go through the roof. 

Semi serious point as I've just been reading a very interesting piece on the relationship between population/birth rate/national defence policy throughout history.