From Scooter to a bird of prey

A talk by volunteer guide Alex McHaffie on teh might McDonnell Douglas Skyhawk.
Alex is a retired avionics specialist from No.75 Squadron RNZAF and he was part of the team that worked on the Kahu upgrade of the Skyhawk fleet.
The Kahu upgrade gave the A-4 and TA-4 a brand-new radar, new navigation systems, heads-up displays and took their firing accuracy from 10-20% to more than 80%.
It meant they could fly with fewer weapons and a lighter load to increase their efficiency, because their accuracy was much greater. It was like night and day for the pilots.
It was a great investment for the RNZAF because it gave them F-16 capability at a fraction of the cost.
Alex talks about his love of these beautiful aircraft and the enjoyment of working on them - often in confined spaces!
The Skyhawk made its first flight on 22 June 1954 and went on to become one of the most successful aircraft of its era.
Watch the video and come along to see what all the fuss is about. There’s nothing like seeing a Scooter in the flesh.