NZDF-Serials Skyhawk

Serial	Model.	c/n	USN.Serial	RAN.Serial.	Delivered	Aircraft history
NZ6201	A-4K	14084	Bu157904	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 10 November 1969. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 25 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. While on an exercise from RAAF Base, Williamtown on 26 June 1975 the aircraft suffered a disabling hydraulic failure. Although almost uncontrollable the US Navy exchange pilot, Captain Ed. Carter managed to land the aircraft safely. Awarded the AFC. Hit high tension power lines in the Buller Gorge on 19 March 2001 while on a low flying exercise and suffered damage to the tail. Emergency landing made at Woodbourne where the aircraft was later repaired. Took part in the farewell flyover of the North Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the morning of 11 December 2001. Took part in the farewell flyover of the South Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the afternoon of 11 December 2001. Took part in the final flypast at Ohakea to commemorate the disbandment of the RNZAF Air Combat Force on 13 December 2001. Flown from Ohakea to Woodbourne for storage on 17 December 2001. On display Classic Flyers Museum Mount Maunganui
NZ6202	A-4K	14085	Bu157905	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 14 February 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 25 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. This was the final aircraft to be completed in the Project Kahu upgrade. Took part in the farewell flyover of the South Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the afternoon of 11 December 2001. Took part in the final flypast at Ohakea to commemorate the disbandment of the RNZAF Air Combat Force on 13 December 2001. Flown from Ohakea to Woodbourne for storage on 17 December 2001. On display Wheels and Wings Museum Wanaka
NZ6203	A-4K	14086	Bu157906	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 19 February 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 25 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. Flight Lieutenant Trevor Bland broke the sound barrier in this aircraft, the first RNZAF aircraft to do so. Crashed near Ohakea on 20 June 1996. The aircraft lost oil pressure and then suffered an engine failure during a cross country flight. The pilot attempted to return to Ohakea but was eventually forced to eject. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident but Flight Lieutenant A. Fraser was uninjured.
NZ6204	A-4K	14087	Bu157907	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 11 March 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 27 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 17 October 2001. On arrival it had completed 7486.1 airframe hours. On display Ashburton Aviation Museum
NZ6205	A-4K	14088	Bu157908	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 06 March 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 26 May before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. This aircraft was the prototype "Project Kahu" single seater. Received damage to the port aileron while engaged on low level bombing of a burnt out trawler with 6 other aircraft on 16 December 1994. Diverted to Dunedin Airport and was repaired on site in January 1995. Took part in the farewell flyover of the North Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the morning of 11 December 2001. Took part in the farewell flyover of the South Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the afternoon of 11 December 2001. Took part in the final flypast at Ohakea to commemorate the disbandment of the RNZAF Air Combat Force on 13 December 2001. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 15 August 2002. Test flown at Woodbourne on 15 May 2003 and then ferried back to Ohakea. Flown from Ohakea to Gisborne and Rotorua and returned to Ohakea on 10 May 2003. Also flown to Whenuapai and back on 04 July 1004 and 26 August 2004. Flown from Ohakea to Woodbourne by Squadron Leader Chris Underwood in formation with NZ6460 and NZ6460 for storage and sale on 30 July 2004. On display RNZAF Museum Wigram
NZ6206	A-4K	14089	Bu157909	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 11 March 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 25 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea in 1985. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 12 December 2002. On display MOTAT Auckland
NZ6207	A-4K	14090	Bu157910	N/A	16/06/70	Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 27 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. Crashed into a paddock near Bulls on 18 October 1974 after suffering an engine failure in the Ohakea circuit. Wing Commander Fred Kinvig ejected but broke his leg on landing. Aircraft written off books at Ohakea on 17 March 1976. The aircraft on display at the RNZAF Museum Wigram painted as NZ6207 is actually an A4D-2N modified to A4-L standards (c/n 61-0022, BuNo.149516) on long term loan from the US Navy. The aircraft was sourced from Davis Monthan Air Recovery Centre and has been further modified to appear as an A4-K.
NZ6208	A-4K	14091	Bu157911	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 06 April 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 27 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea in 1985. Crashed off the Wairarapa Coast on 23 July 1992. The aircraft suffered an engine failure and the pilot successfully ejected. Flying Officer S. Armour uninjured and aircraft written off.
NZ6209	A-4K	14092	Bu157912	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 15 April 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 27 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea in 1985. Took part in the farewell flyover of the North Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the morning of 11 December 2001. Took part in the farewell flyover of the South Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the afternoon of 11 December 2001. Took part in the final flypast at Ohakea to commemorate the disbandment of the RNZAF Air Combat Force on 13 December 2001. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 17 December 2001. On display Ardmore
NZ6210	A-4K	14093	Bu157913	N/A	16/06/70	Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 27 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea in 1985. Crashed at Ohakea at 1125 hours on 24 October 1989 when returning from a "Kiwi Red" formation training exercise. The aircraft struck another aircraft in the formation during a "roll under break" and crashed into the ground. Flying Officer Graham Carter killed and aircraft written off.
NZ6211	A-4G A-4K	13734	Bu154903	N13-154903	07/84	Formerly A-4G N13-154903 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 882. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 19 July 1967. RAN Service history can be found here Withdrawn from RAN service on 30 June 1983 and stored for sale. Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 20 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea. Damaged in mid-air collision with NZ6210 during Kiwi Red practice on 24 October 1989. Repaired and returned to service on 17 November 1990. Served with No.2 Squadron, Nowra 2001. Crashed near Nowra, NSW on 16 February 2001 while conducting practice of plugged barrel roll with NZ6213 hooked up. The aircraft flew into thick bush and exploded. Squadron Leader Murray Neilson killed and aircraft written off.
NZ6212	A-4G A-4K	13735	Bu154904	N13-154904	07/84	Formerly A-4G N13-154904 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 883. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 20 July 1967. RAN Service history can be found here Withdrawn from RAN service on 30 June 1984. Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 12 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. Lost canopy in flight 29 January 1986 but recovered and was landed safely. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 17 October 2001. On arrival it had completed 6727.1 airframe hours. Sold to Draken International in 2012 and registered in the USA as N142EM on 01 March 2013.
NZ6213	A-4G A-4K	13736	Bu154905	N13-154905	07/84	Formerly A-4G N13-154905 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 884. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 26 July 1967. RAN Service history can be found here Withdrawn from RAN service on 30 June 1984. Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 12 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. To No.2 Squadron, Nowra in 2001. Was hooked up to NZ6211 just prior to its crash on 16 February 2001. Broke away and was undamaged. Took part in the farewell flyover of the North Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the morning of 11 December 2001. Took part in the farewell flyover of the South Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the afternoon of 11 December 2001. Took part in the final flypast at Ohakea to commemorate the disbandment of the RNZAF Air Combat Force on 13 December 2001. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 18 December 2001. Sold to Draken International in 2012 and registered in the USA as N143EM on 01 March 2013.
NZ6214	A-4G A-4K	13739	Bu154908	N13-154908	07/84	Formerly A-4G N13-154908 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 887. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 08 August 1967. RAN Service history can be found here To RNZAF after withdrawal from RAN service. Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 20 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. Suffered a birdstrike off Coromandel on 10 January 1992 while at 250 feet and 420 knots. The aircraft was landed safely, later being repaired and returned to service in December of that year. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 18 October 2001. On arrival it had completed 6558.0 airframe hours. Sold to Draken International in 2012 and registered in the USA as N144EM on 01 March 2013.
NZ6215	A-4F A-4G A-4K	13824	Bu155052	N13-155052	07/84	Formerly A-4G N13-155052 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 871. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 26 June 1967 as an A-4F. BOC with US Navy at Long Beach on 11 April 1968. Served in Vietnam on USS Ranger with VA-155 from 06 October 1968-17 May 1969 and on USS Hancock with VA-212 from 02 August 1969-15 April 1970. To NARF for conversion to A-4G on 31 July 1970. RAN Service history can be found here. Withdrawn from RAN service on 30 June 1983 and stored for sale. Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 26 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 19 October 2001. On arrival it had completed 6678.9 airframe hours. Sold to Draken International in 2012 and registered in the USA as N145EM on 01 March 2013.
NZ6216	A-4F A-4G A-4K	13833	Bu155061	N13-155061	07/84	Formerly A-4G N13-155061 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 874. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 31 July 1967. BOC with US Navy at Long Beach on 29 April 1968. Served in Vietnam on USS Ranger with VA-155 from 26 October 1968-17 May 1969 and on USS Hancock with VA-212 from 02 August 1969-15 April 1970. To NARF for conversion to A-4G on 31 July 1970. RAN Service history can be found here Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 20 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. Took part in the farewell flyover of the North Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the morning of 11 December 2001. Took part in the farewell flyover of the South Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the afternoon of 11 December 2001. Took part in the final flypast at Ohakea to commemorate the disbandment of the RNZAF Air Combat Force on 13 December 2001. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 18 December 2001. On display Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
NZ6217	A-4F A-4G A-4K	13835	Bu155063	N13-155063	07/84	Formerly A-4G N13-155063 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 876. BOC with US Navy at Long Beach on 01 March 1968. Served in Vietnam on USS Ranger with VA-155 from 26 October 1968-17 May 1969 and on USS Hancock with VA-55 from 02 August 1969-15 April 1970. To NARF for conversion to A-4G on 17 August 1970. RAN Service history can be found here Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 26 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. Flown from Ohekea to Woodbourne via Westport on 15 May 2003 for storage awaiting sale. Sold to Draken International in 2012 and registered in the USA as N146EM on 01 March 2013.
NZ6218	A-4G A-4K	13841	Bu155069	N13-155069	07/84	Formerly A-4G N13-155069 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 877. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 29 June 1967 as A-4F, the last A-4F model built and the last new Skyhawk delivered to the US Navy. BOC with US Navy at Long Beach on 20 June 1968. Served in Vietnam on USS Ranger with VA-155 from 26 October 1968-17 May 1969. Served with VA-155 in the USA during which time it was severely damaged in a wire strike on 02 July 1969. The fuselage was bent and never fully repaired. To VA-44, NAS Cecil Field, Florida in late 1969 making its last flight in US Navy service in August 1970. To NARF for conversion to A-4G on 05 August 1970. Before transfer to RAN the aircraft had 712.5 flight hours logged. RAN Service history can be found here Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 26 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. Damaged in roll over on landing at Townsville, Queensland on 03 June 1985. The aircraft aquaplaned on the wet runway and slid sideways before rolling over. The pilot was uninjured and the badly damaged aircraft was returned to New Zealand in a C-130. Repaired at No.1 Repair Depot, Woodbourne utilising the rear fuselage of an ex USN Blue Angels aircraft and returned to service on 29 March 1990. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 15 August 2001. On arrival it had completed 5594.1 airframe hours. Sold to Draken International in 2012 and registered in the USA as N147EM on 01 March 2013.
NZ6251	TA-4K	14094	Bu157914.	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 05 December 1969. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 23 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea in 1985. Canopy inadvertently jettisoned in flight on 05 February 1997. Repaired and returned to service on 14 July of that year. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 19 October 2001. On arrival it had completed 6558.0 airframe hours. Sold to Draken International in 2012 and registered in the USA as N140EM on 01 March 2013. 18 August 2016 Crashed on approach to Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas USA. The sole occupant, a civilian pilot, ejected with minor injuries. Aircraft was destroyed.
NZ6252	TA-4K	14095	Bu157915.	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 24 January 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 21 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea in 1985. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 21 August 2002. Sold to Draken International in 2012 and registered in the USA as N141EM on 01 March 2013
NZ6253	TA-4K	14096	Bu157916.	N/A	16/06/70	Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 23 May 1970 before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. Crashed in the Ruahine Ranges about 25 kilometers from Taihape during a low level training exercise on 25 March 1981. The aircraft crashed in dense bush near the top of a ridge. Flight Lieutenant John Dick killed. Written off books at Ohakea on 09 February 1982.
NZ6254	TA-4K	14097	Bu157917.	N/A	16/06/70	First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 21 February 1970. Arrived at Auckland aboard the helicopter carrier USS Okinawa on 17 May 1970 and towed by road to Whenuapai. Test flown at Whenuapai on 20 May 1970, the first of the type to be flown in New Zealand, before being ferried to No.75 Squadron, Ohakea. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea in 1985. Prototype Project Kahu 2 seater. Crash landed at Ohakea on 16 March 1994. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to return to Ohakea. During the landing roll the aircraft left the runway and the undercarriage collapsed. Repaired (including fitting a new wing) and returned to service on 01 February 1995. Flown from Ohakea to storage at Woodbourne on 19 October 2001. On arrival it had completed 6584.3 airframe hours. On display RNZAF Museum Wigram
NZ6255	TA-4G TA-4K	13732	Bu154911	N13-154911	07/84	Formerly TA-4G N13-154911 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 880. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 21 July 1967. RAN Service history can be found here Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 12 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. Carried out wheels up landing on drop tanks at Ohakea on 14 September 1994 after losing right hand main landing gear touching down short of the runway. Repaired and returned to service on 12 March 1990. Took part in the farewell flyover of the North Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the morning of 11 December 2001. Took part in the farewell flyover of the South Island to commemorate the closure of the RNZAF Air Combat Force during the afternoon of 11 December 2001. To storage at Ohakea. Flew from Ohakea to New Plymouth and return on 14 June 2003, and then flew some reconversion details from Ohakea between 04 and 07 August 2003. Not placed into storage but retained as a demonstrator for the sales process, remained at Ohakea as at May 10, 2002. Ferried to Woodbourne for storage awaiting sale on 11 August 2003. To Fleet Air Arm Museum, Nowra.
NZ6256	TA-4G TA-4K	13733	Bu154912	N13-154912	07/84	Formerly TA-4G N13-154912 with Royal Australian Navy, coded 881. First flight from Douglas factory at Long Beach on 16 August 1967. RAN Service history can be found here Withdrawn from RAN service on 30 June 1984. Ferried from Nowra to Ohakea on 12 July 1984. Converted to A-4K by RNZAF. To No.2 Squadron, Ohakea in 1985. This aircraft was painted in RNZAF 50th Anniversary golden colour scheme in 1987. Crashed into sea 80 miles off Perth, Western Australia during an exercise with the RAN on 20 March 2001. The aircraft departed from controlled flight during a steep turn and entered a flat spin at 5000 feet. Flight Lieutenant Phillip Barnes ejected, uninjured and was in a life raft for an hour before being rescued by an RAAF SAR Helicopter.
"NZ6257"	TA-4K	N/A	N/A	N/A	12/2002	During 1989/99 ex-RNZAF Flight Sergeant Bill Taylor decided to build a composite Skyhawk for the Ohakea Museum He collected unserviceable and scrapped Skyhawk components for this project Forward fuselage was a bare shell recovered in 1984 from an USN TA-4 that crashed in the sea Rear fuselage is from an ex-Blue Angels A4-F that had been bought by RNZAF in 1986 to repair the crashed NZ6218 Wing is an unserviceable unit from Woodbourne, possibly removed from NZ6254 after its 1994 crash landing The fin is a fibreglass replica on an aluminum frame Bill left Ohakea in 2001 and the project was completed by Don Simms, Robbo Robinson, Andy Torr, Age Duncan, Grant Morrow and many others. The composite aircraft was finished as a pre-Kahu aircraft of the late 1980s and given the spurious serial NZ6257 Both No.2 and No.75 Squadrons are carried It was handed over to the museum in December 2002. The museum closed in 2007 Currently on outside display at Ohakea. (Thanks to Don Simms for the story of NZ6257)