Cup heroes to hunker down in an Air Force pack-horse

By John Armstrong

Forget Lear jet. Don't even think jet. It will be ear plugs and web seating for Team New Zealand and the America's Cup as they are flown around the country in one of the Air Force's noisy, lumbering Hercules for this week's victory parades.

However, the Prime Minister's offer of the less-than-luxurious aircraft was gratefully accepted by Team New Zealand last night. "We don't have a problem," said the team's executive director, Alan Sefton.

"We are quite happy to bring our own sandwiches and cushions."

Having the Hercules would free the team from tight airline schedules, something that was essential if the parades ran late, Mr Sefton said.

Helen Clark came to the team's rescue after they said there was no spare cash to get to Wellington for tomorrow's parliamentary reception and parade, and Friday's parades in Christchurch and Dunedin.

The Air Force's Boeing 727, the usual VIP transport aircraft, is undergoing maintenance. That left the C130 Hercules instead, with up to 90 seats available to Team New Zealand and Prada members.

The Prime Minister described the teams' willingness to fly by Hercules as truly heroic. "Your hearing is virtually permanently impaired."

The flight time for the Auckland-to- Wellington leg is just over an hour, slightly longer than it takes on a commercial jet.

Given the deafening engine noise, it is standard to hand out packets of ear plugs to passengers on departure. The Air Force was unable yesterday to provide information on any in-flight refreshments.

Air New Zealand last night said it had been willing to step into the breach, had the Government not made its offer.

The airline would not say if it would have flown team members for free, but did say it would have struck a deal "helpful and advantageous" to Team New Zealand as part of its ongoing support.