First of Air Force's new VIP jets flies in

By FRANCESCA MOLD

The first of the Air Force's two new VIP jets touched down in Wellington yesterday after a short stopover in the United States for repairs to its dented nose.

The new 757-200 was due in New Zealand a couple of weeks ago but its arrival was delayed after a snowplow backed into its nose at a Canadian airport, requiring 10 days to repair in Seattle.

Wellington-based pilots and crew perched on the wings of a Hercules yesterday as they watched the sleek grey Boeing 757 touch down at Rongatai airbase at about noon.

As the plane taxied to the Air Force terminal, airport firetrucks sprayed water over it as a symbolic welcome to its new home country.

The plane is one of two 10-year-old 757s purchased from Dutch airline Transavia by the Government to replace the Air Force's 35-year-old 727s, which have a history of embarrassing breakdowns.

The new planes will cost between $100 million and $200 million. Some of that money will be spent modifying the planes so they can carry cargo as well as passengers.

The planes, to be based at Whenuapai in Auckland, will be used to airlift troops, for emergency medical evacuations, humanitarian relief, supporting military exercises and transporting VIPs.

Air Vice-Marshal John Hamilton said the 757s would have double the capacity of the old planes, would be cheaper to maintain and had much better technology.

Defence Minister Mark Burton, who got to sit in the cockpit of the new plane yesterday, said the purchase was part of the Government's plan to create a strong, multi-faceted air transport fleet.