Navy relies on volunteer warbirds

12.00 pm - By IAN STUART

Ageing civilian aircraft flown by unpaid pilots have been pressed into service to exercise with the navy.

The navy frigates HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Canterbury exercised in the Bay of Plenty last week with three old jets from the Warbirds Association -- an association of aviation enthusiasts who fly a collection of old military aircraft.

The Warbirds aircraft took over the role of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Skyhawk attack aircraft and the Aermacchi jet trainers which were both dumped last year by the Government.

The three Warbirds jet aircraft, a Cessna A37B, a Hawker Hunter and a French Fouga Magister pretended to be enemy aircraft making mock attacks on the two warships.

The navy paid for the aircraft time but that did not include paying the pilots, Warbirds chief flying instructor Gavin Trethewey said.

The pilots are understood to have taken time off work to fly the three aircraft for the exercise.

He said it was ironic the navy had to call in civilian aircraft to exercise with the navy after dumping the Skyhawks and Aermacchis.

Mr Trethewey said the Warbirds aircraft - all older than the Skyhawks - acted as intruders into the air space of the warships.

"We make moves towards the ships and they try to control the situation and defend themselves," said Mr Trethewey, a former air force pilot who flew the Fouga for last week's exercises.

All three Warbirds aircraft were built in the 1950s or early 1960s.

Mr Trethewey said it was likely the Warbirds would be called into action to exercise with the navy more often now that the Skyhawks and Aermacchis were no longer available.

Defence force operations and training officer, Commander Tony Parr, a former skipper of the Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Mana, said the navy was 'coping' with having to use civilian aircraft.

He said with the axing of the air combat force the navy had to find alternatives for war games.

However, he said the defence forces were working on the 'downside' of not having regular military aircraft for exercises with the warships.

"We have done quite well in dealing with a situation which has been difficult in terms of resources when the A4s (Skyhawks) went."

"It is a bit early to tell how successful it is."

He said using civilian aircraft did not impact on the operational training or skill level of the warship crews.

"An aircraft is an aircraft. It is just a question of performance and availability."

The Warbirds were due to exercise again tomorrow in the Bay of Plenty with the navy. A Lear jet would also be used this week.

- NZPA

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