A mothballed Skyhawk fighter-bomber may yet grace the New Zealand Fighter Pilots' Museum in Wanaka but museum trust chairman Don Spary of Arrowtown is not holding his breath.
Mr Spary said the museum was the first to apply for one of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's 17 Skyhawk aircraft, after it was announced 10 years ago they were likely to be scrapped or sold as spare parts.
The announcement last week that Cabinet was finally going to be asked to approve a disposal plan did not mean the saga was about to end, Mr Spary said.
"How many times have you heard 'the Government is about to...' or 'the Government is about to...'
"When it happens, it will be a special occasion," Mr Spary said.
Happily, the trust is a patient suitor and prepared to woo the air force and Government for as long as it takes.
"It's like a long engagement before a 1000-year marriage," Mr Spary said.
The air force bought 20 Skyhawks, including two two-seater training aircraft, in the 1970s and '80s. There are 17 left after three crashed during training.
The Labour government decommissioned the aircraft in 2001 but taxpayers have spent about $34 million on maintenance since.
A $155 million deal with an American company subsequently fell through.
That also included the sale of 17 Aermacchi jet trainers.
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp last week confirmed he intended to seek Cabinet approval to dispose of the Skyhawks at the end of this month.
The fate of the Aermacchis has not been determined.
The disposal, particularly of electronic components, would probably require supervision by the United States State Department.
The agency also reported Australian defence officials had privately hoped the New Zealand Government would not scrap the Skyhawks because they were good training aircraft for its navy.
Aviation museums in Christchurch and Ashburton have also expressed an interest in having a Skyhawk.
