7 January 2005
Second Hercules breakdown shows parlous state of Air Force
Two breakdowns in one week for our Hercules helping in tsunami-wracked Indonesia shows the parlous state of New
Zealand's Air Force, says National duty MP Nick Smith.
"The first breakdown was an embarrassment, but two in one week is beyond a joke. The first failure was a cracked
manifold and the second involved a failure in a ground power unit.
"These breakdowns illustrate just how badly the Government has run-down our Air Force.
"An unreliable air force is pointless. The very nature of military work is that it must be responsive and reliable in
emergencies. New Zealand defence personnel are highly regarded, but once again shoddy equipment has let them down.
"The ANZAC spirit is not about bludging off your cobbers. The Labour Government has itself to blame for these equipment
failures given the way they have cut the Air Force budget," says Dr Smith.
ENDS