A final date of arrival for the much anticipated new addition to Classic Flyers – the Skyhawke fighter jet – is May 21.

Classic Flyers CEO Andrew Gormlie confirmed the arrival date this morning and says it is very exciting to finally be able to confirm the skyhawk's arrival.

Classic Flyers CEO Andrew Gormlie and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges visit the Royal New Zealand Air Force Woodbourne base in Blenheim to inspect the Skyhawk.
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'We have been waiting a long while for this and are really pleased to be getting such an iconic aircraft in this display.

'It is going to be a drawcard for the museum and we are hoping the assembly will be interesting for the public as well.”

The jet is one of nine Skyhawks to be allocated to museums throughout the country and Australia on permanent loan from the Ministry of Defence; following the decommissioning of the fleet under the Labour Government in the 1990s.

It is being trucked to Tauranga from Royal New Zealand Air Force Woodbourne base in Blenheim on three transporters and a truck.

Once it arrives in Tauranga on May 21 it will take three days to be re-assembled in the newly created display area at the aviation museum on Jean Batten Drive.

Andrew says the public are welcome to come and watch the fighter jet be put back together from Tuesday, May 22 onwards.

'Anyone is welcome from 9am to 4pm during museum hours.

'People will see a group of RNZAF engineers reassembling the major components of the Skyhawk to complete in the main hanger.”

Classic Flyers is currently in the process of raising the $34,500 needed to pay for transporting the Skyhawk from Blenheim.

'We have done really well and would like to thank the public for that. However, we are not quite there yet, and we still need a bit more help.”

Donations to sponsor the Skyhawk can be made through Classic Flyers website at www.classicflyersnz.com/Skyhawk.html