The much anticipated Aermacchi fighter jet has finally arrived at Classic Flyers.

The fighter jet was shipped up from Ohakea on two trucks in a 800 kilometre round trip.

The Aermacchi packed and ready for its trip to Tauranga. Photo: Geoff Tansley.

Airforce personnel with Classic Flyers staff before the Aermacchi departed Ohakea for Tauranga. Photo: Geoff Tansley.

Classic Flyers volunteer Geoff Tansley went down to Ohakea and says the airforce had the jet packaged and ready to be loaded on the truck when they arrived.

Since the arrival of the jet, Geoff says they have been busy trying to get crates and parts covered.

He says they have a few more details to sort out before they move on to the assembly side of the project.

The Aermacchi MB-339 was gifted to the museum by the RNZAF and is expected to be assembled and ready for a grand unveiling early next year.

Classic Flyers NZ management board chairman David Love says the aircraft will still be flyable, but will require reassembly under strict Civil Aviation Authority standards.

'We feel honoured the foundation should feel we are worth the major grant that has been donated.”

David says a spares package will be acquired to enable future flight, but that getting the aircraft in the air remains a long term project.

'For now we are happy to get the aircraft to start up to taxi standard and produce a fitting display to complement the current build of the A4 Skyhawk diorama.”

As a charitable trust, Classic Flyers will require additional funds to assist in the overall costs of acquiring, rebuilding and displaying the aircraft and the museum is appealing to the community and businesses to assist.

'People who donate to the project will have appropriate privileges in viewing the aircraft and as friends of Classic Flyers.”

A total of 18 Aermacchi MB-339s were bought by the Government as advanced flying trainers in the early 1990s to replace the BAC Strikemaster fleet which had been purchased in the early '70s.

The Aermacchi at Classic Flyers in Tauranga.

The aircrafts feature dual front and rear seat displays, multi-function displays, the NATO Standard 1553 data bus and an F-16- style hands on throttle and stick.

They are equipped with seven weapon station hardpoints to provide the capability to handle air-to-ground training munitions and integration with the latest targeting pods.

In 2008, the Defence Minister expressed the desire to return to service the 17 remaining Aermacchi trainers to supplement army and navy operations, but any decision was put on hold pending the planes' potential sale.

American company Draken International has since successfully bid for nine Aermacchi, with eight others allocated to New Zealand museums.

The Aermacchi was shipped in crates from Ohakea.