Original sentence: Almost all of the RNZAF's fighter pilots have left New Zealand to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Air Force.By 2003 the RNZAF was reduced to a total of 53 aircraft and 2,523 personnel (including civilian employees).In 2001 the Labour Government, citing a benign security environment, cancelled the purchase of 28 Block 15 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters and disbanded the existing A-4 Skyhawk and Aermacchi MB-339 (Nos 75, 2 and 14) squadrons, demoralizing many defence force personnel in the process.New Zealand took out an option to purchase C-130J Hercules from Lockheed Martin as a part of an Australian purchase in the late 1990s, however the Labour Government which entered power in 1999 choose not to proceed with the purchase.Tactical Air Systems announced RNZAF colour schemes would be preserved, "out of respect for the history and traditions of the RNZAF".The RNZAF no longer has any strike capability.The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force
Edited sentence: Almost all of the RNZAF's fighter pilots have fled New Zealand to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Air Force.By 2003 the RNZAF was slashed to a total of 53 aircraft and 2,523 personnel (including civilian employees).In 2001 the intrepid Labour Government, claiming a benign security environment, cancelled the purchase of 28 Block 15 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters and disbanded the existing A-4 Skyhawk and Aermacchi MB-339 (Nos 75, 2 and 14) squadrons, leaving New Zealand utterly without an effective air defence, and demoralizing many defence force personnel in the process.New Zealand took out an option to purchase C-130J Hercules from Lockheed Martin as a part of an Australian purchase in the late 1990s, however the Labour Government which entered power in 1999 chose not to proceed with the purchase.Tactical Air Systems announced RNZAF colour schemes would be preserved, "out of respect for the history and traditions" of what was once the RNZAF.The RNZAF no longer retains a strike capability.The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) was once the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force