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Post by davekiwi on May 6, 2011 19:19:41 GMT 12
Ok, to complete the set sort of: Tac Rail, Post Rigel just, Dec 1984. Note the ASW station is still P3-B standard.
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Post by Bruce on May 6, 2011 19:44:06 GMT 12
Tac rail looks just like one of the University computer labs! (except less chip packets). Whats with the red nosed P3?
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 6, 2011 19:54:10 GMT 12
;D
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Post by beagle on May 7, 2011 9:56:57 GMT 12
very good David
The red nose. Word is they are planning to fly across the north pole when going from an exercise with the Japanese to one in the UK. It will be called operation Rudolph. happening in Dec but I think more likely to be around the 1st of April..
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Post by baz62 on May 7, 2011 10:58:41 GMT 12
;D Thats clever Dave!!
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Post by yak2 on May 7, 2011 11:21:44 GMT 12
NZ4204 safely home, 24Apr2011 Those boidy drawings on the fin look different to me
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 7, 2011 12:20:08 GMT 12
One of the albatross has been in the USA for a couple of years so naturally is much fatter, Rob.
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Post by beagle on May 7, 2011 12:55:36 GMT 12
wouldn't mind seeing more shots of the runway rebuilding etc.
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Post by corsair67 on May 7, 2011 13:05:40 GMT 12
So, does this upgrade bring the RNZAF Orions up to the standard of technology every other Orion operator had by 1999? ;D
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Post by beagle on May 7, 2011 13:16:55 GMT 12
I think over the past 10 years quite afew operaters of the P3 have been updating specific areas of their aircraft to be able to multi taks, esp able to use cameras and the like for overland scenarios.
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Post by corsair67 on May 7, 2011 13:40:28 GMT 12
Beags, most Orion operators have had a number of mods performed on their fleets to get a few more years use out of them, and to develop new applications for their aircraft - especially as far as ISR is concerned.
There are not many Orions still spending time solely patrolling the oceans anymore.
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Post by beagle on May 7, 2011 17:29:14 GMT 12
i thought thats what I said. The USA and RAAF were doing that in the middle east. Has Canada done any upgrade to theirs. Not sure if i am right but did Norway sell all theirs or part of their fleet. Some or all went to the Luftwaffe.
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Post by stereoimage on May 7, 2011 20:17:54 GMT 12
Heya guys. I photographed the new P3K2's at Whenuapai on Monday, they had a ceremony for them with Sec Def & Cheif of Air Force and the media etc. Cant post any pics here until they get printed, but the impression I got was of a ferrari hiding in a corolla body! Amazing new capability in these machines. One technical question I forgot to as while I was there, and havent had any luck getting an answer on from the air force since, is whether, after removing the MAD equipment in this upgrade, is the 'MAD Boom' empty now or is it is used for new sensors? Maybe thats OPSEC? Just curious as to whether the boom is empty now or not... Keep an eye out on the next Kiwi Flyer Magazine for the piece about it.
Cheers
Chris
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Post by corsair67 on May 8, 2011 11:34:22 GMT 12
i thought thats what I said. The USA and RAAF were doing that in the middle east. Has Canada done any upgrade to theirs. Not sure if i am right but did Norway sell all theirs or part of their fleet. Some or all went to the Luftwaffe. Mate, I was just backing you up. ;D The Canadian's have upgraded their CP-140 Auroras with the intention of keeping their aircraft in service until at least 2020. As far as Norway is concerned, I have only heard that they have undertaken a structural upgrade of their fleet of Orions.
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Post by htbrst on May 8, 2011 12:35:53 GMT 12
Not sure if i am right but did Norway sell all theirs or part of their fleet. Some or all went to the Luftwaffe. That was the Dutch - they sold all 8 of theirs off to the Germans (just after an upgrade iirc). The Dutch seem to be continually going through defence cuts over the past few years - They cut 4 Frigates to be replaced by 4 new build OPV's, and in the last few months have decided that 2 of those are not going to be comissioned either (despite being close to finished)
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Post by yak2 on May 8, 2011 13:08:21 GMT 12
One of the albatross has been in the USA for a couple of years so naturally is much fatter, Rob. ;D
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 13, 2011 12:52:22 GMT 12
Is this new Orion now in regular service? Or is it to be used for crew training only to get crews up to speed on the new gear?
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Post by skyhawkdon on May 13, 2011 12:59:31 GMT 12
It's going to Woodbourne for a Group Servicing Dave. Then it will be used for Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) of the new systems.
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Post by skyhawkdon on May 13, 2011 15:40:19 GMT 12
Not sure how much re wiring was done on this upgrade compared with say the herk as the wings were not removed etc, but I take it they must have done some wiring for future use to the outer wing stations during Project Kestrel. I have been on board when we dd high speed dropping trials back in '89 and pretty sure I have seen images showing all 4 out board stations loaded with hard bombs but not sidewinders. As a question for Don, were the 339's able to fire them. ? The P-3K2 hasn't been wired for any missiles (air-to-air or air-to-surface/anti-ship) unfortunately. Likewise neither were the Macchi's.
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Post by beagle on May 13, 2011 23:13:07 GMT 12
Cheers Don. I take it though that the racks for the sidewinders ccould be fitted to the macchi's for some good photo shoots.
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