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Post by Barnsey on Dec 6, 2011 11:47:59 GMT 12
www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/6091724/New-helicopters-arrive-at-OhakeaThe first two NH90s arrived aboard an Antonov AN124 cargo plane this morning.The Air Force has taken delivery of its first NH90s - with two of the helicopters arriving from France aboard an Antonov AN124 cargo plane. The helicopters were delivered in crates to Ohakea Air Force Base about 9.30am aboard the giant carrier - one of the biggest planes in the world. Nine NH90s were ordered in 2006 at a cost of $771m. They will replace the air force's Vietnam War-era Iroquois helicopters that have been in service for more than 40 years. They will join the five lightweight Italian-made Westland-A109 Augusta helicopters that arrived in New Zealand earlier this year. A $33.7 million hangar has been built at Ohakea Airforce Base to house the new aircraft, while a $16m simulator complex to train pilots was opened last month. The helicopters are beginning to be delivered sooner than expected because the French airfield where they were being stored is due to close for maintenance. They will be stored at Ohakea until additional equipment including computer systems and software for flying in New Zealand arrives. Defence minister Wayne Mapp said the new helicopters would provide a "quantum leap" in defence force capability. "The NH90s have over three times the power of the current Iroquois and can carry more than twice the payload further and faster." - Manawatu Standard
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amec
Flight Sergeant
Posts: 25
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Post by amec on Dec 6, 2011 12:32:53 GMT 12
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Post by flyjoe180 on Dec 6, 2011 13:48:46 GMT 12
NZ takes years to acquire new stuff. Aussie is the kid at Christmas, rip into it and acquire it ASAP. I like your optimism about the speed of Aussie projects. Reality is rather different. I was just reading an Aussie project brief today dated 2000, it stated 'a procurement decision is imminent'. It's now 2011 and they have only managed to get to the last two contenders .... rip to it. I think NOT. Tongue in cheek chap.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2011 15:30:40 GMT 12
That antonov sure is a big bastard isn't it
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Post by luke6745 on Dec 6, 2011 15:46:46 GMT 12
Just saw them on ONE News! They look mint!
Who would have thought about 40 years ago that a Russian aircraft would be delivering NZ military equipment?
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Post by McFly on Dec 6, 2011 16:07:50 GMT 12
A few more photos of the new arrivals... Sorry Everyone; these RNZAF Official photos have been removed at the request of Wing Commander Shaun Sexton, Commanding Officer of the Helicopter Transition Unit at RNZAF Base Ohakea.
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 6, 2011 17:03:31 GMT 12
The Air Force has taken delivery of its first NH90s - with two of the helicopters arriving from France aboard an Antonov AN124 cargo plane.
The helicopters were delivered in crates to Ohakea Air Force Base about 9.30am aboard the giant carrier - one of the biggest planes in the world.
Those crates look somewhat 'lightweight'. Thanks for sharing!
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Post by skyhawkdon on Dec 6, 2011 19:03:23 GMT 12
Very exciting. Big buggers aren't they!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2011 19:51:41 GMT 12
They are quite bitsy in a way, got all these probes and antenna sticking out, but still look amazing. I don't see many panel joins, what are they made from?
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Post by ngatimozart on Dec 6, 2011 20:03:13 GMT 12
The crates are the new ultra modern lightweight ones designed by Gucci & NZ media They certainly are big and boy do they look good. Be nice to see a photo with one next to an Iroquois just to get an accurate idea of scale.
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Post by beagle on Dec 6, 2011 20:19:41 GMT 12
Love those stealth main rotor blades. Will make it easy to get into the hangars and new A400's when they arrive.
I see we got a wee financial compensation for the delays we experienced. should have just said to swap it for the next 3 Makos..
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2011 21:20:40 GMT 12
exactly beagle we are getting 3 more A109's anyway aren't we? i would have said just give us another NH90 or two and we won't say anything
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zknba
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by zknba on Dec 7, 2011 1:11:18 GMT 12
Those NH-90s look real nice - can't wait to see one for real
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Post by jp on Dec 7, 2011 7:11:54 GMT 12
Great - something else I now need a 1/48 scale model of.......
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Post by fyl on Dec 7, 2011 8:37:22 GMT 12
Awesome stuff..shouldn't be any issues having them ready for the 75th anniversary i hope??? The new hangar looks great too...so much more light in there than the old ones..
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Post by Brett on Dec 7, 2011 9:47:52 GMT 12
A Crate is an Illyushin Il-14, so maybe the reporter (uncharacteristically) screwed up their aircraft identification? Sort of like a Boeing A-330? Or they just screwed up.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Dec 7, 2011 9:49:56 GMT 12
Great pics, and yeah the HN90 sure looks big for a helicopter. Very smart.
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 7, 2011 10:00:28 GMT 12
Great pics, and yeah the HN90 sure looks big for a helicopter. Very smart. Do they fit in a Herc then? Or do we need to borrow a C-17 to move them any real distance? Can a C-17 take 2?
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Post by htbrst on Dec 7, 2011 10:07:26 GMT 12
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Post by htbrst on Dec 7, 2011 11:13:13 GMT 12
Another update with some new information: - The cost for the next 3 Antonov charters will be $1.6 million paid for by NHI as compensation - They will belong to NHI until February ish, next two delivered in March - The Antonov had to go home via Auckland due to weight restrictions at Ohakea - It took 2 months of planning to make sure the runway could handle the Antonov - A cool $20 million of GST was paid to import these two[/blockquote] www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/6099241/Air-force-is-given-a-brief-look-at-new-helicopters
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