|
|
Post by beagle on May 25, 2007 20:06:21 GMT 12
I was just thinking and thought I would get quite a bit of feedback from everyone regards this question.
" if the government gave the Air Force 10 Billion Dollars to spend on any aircraft they wanted to purchase over the next 5 years, and with out the government saying no, what would we buy"
What is out there that would suit New Zealand now and for the future 10-15 years.
This is to include trainers, transport, strike, helos, maritime.
Sorry Dave, you cannot have anything with merlins in it.
|
|
|
|
Post by greaneyr on May 27, 2007 13:30:38 GMT 12
Well... assuming the NH90s and the LUH replacements aren't covered by this, I'd like to see something bigger than the King Air go to 40 Squadron. The Andovers used to sit nicely with me, mostly because they are powered by real engines, but also because they made a reasonable VIP aircraft. To me, anything that combines "Beechcraft" and "Air Force" is a mixture of oil and water.
On similarly emotive grounds, I'd like to see some of the money used to relocate the Helo base at Ohakea closer to the viewing area to facilitate easier photography of them from the cheap seats for those people like me who aren't fortunate enough to get into the base. While we're at it, what about adding an ILS for runway 15 and 33 at Ohakea. Since 15 runs close to the road, that too will make for some lovely shots, instead of the pawltry distant shots you get at present.
(gee, can you guess who is disgruntled at having spent yet another afternoon at Ohakea with camera in hand and returned with nothing to show for it... again??)
Richard
|
|
|
|
Post by phil on May 27, 2007 14:23:25 GMT 12
I'd like to see some of the money used to relocate the Helo base at Ohakea closer to the viewing area to facilitate easier photography of them from the cheap seats for those people like me who aren't fortunate enough to get into the base. Richard The good news is 3 and 6 sqn will be moved closer to the road, and to SH1, ie around the area currently occupied by the museum building (theoretically why the museum was closed...) I'm afraid ILS on 15/33 wont help you much, the whole road will be part of base, the main gate is going to be about where the museum gates are now, eventually a large roundabout will be built to feed traffic on and off SH1. Hopefully the new 'visitors center' will be located somewhere handy for public viewing. Otherwise you might need to invest in a 400mm lens and a 2x teleconverter. |
|
|
|
Post by greaneyr on May 27, 2007 15:25:27 GMT 12
I'm afraid ILS on 15/33 wont help you much, the whole road will be part of base, the main gate is going to be about where the museum gates are now, eventually a large roundabout will be built to feed traffic on and off SH1. Hopefully the new 'visitors center' will be located somewhere handy for public viewing. Otherwise you might need to invest in a 400mm lens and a 2x teleconverter. Interesting news. I heard the museum was going to be used to build new hangars for helicopters. I took that as being another obstacle between the road and the few precious viewing subjects that would remain! Maybe there is hope yet. A 400mm lens with 2x tele is already pretty mandatory at OH as it is! Despite not having annoying mesh boundary fences, there's surprisingly few places you can go to get anywhere close to anything worthy of opening the shutter for. |
|
|
|
Post by lesterpk on May 27, 2007 19:38:20 GMT 12
|
|
|
|
Post by beagle on May 27, 2007 19:43:53 GMT 12
Cheers Les, don't think I was member then.
from working out near the airport here in chch I often do drive by's with camera at the ready.
I have not seen a Mon or fri SATS sitting there for months.
Have they cancelled them.
|
|
|
|
Post by beagle on May 27, 2007 21:09:46 GMT 12
we must have some new members since then, including me so I wil make my selections anyway.
First off Whenuapai stays.
based here will be
TRANSPORTS.
B757 x 2
BD700 Global Express x1
C130J / -30 x 5/2
Yes keep the B757, with the cargo door and other mods, this will be a very good force multiplier. As they would be used for med/long range troop transports, then also an upgrade on the "ICE" and winglets.
Trade the Herks in on J models with a few stretched models.
The Global Express for internal and external VIP transport.
MaARITIME
P3-K2 Orions x6
Global Hawk x2
Use the Orions in their upgraded form but also add on the ASW gear and ASM's
For extended Fisheries patrol a few Global Hawks would be ideal to be out there for longer periods of time and would be much safer to use down south in the Ross Sea etc.
TRAINERS
CT-4 x 8
T6 II Harvard x8
A109 x6
Q300 x4
Keep the Ct4 for training, maybe swap them for the F model, maybe.
Advance onto the Harvard then branch out to helo/multi engine/strike
The A109 for helo training
Q300 for multi engine training and a Mon/Wed/Fri sats run
ROTARY
NH-90 TTH x12
NH-90 NFH x 6
add more Nh-90 in the TTH variant and replace the Sea Sprite with the NFH variant.
STRIKE
F16C/D lot52 x 14/8
Jet training to be done off shore at either a NATO training facility or maybe strtch it to RAAF.
Latest model F16s
MUSUEM
Flyable
UH-1H
A4K
T6
P40
F4
|
|
|
|
Post by skyhawkdon on May 30, 2007 15:17:06 GMT 12
(gee, can you guess who is disgruntled at having spent yet another afternoon at Ohakea with camera in hand and returned with nothing to show for it... again??) Richard You should contact F/S Paul Stein who is the Ohakea PR Officer (and ex RNZAF Photographer). I'm sure he could arrange a guided tour for you. |
|
|
|
Post by Naki on May 30, 2007 16:54:38 GMT 12
This is my idea of an uprated RNZAF (wasn't around when you did the last one) which packs more punch.
Ohakea (Combat & Transport)
75 sqn 12 x JAS -39C Gripen
2 sqn 6 x JAS-39D Gripen
14 Sqn 12 MB-339C (if already gone then 12 PC-21)
40 sqn 5 x C-130H - eventually replace with 3 A400m & 2 Tanker versions of the A400 when they are proven in service
2 x 757
41 sqn 6 x C-295
3 sqn 10 x NH-90
5 x A109LUH (armed)
Whenuapai (Maritime operations) keep open but make it a combined civil military airfield
5 sqn 6 x P-3K (upgraded ASW and equiped with Harpoons)
6 sqn 5 x SH-2G
6 x A-109 (for operation off OPVs, Endeavour etc training)
1 sqn 6 x C-295MP (fisheries, SAR, MP)
also one extra frigate and 4 more OPVs
Woodbourne (Training)
42 sqn 5 x B350 Super King Airs (training, VIP, liason)
CFS 18 x CT-4F
6 x A-109
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on May 31, 2007 14:47:04 GMT 12
Whether there is any imagined $10 billion dollar donation or not, I personally think that the RNZAF should never again acquire US-sourced aircraft or equipment, following the absolute debacle the US State Department have enforced upon NZ over the sale of the Skyhawks and the APC's.
|
|
|
|
Post by beagle on May 31, 2007 15:36:23 GMT 12
so you would prefer the A400 against the herk or globemaster
C295MP against the P3 orion or P8
eurofighter against F16
NH-90 against blackhawk
well yes I have to admit there are quite a few good items from europe now, but pretty sure most things inside would be american like avionics etc.
I think we can put it down to more Ms H Clark rather than the USA
|
|
|
|
Post by 30sqnatc on May 31, 2007 18:13:37 GMT 12
|
|
|
|
Post by FlyNavy on May 31, 2007 20:17:55 GMT 12
You make a good point. Old military training films once readily available world wide on DVD or tape have been reclassified so that some have become for "US only sale". For example a film/video about ACM with the Skyhawk has been reclassified for sale to US residents only. Perhaps this is a trivial example but it illustrates how the new rules - or new enforcement of the rules - affects us.
|
|
|
|
Post by beagle on May 31, 2007 22:10:16 GMT 12
sorry, missed the APC bit, yes they think they are god a bit with their rules.
Supposse they are bigger than us, so we have to obey like the rest of the worlds small nations.
|
|
