|
|
Post by Gavin Conroy on Mar 29, 2009 19:06:14 GMT 12
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 29, 2009 23:12:13 GMT 12
That first shot over the Marlborough Sounds is fantastic. Whenever I see shots like this of the Sounds from the air, I can't help thinking how cool it would have been for the early RNZAF guys cruising over that area in their Baffins and Vildebeests keeping Cook Strait safe.
The Maachi shots are interesting, has '60 gone civilian? It has lost ot's RNZAF markings. Is that for 'demonstration purposes'?
The Orion shot has a real urgency about it, was there a casualty aboard? Or was the waiting ambulance just co-incidence?
The Beech King Airs may not be as practical and versatile as the Andovers, but damn they look great! Nice photos of them Gav. Are they doors open at the rear fuselage for some reason, or are they permanent fin type things protruding under the tail?
Well done, all round a very interesting selection.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bruce on Mar 30, 2009 7:36:08 GMT 12
The RNZAF B200s have twin ventral fins - the factory B200s has a single fin, but these were replaced by the twin fins as part of the Raisbeck performance kit that all these machines have (in addition they have extended nacelles with baggage lockers, larger mainwheels, 4 bladed props and different intake ducting). An added advantage of the twin ventral fins is better gound clearance, especially in a steep rotation that may be required in STOL operations.
|
|
|
|
Post by tbf25o4 on Mar 30, 2009 8:20:36 GMT 12
When the Macchis were "retired" they were passed to the ownership of the Ministry of Defence and the contracted company to sell. In order to provide a "fly away package
the macchis have been kept in a flyable condition.
As they are now longer on the RNZAF inventory the national markings were removed leaving only the last two digits of the serial number for identification.
The radio callsigns are also subtle as they use "Falcon" followed by the last two digits.
All this to apparently appease the previous government who did not want them to be seen as still on the RNZAF's books!!
|
|
|
|
Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 30, 2009 9:38:03 GMT 12
Some really nice action photos of Ohakea at work. I saw one of those Macchis do a few circuits at Palmerston North last week. I'd forgotten just how loud they are.
|
|
|
|
Post by philip on Mar 30, 2009 9:45:55 GMT 12
Which begs the question, if they're flyable, unsellable, relatively economic to keep, why not keep them?
|
|
|
|
Post by vgp on Mar 30, 2009 10:51:05 GMT 12
Didn't they use those callsigns in service with the Addition of i.e ' Falcon Black' for formation etc or 'tutor' for students Pilots on a solo Flight?
Great Photo's Gavin.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 30, 2009 11:56:28 GMT 12
So if there was an order to remove the fleet's national markings, why is one of them in that photo wearing national markings, and why did Air Force News have an article about two years ago saying Hoss was going to leave the national markings of the RNZAF on them?
Is that one with the markings ready to fly away to the RNZAF Museum while the others go to the scrap dealers?
|
|
|
|
Post by sleemanj on Mar 30, 2009 13:54:36 GMT 12
Unless it's slung under a helicopter, it won't be flying to the RNZAF Museum, that's for sure.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 30, 2009 14:39:48 GMT 12
Yes but it could quite eaily fly to Harewood where the wings would be removed and they could place it on their Queen Mary trailer.
|
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Mar 30, 2009 18:19:53 GMT 12
Nah, the sale's about to be finalised - the new owners are just waiting for Citibank and AIG to sign off on the loan...........once the US Federal Reserve has finished bailing them out of deep trouble and once the hoo har about the executive bonuses has died down!  |
|
