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Post by SEAN on Jul 22, 2009 6:48:58 GMT 12
Hi All Found this in DFO's(F) quite interesting if you were not aware, like me. There is also a whole chapter on allocating serial numbers to aircraft.
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Post by kiwirico on Jul 29, 2009 20:05:29 GMT 12
GREAT news mikek, good to hear that the Woodbourne branch will get new airframes! On the other side, what will happen to the Devons? Hope they will be preserved around NZ.
Cheers,
KiwiRico
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Post by sopwitht1 on Jul 29, 2009 22:28:54 GMT 12
"I would have been nice to seen the ex Air NZ B747-400 ZK-NBS and Qantas B737-300 ZK-JNO been used for ground technical trade training that be sold and broken up for scrap."
Sadly, the decision was made to send the first 744 to the States for scrapping - there was a fleeting rumour it might have been flown into Woodbourne and scrapped there. Nice work if you can get it! JNO's not been scrapped - Air NZ are going to use it for mocking up interior equipment for their BBJ upgrade venture. The fuselage was sitting outside Hangar Five at CHCH.
It'd be great to see more Devons about if they are sold - I foolishly asked if the Strikemasters might be flown again in another thread - forgetting they were grounded due to cracks in the spars!
Regarding the Seasprites, They'll most likely be for engineering trade training rather than for systems or operational training, so cockpit layout won't matter. It'll be interesting to see what happens to the Oz ones - they're very different structurally and in equipment to other SH-2Gs; not really compatible with existing aircraft - they and the Kiwi ones were built by Safe Air staff in Connecticut, though.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jul 30, 2009 7:34:08 GMT 12
No mention of the Strikemasters there... perhaps they don't want to admit we still have some jets!
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Post by davekiwi on Jul 30, 2009 11:09:23 GMT 12
Well - the Devons being replaced -- imagine that. No more 'Carbon Pile' Voltage Regulators to practice on --- such a wonderful "modern" piece of equipment :-) --- wonder if 2TTS still teaches about 'Mag Amps' -- as was fitted to the Andover.
Always was semi amusing - that even in the early 1980s, the technology being taught / used in the RNZAF was "old" even by the standard of the day. Any one for "valves" in their auto pilot ala C-130H .... marvelous piece of 1950s tech :-).
Certainly - the avoinics trade will never be the same again.
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Post by vgp on Jul 30, 2009 11:32:02 GMT 12
Part of the NZDF Press Release 29 July 2009 Located Here: www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/media-releases/20090729-aftutaft.htmThe first two Mitsubishi MU-2Fs are due to arrive at RNZAF Base Woodbourne Saturday 01 August 09. The second two Mitsubishi MU-2Fs are due 8-12 August. Media will be invited to attend the arrival of the second two Mitsubishi MU-2Fs 08-12 August. __________________________________________ and info as mentioned by Flyjoe180 on the MU-2 Presently Flying in NZ located here: www.rescue.org.nz/hamilton/fixedwing/fixedwing.htmlThe Mitsubishi MU-2 is a twin engine powered pressurised aircraft based at Hamilton Airport
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 30, 2009 12:51:49 GMT 12
It will be interesting to see photos of the Mitsi's flying in. These must be the first type of aircraft purchased for the RNZAF specifically to become a ground trainer and not actually be used in service, wouldn't it? Or were there some impressed types in WWII that went solely into the instructional airframe role? I guess they'll eventually gain interesting RNZAF colour schemes as the Aircraft Finishers train on them. Another one for the modellers...
So this will bring the number of Seasprites in NZ up to 15 isn't it? Six at the GTS, five in service, one at Wigram in the Musuem and one at Whenuapai as a fire trainer. Neat.
Doesn't the GTS have a/some Iroquois too? One was at Omaka in 2007. Are they staying or going? How many Sioux have they got there now?
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Post by phil on Jul 30, 2009 17:21:33 GMT 12
One Iroquois, painted now as 3817, although it used to be 3800 I think. It is/was actually an attrition airframe. Not sure how many Sioux, but at least one.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 30, 2009 17:30:03 GMT 12
Thanks Phil.
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Post by corsair67 on Jul 30, 2009 17:37:00 GMT 12
Isn't NZ3800 the ex-US Army Huey now located in the Air Force Museum?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 30, 2009 18:16:05 GMT 12
The Air Force Museum one is indeed marked as NZ3800
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Post by phil on Jul 30, 2009 18:41:02 GMT 12
Maybe the WB one was simply marked 38, I'm sure it wasn't '17' when I photographed it at Ohakea a few years ago. It made the trip north for painting.
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Post by kiwirico on Jul 30, 2009 19:21:55 GMT 12
One Iroquois, painted now as 3817, although it used to be 3800 I think. It is/was actually an attrition airframe. Not sure how many Sioux, but at least one. You are right, just one Sioux in service as instructional airframe; NZ3707. Cheers, KiwiRico
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 30, 2009 20:13:49 GMT 12
Yes, now I recall when i saw that Iroquois at Omaka in 2007 ir was marked simply NZ38. It was mentioned in one of the airshow threads too.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jul 30, 2009 20:56:58 GMT 12
NZ3800 Omaka 4Apr2007 (You're right Dave) Sioux NZ3707 two days later, 6Apr2007. This Sioux crashed at Waiouru 2Apr74. Was rebuilt with parts of NZ3711 as training airframe INST221 for 4TTS Woodbourne (but presumably remained painted up as NZ3707?). First I've ever heard of a NZ3717! As far as I know, the Sioux only went up to NZ3713.
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Post by phil on Jul 30, 2009 22:11:07 GMT 12
First I've ever heard of a NZ3717! As far as I know, the Sioux only went up to NZ3713. First anyone has heard of it, you just made it up.
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Post by SEAN on Jul 31, 2009 10:58:22 GMT 12
Got some info for you all, as well as a some photo's: Attached are 4 photos; image 001 is s/n: 226, 2 ea of s/n: 154, and s/n: 177 landing after a test flight. They are being purchased from Flight Director Inc in the USA. GTW are in the process of registering the MU-2's with the RNZAF. to get RNZAF ID's. Their manufactures s/n's are: MU-2F, s/n: 226 MU-2F, s/n: 131, MU-2F, s/n: 154, MU-2F, s/n: 177. Engines + prop s/n’s: MU-2F, s/n 226: engines: Garrett/Airesearch TPE331-1-151A; s/n’s: P92056 / P92152C props: Hartzell HC-B3TN; s/n’s: BVA-7150 / BVA-7128. MU-2F, s/n:131: engines Garrett/Airesearch TPE331-1-151A; s/n’s: P92223C / P90006C props: Hartzell HC-B3TN; s/n’s: BVA-6885 / BVA-6478. MU-2F, s/n:154: engines: Garrett/Airesearch TPE331-1-151A; s/n’s: P92146 / P91127 props: Hartzell HC-B3TN; s/n’s: BVA-6504 / BVA-6529 MU-2F, s/n: 177: engines: Garrett/Airesearch TPE331-1-151A; s/n’s: P92173C / P92324C props: Hartzell HC-B3TN; s/n’s: BVA-6926 / BVA-6944 The SH-2F numbers arn't known yet, again GTW will register them with the RNZAF (they'll get a 3 digit number followed by a G) GTW will be disposing of the 5 De Havilland Devons, probably the Boeing 727 and the Huey. Will let you all know if and when I get any further info :
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 31, 2009 11:25:25 GMT 12
Oh no, disposing of the 727 can only mean scrapping it, surely. That is very sad if that's the case. I don't believe it can fly out of there, and probably cannot be trucked out to anywhere. It would be a huge shame if it is not preserved.
Thanks for the detailed info though Sean. Nice to see the photos. They look like a nice tidy fleet.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jul 31, 2009 14:50:24 GMT 12
Doubt that it would fly anywhere the tail was chopped off to fit it in the hangar. I'm very surprised such a small, relatively old turboprop has been selected for ground training. I hope they don't start those baby Garretts, they sound awful.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jul 31, 2009 15:07:57 GMT 12
What sort of Avionics have they got in them? I wouldn't have thought it would have been particularly modern or relevant to current (and more importantly future) RNZAF airframes/upgrades (same goes for the F model 'Sprites). But I guess the powerplant and systems is a big step up for the sumpies and framies from the Devons.
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