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Post by McFly on Mar 7, 2024 17:43:02 GMT 12
"Three aircraft landing at Base Auckland (Whenuapai) after a practice for the upcoming Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow later this month. Boeing 757 & two C-130 Hercules."
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Post by McFly on Mar 4, 2024 14:22:52 GMT 12
Auckland Museum’s te reo Māori plans ridiculed, opponents label them ‘PC snowflakes’ - (Link) The Spinoff - By Tommy de Silva - 4 Mar, 2024
Despite being called woke and PC snowflakes by opponents, the museum intends to centre te reo Māori me ōna tikanga and mātauranga more deeply in its operations going forward.
Annual plans don’t typically garner media, political or public attention, nor many submissions during consultation. Tāmaki Paenga Hira/Auckland War Memorial Museum’s annual plans usually pass through with little comment or attention. Its draft 2024/2025 plan, however, laying out the museum’s pathway to its 2029 centenary, is different.
Act Party MP Mark Cameron called the plan divisive and disrespectful. “Auckland War Memorial Museum’s plan to transform into a tikanga-led ‘social impact organisation’ stinks of the politically-correct mission creep that already besets too many of our public institutions,” Cameron wrote. He called the museum expanding repatriation “a massive own goal”, and said the plan’s “gibberish” transforms the museum “into a woke political organisation”.
So what is actually in the plan? It says the that to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and biculturalism, the museum must disrupt colonial narratives in favour of further elevating te reo Māori me ōna tikanga and mātauranga plus tikanga Māori.
Cameron’s statement referenced a Newstalk ZB article (free on the Herald) “Auckland Museum to shift from ‘colonial museum’ to ‘Te Tiriti-led Museum’”. The article’s tone suggests that Tāmaki Paenga Hira’s annual plan radically reinterpreted its remit – but at a February 29 hui, museum board members rejected that suggestion. They said that recognising te ao Māori in their latest annual plan simply builds on their pre-existing foundation of celebrating our indigenous culture.
One of two public submitters present, Dr Roger Lins from the Auckland Museum Initiative, said the plan “stands on the foundation of what you’ve been doing for at least 10 years.” The plan backs up the board and Lins’ points. “In the last few years,” it reads, “we have progressed a number of initiatives which form the foundation for becoming a tikanga-led museum.” Examples include the Māori/Pasifika-led textile project Te Aho Mutunga Kore and revitalising Te Toki a Tapiri (the last surviving great historic war canoe) by replacing its bindings and lashing with authentic materials. Revitalising the waka taua is led by raranga experts from the five iwi associated with the taonga.
At the hui, the board approved its draft annual plan – but what does it explicitly say about the museum building upon its pre-existing Te Tiriti and tikanga obligations? Tāmaki Paenga Hira will “move to disrupt our colonial narratives in line with our commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This builds upon the bicultural foundation,” reads the plan’s strategic framework. It says this strategy represents the museum today and who it aspires to be. The plan also approved Auckland War Memorial Museum becoming more informed by te reo Māori me ōna tikanga and mātauranga. In his written submission, Lins said these approaches represent “a clear and powerful vision for the museum.”
Other Māori initiatives in the plan include:
• Creating two annual summer scholarships for tauira Māori and Pasifika • Developing a repatriation policy which upholds Te Tiriti and redresses past injustices by returning kōiwi and taonga • Expanding their Matariki celebrations • Exploring warfare’s impact on Māori • Giving Te Aho Mutunga Kore dedicated funding and staff • Learning from iwi about te taiao • Partnering with tāngata whenua to authentically represent te ao Māori and care for and conserve taonga • Redeveloping the ageing Māori court before the museum’s centenary • Strengthening their Māori workforce • Undertaking an indigenous-led ecosystem management plan in the Kermadecs
At the meeting, the board discussed the plan’s wording about how it could overcome the colonial narratives which have thus far dominated the museum. Initially the plan’s wording mentioned that the museum was keen to move on from colonial narratives, but that was changed to “disrupt” colonial narratives. After public consultation, the museum’s planning committee chairwoman, Penny Hulse, suggested removing the word “disrupt” to avoid inflaming annual plan opponents. CEO David Reeves suggested changing it to “interrogate”, but board member Rachel Tūwhāngai said that was too strong. David Williams, an emeritus professor in law at Auckland University and a Waitangi Tribunal member, wanted to ensure the plan “keeps specific references to Te Tiriti”. Ultimately, the board agreed the wording could be decided later.
Reeves explained that slight modifications would be made, but there would be “no radical u-turn”. Minor wording changes were as far as the board were willing to go to incorporate feedback from public submissions. Hulse, a former deputy mayor, explained that because there were “57 submissions out of 1.7 million people”, their views didn’t represent a large enough mandate to necessitate the museum taking a “step back.”
Of the overwhelmingly elderly Pākehā submitters, more opposed the plan than supported it. Twenty-six per cent cited concerns over Te Tiriti, with some calling it irrelevant. One said, “there is absolutely no need to be Te Tiriti-led. It’s a museum for all of NZ. Stop the activism… and be a museum.” Many submitters echoed Act MP Cameron’s statement, saying Tāmaki Paenga Hira leaders were woke, politically correct snowflakes who lacked impartiality. “It’s a war museum! Not a woke museum,” one wrote. “Sack the pathetic woke activists,” said an elderly woman who’d never visited Auckland Museum and didn’t plan to. However, not all submitters were against the annual plan – for example, a rangatahi Māori from Manukau said Te Tiriti was important.
Submitters were invited to present feedback in person, with two doing so, the aforementioned Lins and Bill Rayner from the elderly advocacy group Grey Power. They both broadly supported the plan. Within the sector, “there are winds of change,” explained Rayner, who thought alongside centring te ao Māori, the museum should still uphold its other commitments, like being a war memorial.
In the aftermath of Posie Parker’s visit to NZ, the museum decided against showcasing a hit JK Rowling associated exhibition after she was criticised as being anti-trans. Image / Tina Tiller / The Spinoff
Although the Māori parts of the Tāmaki Paenga Hira annual plan received media and political attention, they were not the plan’s only proposals, nor the only kaupapa submitters mentioned. Many public submitters discussed the museum’s decision to cancel the Fantastic Beasts exhibition over concerns about Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s anti-trans stance. A submitter wrote, “Drop the rainbow… be a museum”, while another said, “This museum is for ALL New Zealanders, not zealots, Trans Activists and Racists.”
Regarding the annual plan’s other motions, Auckland Museum will introduce a more sustainable three-year funding model. It will also change its policy for lighting up the museum’s exterior after they found themselves in hot water for a pro-Israel lighting display as Israel was bombarding Palestine. Staff mental health was also discussed at the hui. Director of people and organisation Catherine Smith said that museum staff, particularly kaimahi Māori, have experienced increased mental health concerns of late. Smith explained there has been a “very deep impact of how this political swing to the right has had on tāngata whenua staff.” It was agreed that the Government’s rhetoric has emboldened people to attack the museum and its employees.
As 2024′s first Tāmaki Paenga Hira board hui wound down, a stirring waiata could clearly be heard in the second-floor meeting room from the ground-floor’s ageing but still captivating Māori court.
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Post by McFly on Mar 4, 2024 13:48:42 GMT 12
"At the wedding of Wing Commander Patrick Geraint 'Jamie' Jameson and Hilda Webster. - Miss Webster with her bridesmaid and Group Captain Basil Embry before the wedding" - Sep 1941 (PR8802)
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Post by McFly on Feb 28, 2024 17:10:08 GMT 12
Was also attached to 9 Squadron RAAF at Vung Tau, August 1969, later flew DC-10s, and also imported and flew the Fouga Magister ZK-FGA... "Squadron Leader DM Dallison, No. 75 Squadron Commanding Officer (left), with another man, standing in front of a Vampire engine on the back of a truck at Kaitaia aerodrome. Circa 1965" (MUS100028)
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Post by McFly on Feb 23, 2024 9:09:14 GMT 12
What happened to this Jurca Spitfire? Did he ever fly it? It does not seem to be on the NZ register. From 2016...
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Post by McFly on Feb 21, 2024 19:07:43 GMT 12
Then there is the small issue of the V1 replica....It is not a replica. That is a genuine V1 that fell on London. ( Link)...
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Post by McFly on Feb 20, 2024 16:57:34 GMT 12
I vote they should return the Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero-sen 22 back to Japan... ( link)
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Post by McFly on Feb 20, 2024 16:12:41 GMT 12
Auckland War Memorial Museum plans to shift from ‘colonial museum’ to ‘Te Tiriti-led museum’Auckland War Memorial Museum plans to shift from ‘colonial museum’ to ‘Te Tiriti-led museum’ (link) 20 Feb, 2024 The Auckland War Memorial Museum plans to move from what it describes as a “colonial museum” to “a Te Tiriti-led museum” which will operate as a social impact organisation.
Its draft annual plan, The Path to 2029, says the change will involve a move from “seeing ourselves primarily as an expert and keeper of knowledge and collections ... to a time when more collections may be repatriated, and the care of those items may be shared”. “The first shift sees us move from a colonial Museum to a Te Tiriti-led Museum,” the plan reads. ”This builds upon our bicultural foundation, which in our context recognises Māori as Tangata Whenua. The other strand is Tangata Tiriti – the people of the Treaty – which includes all other cultures and communities that now call Aotearoa New Zealand home by virtue of the Treaty. This approach includes everyone.”
The path will also include the development of a policy and an approach of proactive repatriation of taonga. The museum confirmed to ZB Plus that repatriation would include more than human remains. “We anticipate repatriating other taonga, not just human remains, as has been our practice for many years,” a spokesperson said. “The change ... is to be more transparent with communities about our work in this area and understanding the barriers to requests for repatriations. This is in line with what many museums worldwide are doing. We are keeping up with a global professional shift.“
Auckland Museum was established in 1852 and when the building in the Domain was opened in 1929, it became Auckland War Memorial Museum. “It remains an encyclopaedic museum with a wide range of topics within its scope, and includes particular galleries and programmes focused on war history,” the spokesperson continued. The Auckland War Memorial Museum plans to move from what it describes as a “colonial museum” to “a Te Tiriti-led museum”. “It is a simple fact of the museum’s history that it was born in colonial times, and this context has influenced its character and make-up. “There has been some thoughtful discussion recently on the role of museums in general, and the ownership of objects that may have been acquired without proper permission many years in the past. Museums around the world have their legacies rooted in colonialism, and this is an important and ongoing conversation for us to be part of.”
The plan was adopted for consultation on December 7 and published on January 15. It is due to be adopted in April and is due to be reviewed at a board meeting on February 29. Public submissions have now closed. Anyone who has made a submission is invited to appear and be heard in relation to their submission on February 29, 2024, at Auckland Museum.
The museum is subject to the Auckland War Memorial Museum Act 1996 which provides for the maintenance, management, development, ownership, and funding of the Auckland War Memorial Museum and its contents.
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Post by McFly on Feb 19, 2024 15:43:01 GMT 12
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Post by McFly on Feb 17, 2024 13:03:16 GMT 12
The only thing that will cause a government in NZ on any side of the political spectrum to spend significantly more on defense is a war, and by then it's too late. I'm just waiting for the army to start buying environmentally friendly electric vehicles to replace their current inventory. NZ Defence Force plugs into electric vehicles (link) Sep 29, 2020The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has taken a major step towards reducing its carbon footprint by purchasing its first electric vehicle (EV) and installing EV charging stations at Trentham Military Camp.
The Hyundai Ioniq will join the fleet at Trentham, where the two Delta 7kW slow charging stations are also available for personnel to charge their private EVs. It is part of the Defence Force’s wider programme towards a more sustainable operation, which fits with the Government’s drive to put more EVs on the roads. The Trentham trial will determine how many chargers might be needed and how best a booking system might work.Trentham Camp Commander, Major Jim Maguire plugs into the new charging station on camp
Defence Estate and Infrastructure Sustainability Manager Dr Lee Bint said the Trentham trial would help determine the most appropriate type of charging station. It will also guide the use of EV charging stations at other NZDF sites.
Dr Bint said the Trentham pilot was part of the Defence Force’s sustainability roadmap Tuku Iho, which means “to pass on what you’ve received in at least as good as, if not better than, what you receive it in”. “The Defence Force is one of the biggest employers and landowners in the country. As such we have huge responsibility to look after our people, buildings, land and taonga. “From electric vehicles to efficient buildings, environmental stewardship and looking after our people’s growth and embracing our bicultural heritage, we want to make sustainability part of everything we do. “We are soon to adopt a roadmap where sustainability is part of business-as-usual operations. The NZDF estate includes 81,000 hectares of land (bigger than Tongariro National Park), 5000 buildings and thousands of vehicles so we can potentially make a massive contribution to reducing the country’s carbon footprint.”
The NZDF would have to play its part in the Government’s goal of increasing the number of EVs, she said. “We need charging infrastructure if we want electric fleet vehicles.” The NZDF is already trialling four electric utility bikes for their suitability for use in the field, and electric carts are used at a number of bases. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is also replacing diesel passenger stair units with fully electric units at air bases around the country.
Trentham Camp Commander Major Jim Maguire said a survey had shown there was good support for the charging stations. “A lot of our fleet vehicles are doing short trips around Wellington and EVs are perfect for that. “The Army is adopting new technology all the time and this trial will see how EVs can be used efficiently for our tasks while lowering our carbon footprint. “A lot of our staff are looking at buying their own EVs and having the charging stations on camp is an incentive because it offers them more flexibility about when they can charge up.”
Steve West, CEO and Founder of ChargeNet said: “We’re pleased to partner with the New Zealand Defence Force on their sustainability initiatives. It’s an absolute honour to help the brave Kiwis who protect New Zealand’s interests make the switch to electric vehicles. By installing AC chargers at Trentham Military Camp, the NZDF joins dozens of other businesses around New Zealand offering EV charging to their employees.”
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Post by McFly on Feb 16, 2024 17:05:09 GMT 12
Fixed Wing Water Bombing in NZ ( link)
Following the Second World War, there were plenty of ex-military pilots and planes. Aerial top dressing of fertiliser became established in New Zealand’s rural areas. A newspaper article claimed that the first water bombing trials in the South Island were carried out at Lincoln on 31 January 1956. The trials were sponsored by the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council with the co-operation of Canterbury Agriculture College. Simulation fires were lit in a fallowed paddock at the college, and two aircraft from Auster Air Services Ltd flew from an adjacent paddock. The fires were in straw and pine branches, laced with diesel, and there was a light wind. One of the planes was a Taylorcraft (360 litres water load), and the other was a Tiger Moth (180 litres). The aerial attacks were not quite as effective as had been hoped. Most of the observers thought that the use of aircraft had possibilities, but there was a lot to learn.
A memorandum to the Minister of Forests from the Director General of the NZ Forest Service AL Poole on 17 April 1970 reviewed water bombing trials over the previous 15 years. The memorandum had probably been prompted by an aerial attack at a Silverstream fire on 6 March that year. Canadians had also been demonstrating a water bomber in Australia early in 1970. The NZ Forest Service had conducted experiments in conjunction with the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council between 1956 and 1959. A report by AR Entrican (then DG) and ER Blake in 1960 effectively squashed all local enthusiasts at that time. Due to a shortage of work during the temporary recession in 1968, air companies endeavoured to revive interest, and the Forest Service made further experiments with a DC3 in Palmerston North in 1968, and with Piper aircraft at Golden downs Forest in 1969. Both proved as ineffectual as previous trials.
During the 1969-70 fire season, Ad Astra Aviation Ltd (Tauranga) and Air Contracts Ltd (Pahiatua) had been promoting aerial water bombing to metropolitan, urban and county fire authorities. Forest Service Fire Control Officers had only been able to evaluate the efforts at the Silverstream (Hutt County) fire on 6 March. One officer was working on the fireline directly below the 900 litre drops. He claimed that each drop was like gentle rain over a 10 to 17 second period, and had no effect on the fire whatsoever. This was in contrast to the fulsome publicity given to the bombing. The officer’s small crew were the only firefighters anywhere near the fire which was most lazy, and could have been dealt with several men using shovels in an afternoon. The memorandum concluded that extravagant claims were being made of the effectiveness of water bombing.
The promotion of fixed wing water bombing continued. In a telex to Conservancies, dated 17 January 1979, the Chief Fire Control Officer, Bill Girling-Butcher stated that ‘we have proved that small loads are ineffectual and large loads wasteful’. He added that in 1976, the Forest Service endeavoured to set up a 7000 litre modular system in which the load is pressurised to prevent slipstream erosion of the drop, but Defence declined the use of a Hercules aircraft. Nevertheless, the air companies persisted, and limited use is made of small agricultural-type planes, such as the Cresco, in parts of the country to drop water and additives. This is in contrast to Canada and Europe where Canadair float planes are a significant firefighting resource, or the US where jet tanker planes as big as DC10’s (45,000 litre loads) and Boeing 747’s (80,000 litre) are available.frfanz.org.nz/history/aerial_support/
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Post by McFly on Feb 16, 2024 16:39:02 GMT 12
NZ aviation tech company Skybase develops pilotless planes to fight bushfires ( link) 6 Jan, 2023 Canterbury-based aviation technology company Skybase has developed pilotless technology to help fight fires. A New Zealand aviation technology company is developing pilotless planes to fight bushfires from the skies.
Canterbury-based Skybase is converting aircraft to fly remotely in a world-leading move designed to revolutionise firefighting. It involves putting high-tech artificial-intelligence computer systems inside Kiwi-made Fletcher top-dressing planes and keeping pilots safely behind computer screens on the ground. The move will mean when conditions - such as poor weather, fading light or firefighter fatigue - ground planes and helicopters, the converted drone aircraft can still take to the air and drop vast litres of water and fire retardant on flames and hotspots. Michael Read, founder of Skybase, says the technology to convert planes to drones could be used across many different sectors. In a New Zealand-first, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted Skybase certification in May 2022 to carry out remotely operated test flights on the condition a pilot was on board. “That was a key moment for aviation in New Zealand,” said Skybase founder Michael Read.
The company, which was founded in Christchurch in 2017, has been testing the technology out of Rangiora airfield, 30km north of the city. Its long-term vision is for the aircraft to be completely autonomous. But for now, they are reliant on pilots to supervise and step in when needed.
The remote pilot on the ground has to be qualified in the New Zealand-made Pacific Aerospace Fletcher - often described as a “workhorse” utility plane - but can be based anywhere in the world. Pilots fly as if they’re inside the cockpit, talking to air traffic control, and watching several monitors. “You’re doing everything from the ground that you would do from the air,” said Read, a former Royal Australian Air Force pilot.
The ground technology is connected to the aircraft through several communication modes, including tracking antennae, satellite and mobile phone network. A trained pilot controls the aircraft from the ground. And the development of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet constellation could prove a “gamechangar” in the future.
Read envisages the flight autonomy upgrade system for existing aircraft, dubbed SOFI, also becoming useful for other sectors, including agriculture, mapping, surveillance, cargo operations, first responders, medevac missions and natural disaster responses. The plane can carry 1500kg and could air-drop emergency supplies after floods or cyclones and in weather deemed too dangerous for manned planes. “There are a lot of reasons to do this technology other than aerial firefighting,” Read said. “But right now, that is the focus because [fires] are extremely dangerous and increasingly prevalent.”
He cites key statistics to support his arguments, including that around 80 per cent of all aviation accidents are caused by humans and, in 2021, 17 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions came from uncontained bushfires. The technology is being trialled at Rangiora airfield.
The ability for pilotless planes to be on standby 24/7 could help eliminate wildfires “as a catastrophic threat”, Read said. “Speed is the key to fighting uncontrolled fires.”
But about 75 per cent of the time, safety regulations around risk factors such as poor visibility mean planes are grounded while the fire burns on. Most blazes start late in the day when it’s hot and thunderstorms are active. And overnight, when manned aircraft aren’t able to fly, can be the best time to fight fires, with lower winds and temperatures. “This technology changes what is possible, unlocking flight at times or in places where it wouldn’t otherwise be possible if a pilot was on board. It increases safety and capability, but also commercial returns,” said Read. “Not having a human pilot on board means the risk benefit is very favourable.”
Skybase expects SOFI units to be rolled out commercially in 2024. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nz-aviation-tech-company-skybase-develops-pilotless-planes-to-fight-bushfires/BHT6EWRHMBHF7G33V4DHUIA27Q/
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Post by McFly on Feb 16, 2024 13:49:03 GMT 12
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Post by McFly on Feb 16, 2024 12:24:41 GMT 12
Need some of these...
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Post by McFly on Feb 16, 2024 12:00:09 GMT 12
MRH-90 crash Australia - Looks like the truth is surfacing. The HUD shows pitch as roll and Defence says we’re managing it.! RAAF Test Pilot Says ADF pilots flew with faulty TOP OWL equipment during fatal Taipan crash in 2023.
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Post by McFly on Feb 15, 2024 21:23:54 GMT 12
Luger's...!! "No. 14 Squadron pilot, presumed to be Sergeant DW Robertson, checks his Luger pistol before leaving RNZAF Station, Whenuapai."(PR887)
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Post by McFly on Feb 15, 2024 19:23:21 GMT 12
NZ Defence Force ( link) Kiwi roundel complete ✅ The first of our Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J-30 Hercules to come off the Lockheed Martin production line in Georgia, United States has received its official livery - featuring the RNZAF Kiwi Roundel and No. 40 Squadron’s mariner's compass. Five new aircraft are on track for delivery starting from late this year to replace the C-130H (NZ) Hercules aircraft, which were purchased in 1965. The new aircraft can carry a greater number of pallets, due to their additional 4.5 metre length and payload capacity of 21 tonnes. The second Hercules in the fleet is not far behind, ready for its full-body paint job.
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Post by McFly on Feb 15, 2024 19:16:46 GMT 12
On the weekend I was told a rumour that the new C-130J's that are yet to enter RNZAF service have had a restriction placed on them in that they will not be allowed to operate on grass airfields, only paved runways. Is there any truth to this rumour? Or is it bunkum, as I suspect/hope. ( link)
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Post by McFly on Feb 15, 2024 17:04:49 GMT 12
Retired airliner reconstructed in New Zealand ( link) A former Air New Zealand ATR 72 is being rebuilt by a group from the country’s Classic Flyers organisationA team of volunteers at Classic Flyers based in Tauranga, New Zealand, have made significant progress on their rebuild of ATR 72 ZK-MCJ. The retired airliner, which formerly flew with Air New Zealand, is destined to be used as a training aid by JNP Aviation, who are also based at Tauranga. In a statement, Classic Flyers thanked their hard-working volunteers and said: “This will become an impressive training device for the JNP business and a very distinct asset on the Tauranga Airport.”
The ATR 72 was withdrawn from New Zealand’s civil register last March. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft’s wings and tail were removed from the fuselage, enabling the various parts to be trucked to their new home.
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Post by McFly on Feb 15, 2024 16:49:59 GMT 12
On the weekend I was told a rumour that the new C-130J's that are yet to enter RNZAF service have had a restriction placed on them in that they will not be allowed to operate on grass airfields, only paved runways. Is there any truth to this rumour? Or is it bunkum, as I suspect/hope. It is worrying that no-one has jumped on here and slammed the rumour I posted above as untrue. Ok I'll start.... So it doesn't seem to be a limitation with the C-130J-30...
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