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Post by horicle on Sept 22, 2019 12:30:40 GMT 12
What's the anti skid system on the P-3? could that 'lock up'?
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Post by horicle on Aug 21, 2019 9:55:18 GMT 12
Saw It first time (only) round on NZ TV. The first series was good. A comical but fairly accurate representation of RAF CMT or whatever they called it. The second series where they all moved to RAF medical training flopped for me because it became a poorly done medical comedy. Might explain why the was no more.
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Post by horicle on Aug 13, 2019 11:01:44 GMT 12
I see the '-' as in P-8 has even disappeared from official (I think it is official) news releases.
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Post by horicle on Aug 13, 2019 10:49:10 GMT 12
It's the internet and Google. More younger people and giving up on printed news. I fear there is no cure.
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Post by horicle on Aug 4, 2019 17:15:24 GMT 12
Bear in mind that during the years the RAAF F-111's were sitting in the States due to various problems the RAAF were loaned F-4's (was it 24 ?). When the F-111's were delivered after some six years (?) The F-4's were offered to to the Aussies for a very low price. Apart from the fact that they were no longer needed the Aussies now new how much it cost to operate an F-4 fleet. They could not get rid of them fast enough.
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Post by horicle on Jun 22, 2019 12:45:10 GMT 12
Looking at the third photo do you think there is a Camo pattern of brown and green (OD)? Not what I was expecting.
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Post by horicle on Jun 18, 2019 11:26:37 GMT 12
Waiting to hear what the financial situation is.
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Post by horicle on Jun 11, 2019 20:19:07 GMT 12
From todays various Defence Spending/Planning announcements it looks like the supplement to the P-8 fleet is going to be us latching into a satellite reconnaissance system rather than (a) a smaller fixed wing Spartan/C295 type or (b) an RQ-8 style drone.
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Post by horicle on Jun 11, 2019 19:55:05 GMT 12
Today I have picked up some mixed messages.
First, tucked away at the end of TV3's defence spending announcement (11 June 2019 - the C-130J buy) there was the comment that a recent Newshub poll (the exact poll name not legible to my ears but sounded like Reid (or Reed) something) which asked how the Government should prioritise its spending. Defence came in at under 1%. That goes a long way towards explaining the above situations. All credit to Ron Mark who is succeeding agains a vocal Greens opposition. Could that be why the P-8 decision was made first to be followed by the warm fuzzy transport decision. (No, probably Boeing and their mad rush to close the P-8 line and replace it with a more profitable venture.)
Second. This mornings DomPost has a story on page 21 under an Air New Zealand headline. It details the nations top 20 employers as listed by recruitment firm Randstad. Yes Air New Zealand was top. But the R.N.Z.A.F. was new to the list at number 13. A little ray of sunshine.
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Post by horicle on Jun 7, 2019 12:19:47 GMT 12
For the small number of airframes we are talking about it should be possible to get a fleet of the same mod fit/ production status. But then am I right in recalling the the first Beech fleet of hired aircraft had several different inst panel fits amongst the five airframes? It might be harder than you think.
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Post by horicle on Jun 2, 2019 15:01:54 GMT 12
I understand some of the 747's ( I think it was that airframe) were sold to a leasing company and leased back by AirNZ, Unfortunately they missed that at the end of the lease they had to be returned to the N reg which took some serous time and cash to re-approve all the repairs and the like under the FAA system. Now that is a 'fish hook'
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Post by horicle on Jun 1, 2019 12:07:32 GMT 12
Remember the Canberra's. They only lasted 10 years in Kiwi skies. Before they were sold to India one was sent to the UK to investigate the practicality of a main spar replacement (or similar major surgery). The bits were taken off and it never flew again. I think I've got that right.
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Post by horicle on May 31, 2019 12:03:47 GMT 12
Sort of like a wet lease. Far too sensible. There must be a fish hook in there somewhere or everybody would be doing it. Anyway it would crowd out Ohakea a bit.
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Post by horicle on May 29, 2019 15:54:56 GMT 12
Bear in mind Ron Marks TV comment of 23 Apr 2017 "Air Transport of NH90 is lacking and that's part of the future plan”. Mind you in those days he was a P-8 sceptic and has since had his head turned by the Boeing mafia’s influence on his advisors. So the fact that the A400 never got a mention in todays DomPost article and the C-2 made a one line appearance indicates that there has been a lot left unsaid.
Now for the unsaid. Our future transport fleet will not be fit for purpose if there is only one type in the frame. Three types is unworkable from a cost and support point of view. We have stumbled on with just Hercs for a long time and some people have forgotten there is a better way. So which two capabilities of transport do we need and which two types will provide it.
1. A400 and C295 2. C-2 and what
There is no C-130 in the mix
Therefore we will buy 5 C-130J’s and nothing will change. Sad.
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Post by horicle on May 29, 2019 10:32:13 GMT 12
A quick pass through the released document brings up
- Even if New Zealand purchased a new capability such as the P8 surveillance aircraft presently under consideration, a longer runway is not required to support this. -
I thought a runny extension is required. What else might be wrong?
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Post by horicle on Apr 16, 2019 11:11:22 GMT 12
I am still looking at ways the Air Force might supplement the small P-8 fleet. If a King Air can carry the kit needed then some additional (dedicated) airframes might fill the bill. But, even with the current miniaturisation of electronics is the King Air big enough and has it the range/endurance to fit the task?
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Post by horicle on Apr 7, 2019 12:08:43 GMT 12
Interesting thought. Could we get by without a Herc in the mix. Just two or three strategic lifters and a larger number of smaller tactical transports. It starts to make more sense if the tactical transport also has a maritime patrol version that could be used to supplement the small P-8 fleet. Too radical.
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Post by horicle on Apr 7, 2019 12:01:23 GMT 12
Whats that line about them that don't know history will Iive to see it happen again.
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Post by horicle on Mar 20, 2019 9:06:37 GMT 12
I wonder what the chances of acquiring another 2-3 new airframes a bit further down the line are. Pretty sure NZDF are wanting another type of airframe to compliment the P-8 and they were also talking about drones... DID have announced that Australia has ordered Four Gulfstream G555 which will be delivered with an electronic warfare (EW) fit in a deal worth 1.7 billion. These will be based at Edinburgh along with the P-8's and MQ-4C Tritons. Which way are we going to go?
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Post by horicle on Mar 9, 2019 13:04:49 GMT 12
The only thing that will work is the Scorpion (think 'combat kindergarten' which can cover recon, surveillance, interdiction, armed policing) but since the political will is weak it is just an interesting conversation.
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