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Post by Marcus on Jul 19, 2007 23:02:37 GMT 12
Hi Dave
Strange?
Marcus
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Post by Marcus on Jul 19, 2007 21:26:32 GMT 12
Hi all I love the colour scheme of ZK - EUD! Photos taken at Hamilton on 29-09-2006 Marcus
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Post by Marcus on Apr 10, 2008 17:02:57 GMT 12
First Gripen accepted. Date: 7 April 2008
The South African Air Force will today accept its first of 26 Saab Gripen C/D fighters into squadron service, less than one week after retiring its last unit of Denel Cheetah C/Ds.
To be assigned to 2 Sqn, which on 2 April ceased operations with the Cheetah at Makhado air base, two-seat aircraft SA01 will operate from the service's Overberg air base for around the next two years, supporting continued software development work and additional weapons testing for the new fleet. The aircraft last November completed a development test campaign at the site which had totalled 199 sorties since August 2006.
South Africa will receive its next two-seat Gripen later this year, with all deliveries under what was Saab's first export sale for the type scheduled for completion during 2012.
Saab has already made deliveries of the Gripen to the Czech Republic and Hungary, with production continuing for domestic operator Sweden and a six-strong order also recently secured from Thailand. The company will roll out an enlarged Gripen NG (Next Generation) demonstrator at its LinkÃping production facility on 23 April.
Source: Flightglobal.com
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Post by Marcus on Apr 5, 2008 10:54:02 GMT 12
End of the runway for Cheetah fighter jets Graeme Hosken April 03 2008 at 07:28AM It was the end of an era for the SA Air Force (SAAF) on Wednesday when the Cheetah fighter jets were decommissioned.
The Cheetahs are to be replaced by Gripen fighter jets, which will arrive between now and 2012.
At the height of its military power, South Africa had 58 Cheetah fighter jets.
During the decommissioning at Air Force Base Makhado in Limpopo on Wednesday, SAAF Chief Lieutenant Carlo Gagiano took part in the 14-jet fly-by, performed by the 2 Cheetah Squadron.
Gagiano described the Cheetah as a fighter jet that separated the men from the boys.
"The Cheetah was born out of the necessity to counteract the development of the more advanced technologies by our then adversaries and the need to modernise the inventory of the SAAF," he said, adding that the Cheetahs had produced many successful pilots.
Major Mark Wilson, who has flown Cheetahs for six years, said: "A new era is about to begin with the arrival of the Gripen fighter jets.
"These planes will continue to make South Africa's a formidable defence force," he said.
Gripens are in service with the Swedish, Czech Republic and Hungarian Air Forces.
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Post by Marcus on Mar 2, 2008 12:32:18 GMT 12
American investigates as 777 engine fails to respond to throttle
By David Kaminski-Morrow
American Airlines is investigating an incident yesterday during which the engine on one of its Boeing 777-200ERs apparently failed to respond to throttle commands for several seconds during approach to Los Angeles.
The incident involved American’s flight AA299 from Miami and occurred at a height of around 2,000ft as the aircraft was descending to Los Angeles.
In an information statement to members, the Allied Pilots Association – which represents American Airlines cockpit crew – says the aircraft experienced a “hang-up” of its left-hand engine.
“The auto-throttles were on and the left engine hung at approach idle as the right engine accelerated normally,” says the association.
“It is believed that the left engine would not respond to throttle inputs for 10-15 seconds before finally responding and accelerating to the commanded thrust.”
All of American’s 777-200ERs are fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent 800 powerplants.
Maintenance personnel have downloaded the flight-data recorder information and will examine the fuel tanks and engine fuel filters for possible contamination. Tests will also be carried out on the electronic engine control.
Neither the US FAA nor the US National Transportation Safety Board has given any further information on the incident. The pilots’ association has not identified the specific aircraft involved. American Airlines could not immediately be reached to confirm the incident.
Investigators in the UK are still trying to determine the reasons why both Trent 800 engines on a British Airways 777-200ER failed to respond to throttle-increase commands during final approach to London Heathrow on 17 January, resulting in the aircraft crashing short of the runway.
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Post by Marcus on Feb 24, 2008 21:06:05 GMT 12
counter author=corsair67 board=world thread=1203733033 post=1203741926]The big question to this rumour would be; what does Pakistan think of all this? [/quote]
Hi all
There is more to the proposed sale of the Kittyhawk to India then meets the eye, I believe. According to the news Musharaf (sp?) has all but lost the elections. The US can’t be too happy with that as they have lost a Muslim ally and even worse, nobody is sure who is going to take over control of Pakistan’s nukes. What we can be sure of is that Pakistan will not be so friendly to the US as they have been these last few years. The US needs, now more then ever, a strong “counter” if Pakistan’s nukes should fall into the wrong (read, militant/extremist Muslim) hands.
Just my 5 cents….
Marcus
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Post by Marcus on Jan 26, 2008 9:27:00 GMT 12
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Post by Marcus on Jan 9, 2008 20:03:27 GMT 12
Hi all
Thought the following might bring a smile....
All the best
Marcus
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Post by Marcus on Dec 2, 2007 14:24:27 GMT 12
Hi all As I have seen the RhAF display at Tauranga I thought the following might be of interest. A Rhodesian Air Force Hunter and a Canberra aircraft were lost on the 3rd October 1979. A search was undertaken by Bob Manser in late 2007 and both crash sites have been located. The searches have been fully documented and make for very interesting reading and can be viewed on these two web pages: Finding the Hunter Crash Site ? September 2007 - October 2007 Link: www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=290507#296121Finding The Canberra Crash Site ? November 14, 2007 Link: www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=295021#305798The Canberra article carries a very moving and special Memorial Service. Should you visit the articles, please leave a comment, and more importantly, your thoughts and please indicate where you are connecting from. RIP Air Lieutenant Brian Kevin Gordon KIA 3 October 1979 No. 1 Squadron Flight Lieutenant Kevin Leslie Peinke KIA 3 October 1979 No. 5 Squadron Flight Lieutenant Johannes Jacobus Strydom KIA 3 October 1979 No. 5 Squadron "
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Post by Marcus on Aug 8, 2007 17:10:58 GMT 12
Hi all The following SAAF site has just been revamped. This is not the official SAAF website but has lots of info, photos of past and present SAAF aircraft. Lots of similarities between aircraft types flown by the SAAF and RNZAF. www.saairforce.co.za/index.phpMarcus
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Post by Marcus on Aug 7, 2007 7:09:20 GMT 12
Hi all
Made a short vid of clouds but then ran out of footage so added a landing to finish the song…. Taken flying to and from NZ at various times. Landing was at Kuala Lumpur…
Marcus
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Post by Marcus on Dec 12, 2007 21:03:52 GMT 12
Hi all
From another list that I subscribe to:
Cable fracture still central to Moorea Twin Otter crash inquiry
By David Kaminski-Morrow
Newly-released details about August’s fatal Air Moorea de Havilland Canada Twin Otter accident in French Polynesia show the aircraft suffered a sudden and rapid loss of control, causing it to crash into the sea just 11s later.
A fractured elevator cable discovered in the wreckage remains a focus of attention for French investigators but the inquiry, which has just completed its initial phase, has not yet formally linked the damage to the 9 August accident.
Elevator pitch-up and pitch-down in the Twin Otter are achieved using two cables, each about 12m (39ft) long, running along the right-hand side of the fuselage from the pilot’s control column.
Investigators from Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyses (BEA) found that both of these cables, as well as the two rudder cables, were severed at the forward section of the aircraft, and that all the damage was consistent with tensile overload.
But crucially they also discovered that the pitch-up elevator cable had fractured towards the rear and that this damage had a “different appearance”. BEA says the elevator cables showed evidence of localised wear and broken filaments from contact with structures in the rear fuselage.
Recovery personnel retrieved the entire pitch-down cable from the sunken wreckage. But an 8.8m (29ft) section of the pitch-up cable, between its forward and rear fracture points, was missing.
Investigators have already recommended inspection of Twin Otter control cables “without any relation” having yet been established between the cable failure and the accident.
BEA says the aircraft departed from Moorea Airport’s runway 12 at just after 22:00 for the short flight to Papeete, which typically took seven minutes at a height of 600ft.
For the first few seconds of flight the aircraft climbed normally. Sound analysis indicates that flaps were retracted during this period and then the propeller speed was reduced from 2,100rpm to 1,900rpm, in accordance with company procedures. The aircraft had reached a height of around 300-400ft at this point.
Two seconds after reducing the propeller speed, the lone pilot suddenly exclaimed surprise. Three seconds later, the enhanced ground-proximity warning system sounded, indicating the aircraft was descending at around 1,000ft/min. A second proximity warning sounded and the pilot increased the propeller speed to 2,100rpm again, but the warnings continued.
Just 68s after commencing its take-off run, and 11s after the pilot’s initial expression, the aircraft struck the water killing all 20 on board. There was no distress call. BEA says the aircraft was within weight and balance limits and the two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines functioned normally during the event.
Flight-surface control cables normally have a life-span of five years but the investigators say this is limited to one year in regions with a high salt concentration in the air.
While still in operation with its previous owner, a US company, the aircraft had its cables replaced in March 2005. As part of the transfer to Air Moorea last year the aircraft also underwent maintenance in Canada where its cables were removed, inspected and reassembled, with the exception of the aileron cables which were changed.
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Post by Marcus on May 27, 2007 21:49:40 GMT 12
Hi
It is a Gruman F7F Tigercat
Chocky fish will be nice thanx! ;D
Marcus
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Post by Marcus on May 10, 2007 5:40:42 GMT 12
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Post by Marcus on Apr 22, 2007 9:39:42 GMT 12
Hi all
Just seen on Fox-News. A Blue Angel F-18 has gone down at the end of an airshow. The pilot apparently being killed. What I could pick up from the breaking news was that the aircraft struck high tension power lines while rejoining the formation.
Groete
Marcus
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Post by Marcus on Apr 6, 2007 8:10:19 GMT 12
'Great Escape' veteran dies in Port Alfred
Cape Town, South Africa
05 April 2007 06:28
One of the last survivors of the Great Escape team of World War II, Ian Tapson, has died in Port Alfred at the age of 84. An essentially modest man, he rarely divulged he was one of five South Africans who were part of the team that planned and executed the escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp.
The escape was immortalised in Paul Brickhill's book The Great Escape and in a Hollywood film with the same title, starring Steve McQueen.
According to Norman Abbott, a fellow member of the South African Air Force Association, Tapson passed away on March 30 in the frail-care unit of Settler's Park, a retirement complex. A memorial service was held for him on Wednesday.
Abbott said Tapson, who was survived by his wife, June, and a son who farms in the area, worked as a municipal engineer in East London until his retirement. "He was a very quiet person, most approachable and very knowledgeable," he Abbott.
Tapson's link with the escape might have remained within his family had he not mentioned it years later to a woman who had attended commemoration services in Italy for airmen killed helping Italian partisans. He was then prevailed upon to tell his story, publicly, for the first time.
Tapson was a lieutenant in the South African Air Force flying Kittyhawk fighter-bombers when his plane was crippled by anti-aircraft fire over Tunisia and he was forced to crash-land. He was captured and was sent to Stalag III prisoner-of-war camp at Sagan, Silesia, near the Polish border.
Roger Bushell, a squadron leader, decided to organise a mass escape by tunnelling to a point outside the perimeter fence.
The team members were all volunteers. Tapson, aged just 20, was one of them. His task was to scrounge for wood to shore up the tunnels.
Seventy-six men managed to escape before an alarm was given by a guard. Only three managed to reach safety. Fifty were recaptured and murdered by the Gestapo.
According to Wally Vandermeulen, chairperson of the Port Alfred branch of the South African Air Force Association, Tapson was not one of those who escaped.
"When they drew the lots for those who were involved in digging and construction of the tunnels, he missed out," Vandermeulen said. "He survived until after the war when they were liberated by the allies." -- Sapa
Hi all
How many Kiwi's were involved in the escape and are any still alive?
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Post by Marcus on Jan 25, 2007 14:48:15 GMT 12
Hi all
I was just wondering about the load carrying ability of the J-10. All the photos depict different aircraft at I assume different times yet all have three large droptanks on the major load carrying hardpoints. Where and what sort of weaponary will the aircraft use? With all the droptanks visiable is it safe to assume that the aircraft will have a limited range especially when carrying a full combat load?
Marcus
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Post by Marcus on Sept 22, 2007 12:55:57 GMT 12
Those 'Year X' levels confuse me, is that the equivalent of 7th form?
Yep, Year 13 is 7th form or Level 3 just to confuse matters even more!
Marcus
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Post by Marcus on Sept 22, 2007 12:51:53 GMT 12
Hi all
Here is the vid clip I made of the Iroquois. It was sunny the morn but by the time the chopper arrived the clouds had moved in. The vid is a bit "dark" not helped by the Iroquois gray color scheme. But still worth it! Almost got blown off my feet when it took off.... loved it!!
Marcus
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Post by Marcus on Sept 21, 2007 20:45:47 GMT 12
Hi all Thought you might appreciate the following two pics of NZ3812 landing at Waikato Dio on Wed morn 19-09-2007. One of my year 13 Geography students took these pics while I videod the chopper. As soon as I have the video edited I will post it as well. Marcus "Catch me if you can....."
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