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Post by Calum on Nov 5, 2010 11:13:26 GMT 12
I remember him at AMS at Oahkea in the early 1990's
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Post by Calum on Nov 5, 2010 11:10:53 GMT 12
From the figures I've seen the C-130(H and J) is about 1/2 that of a C-17. That then suggests the C17 operating costs in comparison is actually attractive .... well, depending on the weight of the load being carried (eg if it were carrying 5t it wouldn't be effiecient - might as well use a C130 etc). So, clearly NZ's problem is that flying a C17 (or A400) probably won't be suitable for smaller loads - it may still need C130J or CN235/295 etc. Must be causing headaches for defence planners evaluating different scenarios. Perhaps it hinges on the success and operating costs of the A400? Esp. if C17 maintainance costs are higher due to complexity? The costs I've seen (if I understand them correctly) taken everything into account. However they are only a few scenarios where you need a C-17 over a C-130.
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Post by Calum on Nov 5, 2010 8:37:46 GMT 12
What's the current C130H hourly operating cost (and for comparison, C130J-30 - presumably A400 is unknown at the moment)? From the figures I've seen the C-130(H and J) is about 1/2 that of a C-17.
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Post by Calum on Nov 5, 2010 8:19:23 GMT 12
We've got the perfect transport. It's big and grey and lives at Devonport. True enough but it's slow and quite unresponsive compared to an aircraft. Plus to deploy 1 aircraft it would be expensive I’d suspect caging a ride on RAAF C-17 or contracting a civil heavy lift aircraft will be a more likely scenario. Would the NH-90 fit in a A400?
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Post by Calum on Nov 5, 2010 8:15:57 GMT 12
And with a crusie speed of 260km/hr it's long long trip. I would not like to fly in a helicopter over those distances, and over the sea for a number of reasons So you haven't got any Amelia Earhart blood in ya then. not likely (I hate flying) I spent 3 hrs in a blackhawk once. That convinced me long hours in a helicopter isn't fun.
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Post by Calum on Nov 4, 2010 17:39:05 GMT 12
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Post by Calum on Nov 4, 2010 17:35:25 GMT 12
Where is that new main gate in relation to the old one? I left there in Dec 1994, it's kinda changed
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Post by Calum on Nov 4, 2010 17:32:38 GMT 12
Does a transport aircraft actually need to carry an NH-90? They have the range to fly to Australia or Fiji direct apparently. Perhaps but it's very poor use of your airframe hours. Most serivng events on a helciopter are ours based. if you waste 8-10 hrs getting to the excecise area you've have less time before you need to do maintenance And with a crusie speed of 260km/hr it's long long trip. I would not like to fly in a helicopter over those distances, and over the sea for a number of reasons
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Post by Calum on Nov 4, 2010 12:57:39 GMT 12
Paul McSweeney as n the ex RNZAF Paul McSweeney ?
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Post by Calum on Nov 4, 2010 8:57:03 GMT 12
Like has been pointed out above I can't see the C-17 as being affordable for NZ. It’s very expensive to operate.
I actually think the current system of civil type Airliner for strategic transport and military transport for tactical/ outside loads works well.
At least by the time they have to choose a new military airlifter the A400 may actually be in service and we’ll have a better idea of how good (or bad) it is.
The major issue I see with whatever is chosen is will it be able to take the NH-90.
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Post by Calum on Nov 4, 2010 8:41:38 GMT 12
Calum, you misunderstood what I was asking. I simply asked was it written into contracts that they work in an emergency. Not stating they should work regardless of what a contract says. Apologies.
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Post by Calum on Nov 3, 2010 17:23:29 GMT 12
RNZAF Replacement of both the Boeing 757's and five C-130-H's with possibly a larger Transport Aircraft before the end of this decade. (DefMin has reported NZ$1.2-1.6 Billion (2010 fye) for this project by 2020) Not much life out the C-130 upgrade and 757 fleet. But at least they seem to be acknowledging the H models are finally getting to the end of their useful life The purchase of initially 3-4 extra Maritime Patrol Aircraft with a further tranche likely later in the decade. (Rumoured to be the CASA 235 or 295 with Mission Pallet System as the aircraft will also likely to act as a multi-engine trainer and offer light transport capability.) This sounds like a plus for the RNZAF. An extra three Agusta A-109 LUH's, to add to the current five ordered, but no more NH-90 TTH's. 3 more LUH’s can only be good for the RNZAF Advanced Pilot Trainer will be announced in March 2011. (Note that there has been lobbying by Defence Analysts and Commentators that the Macchi MB-339's currently stored should be upgraded for this role. What are the likely candidates here? The Seasprite naval helicopters to be replaced or upgraded. (Their are rumours flying around that the ill-fated RAN SH-2G(A) Seasprites may well be stripped of their problematic avionics and restored into the more simplified SH-2G(NZ) version. The RNZAF recently bought 6 older F models as INST frames for ground training.) Surely it would cheaper to buy a decent helicopter and ditch the Seasprite? The P3-K2 to get an upgrade to get back ASW capability and likely stand-off A/Shp missile. Seems like another a huge plus to RNZAF Likely to be replaced with the P-8 and/or an appropriate high altitude long range UAV - Global Hawk and engagement in BAMS has been mentioned in DefMin interviews at a cost of up to $1.6 Billion (2010 fye). Oh oh UAV’s again not going there . I’d be interesting to see if they try and tack onto the RAAF P-8 buy.
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Post by Calum on Nov 3, 2010 17:11:34 GMT 12
. It's not so much the individual contractors like yourself who do great work that I was wondering about, it is the unions who I can just see saying "No, we're not sending our workers into any danger or long hours. There's nothing in our contracts that say we have to do that..." Long before the union (assuming a unionised workforce) steps in, the company who has the contract shouldn’t be allowing their employees to do anything not in the contract. If they don’t, then hopefully the union will get involved, after all that’s one of the things your union fees are for. The people who write the initial RFQ should ensure that the proposed contract covers all the services they require. That way the companies can provide a tender that meets these requirements, and cost it as such. If the RNZAF want their catering contractor to provide deployable cooks for field exercises/emergencies this should be in the contract. Why should the contractors or company be expected to do things outside their work agreements or the contract for no reward? I see this attitude from people in defence all the time; generally it’s only form from people at the lower (my) level however. In fact I experienced it today (if you’re interested I can bore you with the example). They tend to want contractors to do above and beyond what they are contracted for, for nothing. It doesn’t work like that in the commercial world. You get what you pay for, and you exactly what it costs. (BTW I’m sure the union had a good reason to go on strike, I doubt they did it stuff some airmen around. )
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Post by Calum on Nov 3, 2010 15:16:42 GMT 12
Great photos, Calum - it must be 'hell' to work at Nowra some days! ;D. It would be better if got some interesting visitors more often. Dave, VH-MQE is a CASA 212 Aviocar - I think! . You’re correct Craig. The ADF Parachute Training School here contract 2 of these from Military Air Transport Services for parachute training. Effectively giving them an aircraft whenever they want. I guess they got sick of relying on the RAAF. It would worse now the Caribou has gone and the Herc fleet is reduced/constantly deployed. All RAN aircraft have the prefix "N" at the start of their serial number, and I think this has been standard practice since the 1960s when the Trackers and Skyhawks were purchased. Yes it’s what makes us different from the RAAF/Army (among other things)
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Post by Calum on Nov 3, 2010 15:11:10 GMT 12
I love light and shade photos so loved the one of the C130 over the hill in what looks like twilight. Thats was taken early one morning before the sun had got thorugh the clouds. It was para dropping. (BTW it's a C-17)
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Post by Calum on Nov 3, 2010 15:09:52 GMT 12
Great shots calum! I too like the nowra hill one. Is that a Learjet in the background on the first c-17 shot? Looks like it might be in the circuit. yeah it's either one of ours or one of Pel Airs
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Post by Calum on Nov 3, 2010 15:08:43 GMT 12
I have noticed in Air Force News that when the RNZAF goes on exercise they take Navy chefs because there are now no RNZAF chefs nowadays. Obviously civilian caterers don't even cook in the field. I'm sure they can. But I expect the RNZAF doesn't want to pay for this, especially when there is another option. After all they deploy the CT-4 maintenance guys on wise owls IIRC. Look at the US. they deploy every type of contractor known to man in the field these days. Your inference about emergencies and contractors is that contractors only do it for the money. This is quite false. I think you'll find that contractors would front up when required. They will however, quite rightly, expect to be compensated. After the service people aren’t doing it for nothing so why do we expect contractors to do so? In my experience many contractors are just as proud of their service to the defence forces as military people. They just don’t any of the accolades.
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Post by Calum on Nov 2, 2010 22:49:15 GMT 12
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Post by Calum on Nov 2, 2010 22:29:43 GMT 12
We were NEVER allowed to walk on any grass (apart from sports fields and with permission on training grounds) when I was in. Grass was sacred, for some bloody stupid reason. ] I used to love walking on the grass when we got to Nowra. it used really piss the some of the sailors off. They'd yell at me, I'd laugh at them Apart from GSTS I don't remember grass being an issue elsewhere
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Post by Calum on Nov 2, 2010 22:26:59 GMT 12
Pay comparison, a SGT with 17 years service, plenty of experience in his trade, in charge of 6 others, take home pay ~$54K. Same person offered a job at CPL level in Perth, doing similar tasks, in charge of no one but himself, at ~$92K. Guess where I'm moving soon? I know what you are saying the ADF get awesome wages, especially compared to the NZDF. In 1993 I met my future wife. She was a RAN Avionics tech just promoted to Leading hand. I had just been promoted to Corporal I was on $29K NZD, She was on $42K AUD......
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