|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 21, 2010 11:18:24 GMT 12
Now's the time for some letters to the Editors of local papers highlighting this debacle.....or is it just far too late and with the current issues facing the govt ie. bailout of SCF and the ChCh quake it won't even make a blip on the radar? $30M+ down the toilet and loss of a very important capability from our Air Force. My heart says yes but the head tells me that the great unwashed ignorant NZ public won't care anyway....
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 19, 2010 13:40:20 GMT 12
Nice pics. Shame ChCh is such a long distance away from Auckland, the weather has been pretty good here over the weekend. Ah well, I'll just have to be patient and await Classic Fighters at Omaka next year. Book now for fine weather....
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 19, 2010 9:51:16 GMT 12
Thanks Gavin, the 6-ship Huey pic is now my desktop background.
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 18, 2010 12:03:05 GMT 12
You have a point there motoxjase. One can only hope that Wayne Mapp (Now that Heather Roy is off the scene) will pick up the ball and run with it as far as taking final action over this whole sorry saga goes.
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 18, 2010 11:55:38 GMT 12
Hi Dave, a close inspection with the Mk1 eyeball this morning confirms that the Dux de Lux is a-ok and 100% operational.....my stomach will testify to that fact lol. The Bridge of Remembrance is intact and there was a quiet yet steady bustle of activity on central Christchurch streets. The staff at the Dux await your next visit
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 17, 2010 20:27:01 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 17, 2010 20:21:32 GMT 12
I'm curious as to whether the Dux Deluxe (my favourite Chch pub) is ok, has anyone seen it? And the Bridge of Remembrance? Dave, I did a tiki tour through town both by car and on foot last Thursday morning with a mate of mine who was down from Wellington. A glance down Cashel Mall revealed that the Bridge of Remembrance still seemed to be standing. We walked past the Dux de Lux and it seemed pretty ok from memory. I'm sure if there had been damage to either of those Christchurch icons we would have had a report about it by now.
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 17, 2010 20:17:12 GMT 12
Why would there be tickets on sale for free entry.................... They still have to 'allocate' tickets for the game so that people who are interested and get in quickly don't miss out. So people have to get a ticket but just don't pay for the seat.
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 17, 2010 16:48:33 GMT 12
Come Sept 22 the government should give 'Hoss' the flick, or maybe even the finger. Those A4s parked up remind me of the Rukuhia graveyard pics, elsewhere on this forum. The NZ Govt needs to grow a pair, take action with the Skyhawk's non-sale and reactivate the Maachis. A well written article by the Marlborough Post.
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 17, 2010 16:38:08 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 16, 2010 16:38:40 GMT 12
I gather that Frank Sharp also went over to RAF Germany during his exchange Dave, so if you're emailing him you might want to ask him about his recollection of that experience too (if it did in fact happen).
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 16, 2010 16:33:30 GMT 12
That would be awesome!!
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 15, 2010 14:21:51 GMT 12
aviationnews.co.nz/downloads/archive/2010/sep_frontcoverlrg.jpgIn September's issue of NZ Aviation News, no doubt timed to coincide with the 'sale' of the Skyhawks is an interview with Jim Jennings, the only RNZAF A4 driver to fire his guns in anger during the Korean fishing boat incident of 1976. It includes a photo of his A4 banking away from an Orion revealing the centreline fuel tank and two pods of 'zuni' rockets on the underwing stores of his aircraft. His most telling comment imho was that the incident "...helped to keep the fishing fleets honest for years afterwards..." Without that capability these days how honest are the fishing fleets now, how honest will they be in future? Recommended reading, a 2 page article including photos.
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 14, 2010 12:46:15 GMT 12
Regarding the conversation on the other page (34) between arclight, oldnavy and yak2. I think that arclight reflects current (misguided) thinking by many in the NZ population and that oldnavy and yak2 make valid points. I think that NZ should be working together with Australia as it has done in the past to defend our part of the South Pacific and meet our treaty obligations in the Asia Pacific region also. This includes having an integrated Defence Force (as we used to before the disbanding of the ACF), a Force that complements and supports each 'arm' (Army, Navy and Air Force) and does the same for our allies ie. Australia and the USA in particular. With regards to China, yes they are our most important trading partner but this does not mean that we should be abandoning our defence and treaty obligations simply because they are a potential 'enemy'. The point is not to identify potential enemies but identify the capabilities required to meet any threat to NZ sovereignty in alliance with our immediate allies and/or trading partners. NZ had a lot of trade with the USSR during the Cold War if I recall. The fact is that we had the opportunity to upgrade our ACF in 1999 with the F16 purchase and retain the kind of ability I describe above without spending massive amounts of dosh. Now, with the debacles in Defence spending over the past 10 years, we need to chart a course for the future that retains our Maritime and Transport capability as well as reactivating a fast jet capability. This is in the interests of protecting what we hold dear and what too many people here in NZ simply take for granted. NZers on the whole are not bludgers and the majority of people do have insurance on our properties or belongings. How about investing in the insurance of our country and its future generations? That's what I think that the Defence White Paper should be doing.
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 13, 2010 20:02:34 GMT 12
Awesome work as always Dave!! Fantastic pics, such a waste of our aviation history....
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 12, 2010 20:20:22 GMT 12
That is good news . Hopefully Doug will bring it to Omaka next year so us non north islanders can have a good look . ;-) Yes its North Island: 2 airworthy Spitfires South Island: 0 At least when the Mk XIV flies it will be 2 to 1!! Mind you we do still have the Hurricane! (For how long I wonder........) Baz, have you not put your bid in for it yet? I thought perhaps after missing out on the Auster you might aim for the top shelf... ;-)
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 10, 2010 11:34:23 GMT 12
Thanks Dave!!! More aftershocks overnight. There is damage to the chimney at the place I am house-sitting so I've contacted the appropriate people. Thanks to all from Outside the Canterbury region for their kind thoughts and wishes.
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 9, 2010 6:47:45 GMT 12
Go and buy yourself a Lotto ticket mate.
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 8, 2010 22:17:37 GMT 12
They look like that Aussie one (above) but RNZAF 'Corporate' Grey.... ;-)
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Sept 8, 2010 22:12:00 GMT 12
Superb appointment, top man for the job. Great to have representation from the two islands and the Mainland.
|
|