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Post by gibbo on Jun 8, 2018 23:19:18 GMT 12
I saw some great pictures of the Air Force Museums Seasprite on facebook yesterday. Looks brilliant! Someone asked what was their next restoration project and they replied the PBY was next. Wonder what paint scheme they have in mind? Do they have the wings? The fuse looks very complete. IIRC there's been chatter (probably on this forum to be honest) that the PBY could be a 'fuselage only' restoration however AIUI there's been no actual decision or confirmation of this. The PBY was due to have some work done to halt some very visible deterioration to the fuselage that I noted last time I toured the storage hangar / workshop - I seem to remember the rivets showing oxidation. So when they say the PBY is next they may actually just be talking about getting the fuselage back up to scratch. I for one would love to see the full PBY air-frame on display.
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Post by gibbo on May 22, 2018 22:36:39 GMT 12
Looks like the RNZAF wont be replacing the Hercs and the P-3s anytime soon. According to what I've read regarding the 2018 Defence Budget,and listening to other experts, there is very little money to be spent on new Capital Expendature over the next four years, but an extra $300m on Operating Costs. Am I wrong, or have my predictions of this merry band of Muppets running your country kicking the can down the road crying poverty, come true? From what I've heard, the Govt is very soon going to announce that "no decision will be made this year regarding the replacement of both fleets, "but we will be re-assessing the decision within the next 2 years". But by then, this current Govt will be gone, and so starts the whole cycle of can kicking again. Looks like there will be more than a few RNZAF pilots hawking their C.Vs to the RAAF over the next few years I think. Sorry Kiwis, but thats the reality, weather you like to hear it or not. just sit back and wait a few weeks. Pretty sure we will know something then. Ok then, I'll bite! That is a fairly specific comment, so is it just gut feel or is there fairly reliable rumours circulating behind certain doors?
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Post by gibbo on May 20, 2018 20:03:12 GMT 12
Yes not a bad shot of NZ2353. Interesting to note while the livery, roundels & serial were added in Oz, there's no fin-flash or 42Sqn crest as yet. They're going to be a busy wee fleet. Actually, afterthought: realised that C130 & P3K2 in 'grey scheme' don't have fin flashes either.
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Post by gibbo on May 13, 2018 22:04:39 GMT 12
I'd argue that bringing training back is not what we should be doing. Just from an economies of scale POV. I think we should fund RAAF training where possible and concentrate the hardware we own on frontline projects. I find it crazy we can buy different machines to the RAAF (eg T-6 rather than PC-21!) we should have paid for a few extra PC-21 and sent our pilot training to Aussie Valid point but it won't have translated to a bigger, or necessarily different frontline fleet as it's all about budgets - Aussie training would still have cost $$$. I dare say with no trainers locally we could no longer justify retaining both Ohakea and Whenuapai so I wonder if you'd support one of them closing?
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Post by gibbo on May 13, 2018 20:34:55 GMT 12
Does anyone think it a bit sad that all this excitement about the new aircraft for the air force is over a small handful of leased,civilian airframes?. Well yes on the face of it... it's damned hard to watch the RAAF having money thrown at it whilst RNZAF gets treated like an inconvenience to Govt. Unfortunately we're reduced to getting excited about such small projects! However there are in fact things to be excited about here... it is quite a significant project not so much in terms of the aircraft, but the change it signifies. The RNZAF is bringing AWO training back in-house and in doing so re-defining 42Sqn's role into something that will make it very much more a key player. It also provides a means for the RNZAF to prove the potential capabilities of a light MPA which I expect will get considerably more focus once the P3-K2 is retired.
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Post by gibbo on May 12, 2018 23:01:25 GMT 12
Great, thanks. I guess the range will be 2351 - 54. Just realised - this range duplicates serials allocated to Mosquito aircraft 1946-48. My understanding was that the computer system in use for managing aircraft recording would not allow any duplication. That 'rule' appears to have been negated with the T6C - NZ1401 - 1411 were Tiger Moths... most of which were lost in accidents - so no superstition there!
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Post by gibbo on May 12, 2018 15:30:01 GMT 12
By the end of a seven year lease those airframes will likely be a long way through their airframe practical life (Just because there mightn't be paper life limit on the number of landings they do, doesn't mean there isn't) . They are simply not built for the high number of landings that they will see in pilot training, nor low level marine work, they should come with role specific maintenance program and some form of accelerated life consumption adjustments to the airframe life limits. A number of oversea leasors have been burnt tendering for military training contracts (the good old the cheapest tender is often the one that missed something). I suspect they'll be due for expensive engine overhauls before the airframe becomes an issue. These machines aren't going to be used the same way the B200s were (which were doing pilot training duties to pick up the capability gap before the Texans). This is strictly multi engine conversion and AWO training. Can anyone detail what MEPT & ACTC syllabus contain? I guess MEPT is takeoff & landing drills with asymmetric engine drills etc - possibly a little hard on engines over time. ACTC - low/hi level longer distance Nav flights (which probably include the light MPA taskings). Probably a lot harder than what a civvy B350 would normally do. IIRC RNZAF also sent some pilots to Norway (or somewhere up that way) for B200 simulator training, does anyone know if that a regular occurrence? If so then that does take a little of the initial 'heat' of the actual a/c & engines.
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Post by gibbo on May 12, 2018 11:03:10 GMT 12
Are you saying these particular aircraft are not built to military specification? This link shows the 4 a/c understood to be destined for 42Sqn - it gives their Aussie VH rego's. airsoc.com/articles/view/id/5ab68c463d2d2e9e5b8b4567/rnzaf-takes-delivery-of-first-beech-king-air-350iPlug the VH into the search at this link to see basic details of each a/c: www.casa.gov.au/aircraft-registerThey're all ex-civvy machines from what can be determined so I'd say no not MilSpec. They'll be shagged at the end of their lease I dare say, but that then becomes more an issue for Hawker Pacific than RNZAF - the latter can just whinge to HP that the a/c are becoming increasingly unserviceable & demand action - one benefit of leasing (in theory at least).
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Post by gibbo on May 11, 2018 17:21:23 GMT 12
To be honest, this news is slightly better than I expected. I thought we would be purchasing some of the current RAAF aircraft (in service since 2003), which the RAAF have decided to have a rationalisation of, and are currently considering combining all aircraft (32 sqn @ East Sale & 38 sqn @ Townsville) at East Sale in Victoria for greater efficiency. As I understand it, we are getting near-new circa 2015 models. I wasn't expecting any maritime patrol role either. I wonder if that actually means they will be fitted with a surface search radar? Sad that they are only leased though. They are apparently all fairly low houred - one has reportedly only got 8 hours on the clock. I suspect they'll be very busy with only 4, although leasing an extra a/c or so might be fairly straight forward should it prove prudent at a later date. One assumes that with simulation tools etc and judicious planning / juggling / combining of training schedules (MEPT vs ACTC - the latter including light MPA/SAR) plus a little heat on Hawker Pacific to keep availability rates up, that they'll cope. Lease till 2025 (previous B200 leases have all been extended a year or so until replacements come on stream) allows a revisiting of light MPA requirements once the P3K2 replacement is expected to be entering service thus giving flexibility to either retain the KA350 or replace with something else. The parliamentary debate included a reference to "... Marops, an award-winning and rapidly growing Auckland-based software company, which is working alongside of Hawker Pacific to integrate the training mission systems with the aircraft and the sensor suite". So yes sensors, but no detail as to what that includes. Definitely good news, only wish the fleet was expanded to 5 or 6, but as above, leasing could simplify expansion as happened with the very 1st B200 lease.
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Post by gibbo on May 11, 2018 0:43:15 GMT 12
am I right in thinking of the 5-eyes partners NZ is the only one to own their fleet in the T6 / PC21 capability 'space'?. Nope, the RAAF own their PC-21/7s and the USAF/N own their T-6s Ah yes of course, brain-fart on my part, was thinking of maintenance & who instructs... not straight forward in these days of accountants running the show!
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Post by gibbo on May 10, 2018 22:22:44 GMT 12
Leased?? What are they thinking. The lease vs own argument is likely to be a fairly complex consideration rather than just $$$ but many larger airforces lease trainers now - am I right in thinking of the 5-eyes partners NZ is the only one to own their fleet in the T6 / PC21 capability 'space'? Many of the other also use civvy instructors do they not? I'm all for full ownership & maintenance but possibly lease allows rather more pressure to be applied (on the supplier vs scarce in-house engineers) to provide greater 'available' hours to enable a small fleet to do more!?! I am a little surprised that with the ACTC role coming on board that 4 is considered enough but one beauty of lease arrangements is if more are required then the effort required to add more is fairly straight forward - eg. when 42sqn got their first B200 fleet (NZ1881-83) they later got 2 more (84 & 85). afterthought: USAF & USN do 'own' AFAIK.
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Post by gibbo on Apr 13, 2018 18:48:47 GMT 12
Got some great pic's of VH-ZPE as she transited Lord Howe Island 1pm local time, I was asked by the pilot not to post pictures for one week until they are officially announced. While I will honour this out of respect for the airforce, in this day and age it does seem a little strange, could some one shed some light as why would this be so? Thank you........ Well, it's been 3 weeks since you photographed VH-ZPE and were told to not publish for week! Godo for you for going ahead! Nothing public appears to have been announced so guess we'll have to wait until the May edition of RNZAF News (contribution deadline is today) & see if there's a write-up. The April edition (which is online now) closed off before these transited thru the Island.
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Post by gibbo on Apr 6, 2018 18:10:49 GMT 12
There has been no official news release gibbo. This is my opinion, but when I spoke to Ron Mark, he didn't seem that confident the RNZAF would be able to replace these planes anytime soon. Let's hope I'm wrong. Ah no worries Zealman... yeah it's certainly a frustrating time! I certainly don't envy his position in the Govt he's part of. 'Mr Invisible' (Winnie the Pooh) has been no use, largely off the radar so the likes of Marks & Jones are largely flying solo... but I believe Winnie's 'ability' is another story...!
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Post by gibbo on Apr 6, 2018 17:10:07 GMT 12
Sorry People, The RNZAF will get nothing under this Government. I predict cuts to the Defence Force instead, and a lot of very annoyed Service people. Hey Zealman, you've jumped onto 3 threads related to RNZAF replacements & kicked them all into life with discussion of RNZAF getting zip... I've been offline for 48 hours & wondered if all this chatter you've kick-started is in response to some official word or media article or something? I've been searching media sites etc so wonder if there's some new (last 24 hours) news out there... other than those we're all aware of regards delays in replacement projects?
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Post by gibbo on Mar 31, 2018 10:00:13 GMT 12
Damn, no injuries, Yak-3 ZK-YYY hit a hoist while landing on the grass. Starboard wing badly damaged, prop intact. Good photo in stuff...ouch! Prop looks like it's done a little digging but not too bad... but... would appear about a full half of the starboard wing has been completely 'removed'.
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Post by gibbo on Mar 31, 2018 9:41:15 GMT 12
So these pic’s taken last Saturday 24/4/18, was asked by the ferry pilot not to share for one week so here they are a week after the event. While he was a little protective he did say he couldn’t stop me from posting, he also mentioned she had around 80 hours on her so a very new Kingair! Just a beautiful day out in the Tasman Sea. Taking on fuel for the flight direct to Ohakea, in the back ground you can see ex NZ 1885 waiting to be shipped off the island, more on her soon. You can see the covered up markings with a little bit of the roundel peaking through. Three more to come apparently, I guess they may or may not come my way? Great shots there, love that first shot - they look a damned fine a/c at that angle! I guess there's no reason you won't see the others as I dare say it's the preferred stopover. Was thinking wonder if its Hawker Pacific who don't want anything mentioned just yet... they may have commercial reasons for not announcing them yet, rather than the RNZAF who probably wouldn't care too much. They all seem fairly new, low houred a/c. There's chatter they might be RNZAF owned rather than leased but again that'll not be clear until a formal announcement is made.
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Post by gibbo on Mar 29, 2018 18:08:21 GMT 12
Just a thought, if anyone at WOW this weekend sees any 42Sqn guys with B200 (the B350 won't be in service yet) ask them if they know how many B350 airframes are to enter service & see if they know what training systems are expected to be installed (they are unlikely to have any great detail on this). Hey they may not want their pictures published 'for a week' but it's no secret that they are to enter service so I figure it can't hurt to ask. Clearly I won't be at WOW.
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Post by gibbo on Mar 26, 2018 9:39:02 GMT 12
Yes that's a very good point! Maybe the guy making that request was just wanting to be risk averse! Look fwd to seeing PlaneCrazy's photos!
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Post by gibbo on Mar 26, 2018 8:08:29 GMT 12
Got some great pic's of VH-ZPE as she transited Lord Howe Island 1pm local time, I was asked by the pilot not to post pictures for one week until they are officially announced. While I will honour this out of respect for the airforce, in this day and age it does seem a little strange, could some one shed some light as why would this be so? Thank you........ Probably not much more than wanting to have a little control over their announcement, rather than being pushed onto the back-foot by some spotty apprentice journo or equally spotty green party bod making noises about a new 'spy plane' arriving...all grey & stealthy and AEO & Nav trainging being a cover story for some '5 eyes' spying requirement being ordered by Mr Trump! I wouldn't read too much into it, 'this day & age' is all about half-cocked media beat-ups rather than balanced factual stories.
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Post by gibbo on Mar 26, 2018 7:02:43 GMT 12
I heard they are only getting 3 airframes so they won't be doing too much inshore patrol work I wouldn't think. They will be busy enough just doing their multi-engine pilot and Air Warefare Officer training roles plus the odd VIP and light transport work. Yes 3 would be a backward step if they were to replace the B200. The B200 lease expired Sept 2017 so it's safe to assume a 12 month extension (at least) was taken out but whether they are staying or going apparently word has it we should have some sort of official word in the next week or so. According to story on this link there is sound logic to assume there may be 4 coming... mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2018/03/rnzaf-takes-delivery-of-first-beech.htmlNothing certain of course but even 4 seems a little light given the roles they will be undertaking going forward. I understand even with 4 B200 they were using a simulator somewhere up northern Europe way so it's not as if they appear to have scope to get a simulator & knock 42sqn down to 3 frames.
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