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Post by gibbo on Oct 12, 2022 12:18:48 GMT 12
Gibbo, Read "With Prejudice" by Lord Tedder. Alas, my copy did not get returned after a loan out about 1974! No but about to pick-up Vincent Orange's book 'Tedder - quietly in command' from the library. Akl libraries do have "With Prejudice" so if you recommend it I might just have to put that on my list
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Post by gibbo on Oct 12, 2022 8:32:44 GMT 12
My fathers' stuff has given us this little gem; ... and given that Dad didn't fly Spitfires, nor did he serve in Europe, we're scratching our heads about this one… 68224404-CDD2-401D-B116-C34C9C5A1A23 by John Stokes, on Flickr Any help would be appreciated... I assume therefore that you can confirm your Dad is clearly in the photo? If so then think about where he did serve. I only ask if he's in the photo as I have a bunch of wartime photos from my late Uncle's collection when he was an armourer during BoB etc but they aren't all ones he took so it could be a photo he was given.
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Post by gibbo on Oct 12, 2022 8:28:03 GMT 12
Great picture, has a slipper tank so something long range or ferry flight, also noticed she looks like she has the gauze over the intake so rough feild work perhaps? Recently read Colin Gray's book about his time including North Africa where he stated their Spitties used slipper tanks & gauze & other 'homemade' covers over the intake (which incredibly they had rigged up to allow them to drop-off after takeoff as they didn't have anything supplied with the aircraft & the sand was mostly sucked in on taxi & takeoff. But the uniforms donlt look in the slightest like 'desert' ones so maybe they were crew in transit somewhere... or conversely the aircraft was in transit... SEAC?
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Post by gibbo on Oct 10, 2022 20:55:33 GMT 12
The book also clearly shows Montgomery as the self-obsessed, political beast that he was! It is interesting how so many historians have this view of Monty, and yet he a) got the job done better than any of his predecessors and his contemporaries, and more importantly he b) was actually liked and respected by his men. Not many generals with high opinions of themselves and a political agenda actually achieved both those things, interestingly. Yes that's true he did get results although Orange clearly has the view that in some instances there was as much luck in the outcome as tactical brilliance... easy to say decades later but there's at least one telling quote made after the war where one of Monty's offsiders admitted deliberate delays in one instance merely to push personal agendas against those he didn't like. I'd have to agree with Orange's assertions where he really lost credit was the delay centred on taking Caen on D-Day but even more the disaster that was Arnhem... when he should've been focusing on securing the port of Antwerp & surrounds. At the end of the day the Brits created a PR machine centred around Monty that then couldn't be reeled back... much of these politics is discussed in the Coningham story. <edit>: but yes Dave he was loved & did get work done! War is a funny thing eh!
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Post by gibbo on Oct 10, 2022 18:30:29 GMT 12
I've recently started re-reading some of my book collection with a focus on the European & North African air-war in WW2. Most of these I purchased new in the 80' & 90's... when the guys flying then were retired & writing their memoirs. Anyway I'm getting much more out of them this time around due to all the other 'knowledge' I've absorbed since! Having now also started using the library again after close to 40 years, I've just finishing reading Vincent Orange's 1990 biography 'Coningham' which was one I've never read. Having been aware of his name & reputation for some time I've never got around to it.
Whilst Aussie born & NZ raised he always considered himself a NZer and like Park he made a huge impression during WW2. Considered to basically be the person who developed the concept of Army air-support he certainly left a huge legacy. Like Park he had to 'deal' with Leigh-Mallory who clearly was almost universally hated (maybe he set the tone for that in the way he ran 12 Group during the BoB, and more specifically how he & others treated Dowding & Park afterward!?!). The book also clearly shows Montgomery as the self-obsessed, political beast that he was!
So if you need a good book to read....!
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Post by gibbo on Oct 5, 2022 12:00:15 GMT 12
Does anyone know why our aircraft lack the antenna between the observer’s window and the emergency exits. Two each side in a T shape 3/4 up the fuselage. If we’re getting USN specs why are they missing? Don't know but sniffing around google images I see it looks like the Indian AF ones also do not have these... everyone else's seem to! If we can establish how the IAF ones differ (other than them having a MAD)...!?!
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Post by gibbo on Sept 19, 2022 14:12:23 GMT 12
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Post by gibbo on Sept 7, 2022 12:26:57 GMT 12
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Post by gibbo on Aug 24, 2022 19:22:23 GMT 12
Sorry Gibbo. I deeply regret the offense I have caused to the Balloons Universal Suffrage League Apology accepted, you don't want to upset the boys & girls at BUSL. They're almost as scary as their political wing the Balloon Users League for Lost Sick Homeless and Itinerant Tossers!
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Post by gibbo on Aug 24, 2022 18:40:57 GMT 12
Politicians... Any Questions? Actually that's very offensive... clearly the average hot-air balloon has less hot air & more brains than the average politician!
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Post by gibbo on Aug 15, 2022 10:21:17 GMT 12
I guess the NZDF / MinDef etc may have 'sent a letter' but I'd think it'd be very cursory at this stage given the B757 replacement project has been pushed back to approx 2028 & therefore I dare say hasn't got off the ground yet (excuse the pun!). Having said that who knows if behind the scenes Govt is considering pulling the project forward again but I somehow find that difficult to believe. I'm a firm believer the B757 replacement must have a combo option... the KC46 tanker has I think 100 seat capacity but it's a hugely expensive beast to use for a purely pax run with 100 pax... so unless it offers a half / full cabin pax option plus underfloor freight I'm not a fan. Whilst I would dearly love to see a RNZAF KC46 tanker the above points do still apply IMHO as tanking isn't likely to be given a high priority by Govt. Whilst it could be used to 'tank' something smaller to the ice it'd be better off to get something that can itself make the ice & back... but then the points above about combo capacity etc apply outside of the ice runs. On the subject of ice runs... we all believe the B757 replacement will be capable of a return flight without touchdown... but I wonder if it's now more 'preferred' than a non-negotiable requirement. If the latter is true then why would we continue to use C130 & B757 now... they could continue with the C130J one-way if they felt they really had to so that then suggests to me it's unlikely tanking will be a drop-dead of the B757 replacement (yes agreed it is a preferable capability tho!). Another option may be the A330-MRTT as per the RAAF but I'm fairly certain there's (standard MRTT) do not have a strengthened floor so only has pax role in the cabin and with tanks underfloor it's freight capacity must be limited!?! Of course one of the key requirements of the B757 replacement will be the ability to operate to/from as many south pacific island states as possible...that also puts yet another set of blinkers on the requirement, so it seems whatever replaces the B757 it's going to involve compromise...nothing new there for the RNZAF! I'd also say that project must be stretched to 3 operational airframes. Good luck to the project team trying to tick all the boxes!
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Post by gibbo on Aug 15, 2022 9:56:22 GMT 12
Some of those figures are eyewatering. Why does the P-8 cost double that of a C-40 an hour when they are based on the same airframe? Is that taking into account the cost of the extra crew? Or perhaps maintaining the avionics? I guess so, those 7 mission specialists probadly cost a lot more to train & keep than a loadmaster or a flight attendant. The electrical power comsumption of the P-8 is double that of the C-40, thats going to warm up a few avonics boxes. Also I guess that those costs include comsumables like sonar bouys as well, plus fuel burn will likely be higher due to the lower operating altitcude Yes I wonder if crew costs are factored into this table. I know the P8 has a skin double the thickness of a 'standard' B737 and of course the wing / fuse combination is unique to the P8 so it must certainly have a very different all up weight that will likely involve an increased fuel-burn. I'm not sure of the engines on a C40 vs P8 but that I guess is also a key area for comparison.
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Post by gibbo on Aug 9, 2022 19:25:32 GMT 12
Hopefully this will highlight (again) the foolishness of getting rid of the Air Combat Force capability 20 years ago. We used to do regular FAC training with the Army back in the day, not to mention very realistic fleet support training for the Navy. The need for this capability never went away. Yes true...pity they couldn't convince Govt to invest in 3 AT-6 which I presume have a high % of commonality with the basic T-6C and use those for FAC/JTAC training... would have a few other potential benefits as well but unlikely to happen.
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Post by gibbo on Jul 25, 2022 17:52:00 GMT 12
AIUI 4204 is the one ear-marked for the RNZAF Museum but of course it will be via an 'indrect' route. When the P8's start arriving the Govt & NZDF PR spinners will likely go trumpeting 'hey look, we only have 3 Orions in service & we're getting 4 P8's,were growing the RNZAF'... sigh!
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Post by gibbo on Jul 13, 2022 14:32:03 GMT 12
Unfortunately I think the chances are close to zero... the current Govt clearly will put defence investment into a holding pattern while it goes off on it's promised 'review' (which may simply dumb down their 'purpose' in order to be able to afford to make them 'fit for purpose'. That'll definitely push major acquisition decisions such as extra P8 out beyond 2025. www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129205565/government-to-review-defence-policy-amid-covid19-geopolitical-competition-climate-changeIf (when?) Govt changes next year, the 'other party' will be on a hunt for substantial spending cuts so if you think for a moment they'll splash P8 sized cash then, well.... The key here is all along the EMAC project was touted as adding a 2nd tier patrol, reconn capability to free up the P8 to focus on core military tasks... that will still be, and should still remain, the primary strategy. Move SAR & fishery patrol etc off the P8. The money for 1 extra P8 could get you 3-4 2nd tier MPA depending on what the platform ended up being... especially as it has been stated it would be an unarmed capability...even possibly not NZDF owned / operated... including satellites. So given EMAC looks to have gone suspiciously quiet in the last 3 years I doubt that'll happen... so an extra P8 (or 2) whilst ideal, clearly won't be on the cards. 'Big drones' would also be a great move but they would be probably more expensive than extra P8 due to the duplication of support structures required. Some years back I read a US article showing drones took as many aircrew to operate and were ultimately cost slightly more than equivalent fixed-wing capability to operate.
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Post by gibbo on Jul 6, 2022 13:12:18 GMT 12
Just noticed this on the Govt Electronic Tendering system. Closed 8 April 2022 The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is in the process of withdrawing its fleet of six Lockheed P-3K2 Orion aircraft from service. Aircraft will be progressively retired over the period 2022-2023. Retired aircraft will be flown to RNZAF Base Woodbourne in Blenheim, NZ, for storage. Support inventory is primarily located at RNZAF Base Auckland with some elements at other locations within NZ. The NZDF is offering five aircraft from the fleet plus support inventory for tender. Fleet and inventory The fleet and inventory on offer includes: • Five P-3K2 Orion aircraft • Flight deck and tactical rail simulators • Ground Support Equipment including docking stands • Spares inventory including spare engines and propellers • Special To Type test equipment • Publications suite and drawing decks • SAP-based maintenance data and aircraft structural history Interested parties are advised that to register and view this RFT in detail they MUST go to the NZDF’s SmartProcure website at nzdf.bravosolution.comSuppliers must logon to access the RFT and submit a response. Registration is simple and free, just click “register now”. If you require assistance to register please contact dcs@nzdf.mil.nz ALL enquiries regarding this RFT must be in writing through NZDF’s SmartProcure message system. NZDF will endeavour to respond in writing to written enquiries within two working days. Did see that tender on the GETS site sometime ago... what makes me curious is they say the offer includes 5 P-3K2 Orion aircraft (the 6th destined for the RNZAF museum - NZ4204 AIUI)... but from what I recall they were breaking down the retired ones for spares... hardly what the tender doc suggests when they say 5 aircraft.
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Post by gibbo on Jun 11, 2022 10:32:18 GMT 12
Yes it's a little worrying where the NH-90 is heading if we are to continue with them in the longer term...I guess you could argue ADF & Norwegians are helping to increase the spares pool...lol! The Norwegians have clearly been let down but I see theirs are the naval version and it sounds like onboard system issues may have been a big factor in their case... www.scramble.nl/military-news/norway-immediately-stops-operating-the-nh90
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Post by gibbo on May 24, 2022 16:19:15 GMT 12
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Post by gibbo on May 24, 2022 8:29:09 GMT 12
The (latest) Air Force News #246 magazine has a wonderful centrespread and 4 page article on the Air Force heritage Flight. Try to get a copy of you can. Well worth it! Yes an excellent article in the AF news #246, a couple of other interesting articles too. If you're reading this now then it's easy to download or read online: issuu.com/nzdefenceforce/docs/airforcenews_issue246?fr=sMDk1MDM5NjExMzQ
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Post by gibbo on May 19, 2022 18:12:14 GMT 12
NZ C-130Js to get specialist equipment, advanced sensors. ( Link) "The five Lockheed Martin C-130J-30s Super Hercules to be procured by New Zealand will have specialist equipment and sensors. Janes has learned that the aircraft will be fitted with L3 WESCAM MX-20 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras and a Honeywell JetWave Ka-band wide bandwidth, high-speed satellite communications (satcom) system. The MX-20 system is designed for high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations. It has been deployed aboard long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and GA-ASI MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Able to provide more than x400 magnification in the EO sensor and more than x75 magnification in the IR sensor, the MX-20 also uses Enhanced Local Area Processing (ELAP) to improve feature recognition." Just in case anyone assumed this image was of NZ's C130j-30 order....nope, stock image obviously as MinDef site says LM will start construction next year: www.defence.govt.nz/the-latest/story/flying-high-the-new-c-130j-30
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