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Post by pepe on Sept 19, 2022 10:25:06 GMT 12
I can remember meeting this gentleman at an ANZAC Dawn Service in the mid 1970s in Whangarei. Every year our Primary school would take a group of pupils to this event. After the Service, I remember Dr Dawson coming over to talk to us and nicely answer our many questions. From my recollections he was quite fit and well for his age. He did celebrate his 100th birthday because I do also recall another article in the Northern Advocate the following year. I think our class may have sent him a birthday card. (Edit: A search of NZ BDM finds that Frederick Walter Whitney Dawson died in 1977).
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Post by pepe on Sept 15, 2022 14:03:21 GMT 12
At about 6.30pm last night, approaching Te Kuiti airfield on State Highway 3, I spotted what I thought was an aircraft on a long final for Runway 34. It had a rotating beacon and landing lights, all of which were very bright, and it also appeared to be quite close. I assumed it was one of the local Crescos returning home from the south. But as we drove past the airfield and into Te Kuiti, I realised the lights were not moving and the "aircraft" remained fixed at its long final position. Perhaps a helicopter I thought, but just then it was obscured by some quite high cloud which makes that unlikely. I am still unsure as to what was and perhaps it is connected to Dave's report?
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Post by pepe on Sept 4, 2022 9:50:22 GMT 12
It is situated in the old Maungatapere Dairy Factory on State Highway 14 about 10kms west of Whangarei. Well worth a visit. packardmuseum.co.nz/Is it still closed, Pepe? I saw that it had been temporarily closed for a bit. Some nice wagons in there. It was closed over winter period (except for arranged group visits). It is now open again Wednesday to Saturday (10:00am to 4pm).
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Post by pepe on Sept 1, 2022 12:55:35 GMT 12
Thanks for those photos Grant. Where is the Packard Motor Museum? It is situated in the old Maungatapere Dairy Factory on State Highway 14 about 10kms west of Whangarei. Well worth a visit. packardmuseum.co.nz/
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Post by pepe on Aug 25, 2022 12:25:02 GMT 12
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Post by pepe on Aug 23, 2022 11:09:38 GMT 12
or a Pawnee?
To be fair i think all Cessna's pretty much look the same...
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Post by pepe on Aug 22, 2022 11:39:54 GMT 12
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Post by pepe on Aug 2, 2022 22:08:25 GMT 12
The reassuring tones of the Kaitaia NDB can be clearly heard on the audio. So close and yet so far.....
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Post by pepe on Jul 27, 2022 11:30:38 GMT 12
After observing what has been unfolding in a current European conflict, I think it much more likely (and practical) that an armed/unarmed UAV capability would be a better option moving forward. In a largely maritime environment though? The performance of existing reconnaissance UAV's such as the RQ4A/B Global Hawk are more than adequate for a maritime environment. www.airforce-technology.com/projects/rq4-global-hawk-uav/The armed UAV (UCAV) sector is still developing but there already new systems such as the Bayraktar Akinci which demonstrate what is on the horizon. www.airforce-technology.com/projects/bayraktar-akinci-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicle-ucav/Payload is only 1,350kg but can carry a wide range of munitions (including air to air missiles). Control and communications via Ground stations or satellite. Endurance is up to 24 hours and range to 5,000kms. This system is the successor to the Baraktar TB2 which is currently performing with credit in Ukraine.
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Post by pepe on Jul 26, 2022 14:12:31 GMT 12
Not sure if I’ve said before but I think that probably the only way we’d manage to get that capability back is if the U.S. considers it a strategic advantage to arm/train us as things with China heat up. For that to happen though there’d need to be a seismic shift away from our so-called independent foreign policy, which will probably never happen. After observing what has been unfolding in a current European conflict, I think it much more likely (and practical) that an armed/unarmed UAV capability would be a better option moving forward.
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Post by pepe on Jul 8, 2022 15:08:31 GMT 12
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Post by pepe on Jul 8, 2022 14:29:45 GMT 12
Pessimistic bunch here in the main. Jacinda is here in Aus saying the UN had taken “a morally bankrupt position” on Ukraine, “in the wake of a morally bankrupt and illegal war”. “Under these circumstances, waiting for our multilateral institutions to act was not an option for New Zealand,” she said. Maybe she will be getting the big sticks to match the rhetoric 🤔😉 Had NZ been attacked by the Japanese in WW2 there might be less blatant indifference to defense matters in this country. Considering the current financial climate which ever party that announced such a buy would be committing political suicide as interest rates climb along with the cost of living. NZers care more about the price of gas and bread than what the NZDF gets to use. So you can guarantee that the opposing party would endlessly beat the "waste of tax payers money" drum to leverage as much political capital out of it as possible because it's worked in the past and I see no reason why that would change today. Considering the pushback the Greens did (which was totally uninformed and unfounded nonsense) on the C-130 replacement buy, I think the NZDF was lucky to get away with the P8 acquisition. Fast jets might be one bridge too far. And I shall now stop talking politics because this is getting very close to that line. Well NZ was attacked in WW2 by the Kriegsmarine and it didn't make any difference.
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Post by pepe on May 19, 2022 13:15:01 GMT 12
Nice video. He is working off a strip at Waikawau, situated on the coast midway between Marakopa and Awakino.
I have been to the house, referred to in the clip, a couple of times before.
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Post by pepe on May 18, 2022 22:51:22 GMT 12
Tickets purchased at Cronulla cinema for first session on opening day.......I saw the original on first day of release in Manteca, California with my great mate Arthur P Zottarelli, sadly no longer with us. Cannot wait. The music really made a huge part of the success of the first version and just hope that it is up to scratch for the second. Critical reviews have stated the flying is phenomenal. To be fair "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding was my actual favourite from the soundtrack.
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Post by pepe on May 18, 2022 21:16:15 GMT 12
Considering the examples you use are 3 years old, they don't carry much weight.NZ has always maintained a defensive quota of ordinance, bombs, missiles etc. I don't think you will find any cluster devices(illegal still?) P3 Orion's and the new P8 will continue dropping practice bombs, its part of there operation platform. Is the person you quote still the Green defense rep? Unfortunately the Green MP concerned is still very much the current Party spokesperson for Defence. www.greens.org.nz/golriz_ghahramanAs I have already strayed far too much into the political realm I think I will leave this discussion here.
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Post by pepe on May 18, 2022 13:24:26 GMT 12
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Post by pepe on May 17, 2022 21:41:58 GMT 12
A quick read doesnt show that they would not consider any system, what they do state is that NZDF should be set up for the defense of NZ and not an aggressive force. In some ways I agree and disagree. It depends on the current situation of the world. That is most definitely a "glass half full" view of their policy...
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Post by pepe on May 17, 2022 12:14:43 GMT 12
based on what data, excluding your party politics A quick read of the Green's Defence (or non defence as some would say) Policy would suggest the likes of a Harvest Hawk upgrade would be very doubtful. www.greens.org.nz/defence_and_peacekeeping_policy
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Post by pepe on May 4, 2022 12:35:01 GMT 12
If you follow the link for the photo credit they are confirmed as Mk 81's
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Post by pepe on Apr 18, 2022 11:37:44 GMT 12
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