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Post by kiwirob on Jul 3, 2020 1:51:56 GMT 12
A sensible solution for the RNZAF would be to sell Whenuapai, the profit the govt make from selling this could go into building the second runway at AKL with an RNZAF annex on the far side of this new runway. The RNZAF heavies could be based here along with the seasprites and additional facilities for the P8's.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 3, 2020 9:45:52 GMT 12
That is pretty much the least sensible thing in this whole thread.
For one thing if the base were sold, the money would never go into building another base.
Secondly Auckland International Airport is a privately owned site, not a government owned entity.
Thirdly having a military base plonked into the busiest airport in the country is just plain stupid. Security issues, access to airspace, having to yield to civilian ops all the time, so many reasons why that is NOT a sensible solution for anything.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Jul 3, 2020 13:14:29 GMT 12
an alternate would be to close whenuapai move 40 Sqn to Ohakea using the ex75/3 sqn hangar, build (at govt expense) a hangar and support buildings for 6 Sqn at NZAA along with tarmac parking for C130/B757.
The flying time from NZOH to NZAA for transport or maritime operations as required is minimal. There would of course be a large financial requirement for additional administration and domestic facilities
possibly including MQ housing. The reasoning is that continual pressure from residential requirements around Whenuapai will eventually restrict operations there. Also the main users of 40 sqn (Army)
are now concentrated at Linton. 6 Sqn cannot practically be housed anywhere near the naval base (again residents would complain re noise etc)
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Post by kiwirob on Jul 3, 2020 16:59:54 GMT 12
That is pretty much the least sensible thing in this whole thread. For one thing if the base were sold, the money would never go into building another base. Secondly Auckland International Airport is a privately owned site, not a government owned entity. Thirdly having a military base plonked into the busiest airport in the country is just plain stupid. Security issues, access to airspace, having to yield to civilian ops all the time, so many reasons why that is NOT a sensible solution for anything. There are military bases co-located with civilian airports all over the world. I think it's a pretty good idea because it will keep an airforce presence in Auckland. |
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madmark
Flight Lieutenant
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Post by madmark on Mar 23, 2021 21:46:09 GMT 12
Pretty interesting to see that the RAF have decided to put their entire C-130J fleet out to pasture already.
I reckon there could be a few bargains to be had there, 1 careful lady owner, only used in hot dry sunny climates..
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Post by 30sqnatc on Mar 23, 2021 23:36:43 GMT 12
And they come with trained operators and maintainers.
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madmark
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 78
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Post by madmark on Mar 24, 2021 13:40:14 GMT 12
On a serious note, it is concerning that the RAF are ditching their J models which are only 20 years old and have recently gone thorugh a mid life extension program. I wonder if it is because they are simply too small to carry the larger pieces of equipment that land forces use these days. That would explain why they are sticking with the A400M despite the difficulties they have had with it.
I hope the RNZAF doesn't come to regret buying a relatively old and by modern standards small aircraft in the future..
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Post by gibbo on Mar 24, 2021 21:49:21 GMT 12
On a serious note, it is concerning that the RAF are ditching their J models which are only 20 years old and have recently gone thorugh a mid life extension program. I wonder if it is because they are simply too small to carry the larger pieces of equipment that land forces use these days. That would explain why they are sticking with the A400M despite the difficulties they have had with it. I hope the RNZAF doesn't come to regret buying a relatively old and by modern standards small aircraft in the future.. Think it's pretty clear this is purely a budget driven decision by UK's MOD, nothing to do with the suitability or otherwise: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9305589/Death-Hercules-Entire-fleet-transporter-plane-favoured-SAS-grounded.html The C-130J is still being bought in numbers and had a good future ahead of it so I personally have no issue whatsoever with NZ picking it up. 2-3 cheapish ex-RAF models to add to the 5 J-30's on order for 40sqn sound great on paper (and there is precedent with the 6th RNZAF P3) but the devil is in the detail and in this case that means what exactly is needed in terms of structural & avionics to make them a viable option & worth NZ's investing. However having said that I can't see Govt giving the nod... they'll be lucky to collect everything in the last DCP... my concern is EMAC won't materialise! |
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Post by alanster on Jul 23, 2021 12:29:23 GMT 12
Good option for the 757 replacement The A330 MRTT www.airbus.com/defence/a330mrtt.html- LR Cargo & troop transport - Air hospital & medivac - Tanker - VIP transport Interoperability with allies like the Aust, Singapore and UK, which have all taken or in the process of taking delivery of the MRTT. |
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Post by gibbo on Jul 23, 2021 19:24:02 GMT 12
Good option for the 757 replacement The A330 MRTT www.airbus.com/defence/a330mrtt.html- LR Cargo & troop transport - Air hospital & medivac - Tanker - VIP transport ... Interoperability with allies like the Aust, Singapore and UK, which have all taken or in the process of taking delivery of the MRTT. Yeah it'd certainly be a game-changar... however there is one potential issue in that AIUI the A330-MRTT doesn't come with a cargo-strengthened floor so no combi-pax/pallet option on the main-deck, and with AAR taking up under-floor capacity it might not offer the cargo capability we sorely need. Dunno... needs proper evaluation by project team to assess req's versus options and that's now pushed out quite a while. They also need to move the B757 & replacement narrative away from seeming like just a VIP platform. |
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Post by machina on Jul 23, 2021 23:47:55 GMT 12
We just need to go cap in hand to the Americans and ask for 3-4 C-17s.
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Post by madmac on Jul 24, 2021 7:38:24 GMT 12
With the Current government they will be lucky to get something with wings, let alone a cargo door.
C17's or A330 have about as much chance of be selected, as the F111 did.
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Post by alanster on Jul 24, 2021 14:40:44 GMT 12
With the Current government they will be lucky to get something with wings, let alone a cargo door. C17's or A330 have about as much chance of be selected, as the F111 did. Well the Poseidon was purchased wasn’t? The 757 ended up being a good buy by the Clark government, unlike those LAVs. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 24, 2021 17:25:39 GMT 12
Well the Poseidon was purchased wasn’t? That was the previous government, with a competent Minister of Defence from a party who, for all their many faults, did actually work hard for the Defence Force. The current government in place since October 2020 is a whole different different ballgame. The current minister is a hatchet man with no background in defence, and he is already undoing some of the good work that Ron Mark did. |
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Post by alanster on Jul 24, 2021 19:20:29 GMT 12
The “previous government”? It’s the same guy in charge of the purse strings and same PM. Anyway, yeah Ron Mark was great. Best defence minister in a generation. It was always going to be a step down from him.
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Post by saratoga on Jul 24, 2021 19:41:12 GMT 12
Governments only exist for the term (3years), each election creates a new government, regardless if its the same party/people. It amuses me with the current mob, they keep going on about 9 years of neglect, forgetting that they have been in charge for 4 of those years!.
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Post by 30sqnatc on Sept 25, 2021 15:42:11 GMT 12
On Flightracker I see there is finally a 757 in the air today. Have they not been gathering cobwebs for many weeks?
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Post by machina on Sept 25, 2021 17:45:19 GMT 12
One was up out of Whenuapai a few days ago.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Sept 25, 2021 21:17:30 GMT 12
Well the Poseidon was purchased wasn’t? That was the previous government, with a competent Minister of Defence from a party who, for all their many faults, did actually work hard for the Defence Force. The current government in place since October 2020 is a whole different different ballgame. The current minister is a hatchet man with no background in defence, and he is already undoing some of the good work that Ron Mark did.
Perfectly stated, and I feel the same way about the situation.
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Post by nighthawknz on Sept 26, 2021 7:47:13 GMT 12
Wait we currently have a Defence Minister... isn't he MIA? and we only have an Associate Minister of Health??? just saying
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