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Post by machina on Sept 26, 2021 12:14:09 GMT 12
757-2 currently out and about over Auckland.
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Post by gibbo on Dec 11, 2022 15:45:34 GMT 12
Latest (Dec22) AirForce news has a notice about cocktail party to be held early next year to see NZ7003 off as she becomes the first C-130H(NZ) to be retired. Vague on detail but it's about to start... boy 40 Sqn will be even more hard pressed then normal between then & when all 5 C130J-30 are in service... close to 2 years AIUI.
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 11, 2022 15:54:53 GMT 12
Latest (Dec22) AirForce news has a notice about cocktail party to be held early next year to see NZ7003 off as she becomes the first C-130H(NZ) to be retired. Vague on detail but it's about to start... boy 40 Sqn will be even more hard pressed then normal between then & when all 5 C130J-30 are in service... close to 2 years AIUI. And there will be a few months when there are no Orions and P-8 not at IOC AIUI? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 11, 2022 18:07:21 GMT 12
What does "IOC AIUI" mean, please?
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 11, 2022 18:13:52 GMT 12
What does "IOC AIUI" mean, please? IOC Initial Operational Capability As I Understand It |
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Post by oldgunny on Dec 13, 2022 8:38:13 GMT 12
Apparently there was an announcement yesterday saying the remaining 3 Orions will be retired early, by the end of January 2023.
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Post by planewriting on Dec 13, 2022 11:03:12 GMT 12
Apparently there was an announcement yesterday saying the remaining 3 Orions will be retired early, by the end of January 2023. Where was the announcement and can you place it in this thread? |
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Post by oldgunny on Dec 13, 2022 11:21:09 GMT 12
Don't know where it came from, but was mentioned in an e-mail to all Airbus people in NZ.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 13, 2022 13:06:16 GMT 12
Apparently there was an announcement yesterday saying the remaining 3 Orions will be retired early, by the end of January 2023. Where was the announcement and can you place it in this thread? It was announced yesterday by the CAF. The CAFGRAM was marked unclassified so hopefully it is OK to post here: |
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Post by machina on Dec 13, 2022 18:25:42 GMT 12
Does mean we’ll get a formation fast ‘n low flypast on 31 January?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 21, 2022 15:25:25 GMT 12
This is extracted from an RNZAF email newsletter called Huarahi ā Mua: Issue 7 - December 2022, sent to me by a NZDF employee whos says it's fine to post it here.  A picture says a thousand words, and these speak volumes. The RNZAF’s first C-130J-30, to be designated NZ7011, has continued its progression along the production line. The forward (seen here), mid and aft fuselage sections are built simultaneously with the wing assemblies progressing alongside. The fuselage-wing mate for our first aircraft is anticipated to be completed around May/Jun 23. The Lockheed Martin Marietta B1 production facility is where C-130s have been built continuously since 1956. The B1 building is huge at over 28 hectares and at any one time can have over fifty C-130Js progressing down the line in various phases. During a factory visit FAMC personnel were told by a Lockheed Martin representative that every C-130 has started on the same jig seen here – so in a way the lineage of our H fleet will continue with the J fleet. – WGCDR Rhys Evans |
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Post by oj on Dec 21, 2022 20:10:31 GMT 12
I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks at Lockheed Marietta, most of it in building B1, back in July 1986, while studying and learning their latest techniques in military aircraft wiring practice.
This was a prerequisite to PAC undertaking RNZAF Project Kahu.
I had one to one instruction and got through each training session by 1400 each day.
The remainder of the day my instructor took me on factory tours to almost all other buildings and departments.
A truely awe-inspiring experience for which I continue to treasure the memories.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 23, 2022 8:07:50 GMT 12
The Wings Over New Zealand Show Episode 269 is now online. In this episode, WONZ 269 - To The Four Winds: No. 40 Squadron, I visit No. 40 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, at RNZAF Base Whenuapai.
I sat down with the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Blair Oldershaw, aircrew members Flight Sergeant Dave Wood, (Air Load Master) and Flight Sergeant Robyn Claffey (Flight Engineer), and Maintenance Warrant Officer Darryn Wells from the squadron to talk about their experiences with the Lockheed C-130H Hercules as the sun sets on its very long RNZAF career. Entering service in 1965, the five Hercules will be replaced in 2023 after 57 years of sterling service. And they discuss the upcoming replacement aircraft, five new Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules.
This discussion gives a great insight into the amazing work that the Hercules fleet has done over five and a half decades for New Zealand, and also looks forward to how the squadron will continue this work with their new aircraft.
Here is the link:
cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2022/12/wonz-269-to-the-four-winds-no-40-squadron/
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Post by machina on Dec 24, 2022 10:36:01 GMT 12
Enjoyed that one Dave. Insight into the current RNZAF always welcome.
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Post by fiftythree on Jan 2, 2023 20:50:06 GMT 12
The KC30 isn't a role change type aircraft like the B757. RAAF config is 270 seats upstairs (business and economy) and capacity for eight 463L pallets in the lower holds, built to 64" high and weighing up to 10,000 lbs each. Far exceeds our current capacity, and probably still would with a permanent VIP fit. Limits where you can take it but gives RNZAF a true strategic air lifter with bonus capability for future development. Getting away from role changing will be a game changars for maintenance teams. 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 Jan 3, 2023 18:11:45 GMT 12
Given the frequency we acquire new aircraft, would we not take the opportunity to replace the 757s with something that can carry pallets, people AND equipment that can’t fit in the Hercs, i.e. the NH-90s? I’m no expert but in my mind that is surely a significant factor, and since we can’t get C-17s anymore it really only leaves the A400.
As much as I’d love to see KC-30s/46s etc here if we can’t move about key bits of kit then it’d almost be a waste of money.
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mroz
Flying Officer
Posts: 65
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Post by mroz on Jan 5, 2023 23:23:23 GMT 12
A400 is best bet I reckon.
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Post by snafu on Jan 8, 2023 12:31:07 GMT 12
A400 is best bet I reckon. For strategic lift I agree A400M or Kawasaki C2 but they don't fill the VIP role to well I would go into a PPP with ANZ for VIP aircraft under private finance initiative something like the UK AirTanker consortium |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2023 13:20:51 GMT 12
NZ's VIP's are not actually very important, in fact most are completely unimportant and their media entourage are pointless, so I would not use the tiny role of VIP hauling as a big criteria over the other actual useful military roles the aircraft will need to fulfil.
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Post by camtech on Jan 8, 2023 14:39:58 GMT 12
NZ7003.com has the info.
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