Air Force to receive new high tech helicopters

[Dave Homewood]

Teletext New Zealand news headlines currently say "New hi-tech choppers for air force" on page 28,

However when you go to page 28 the story is not there and has some rubbish about petrol prices.

There's no media release on the RNZAF Official Homepage either.

I hope this isn't an April Fools joke.

[Bruce]

Was on the TV1 News last night (so its not April fools) The RNZAF is to receive 12 Eurocopter NH90s to replace the Hueys - so who picked that in the forum a few weeks ago..... (well done!)

[turboNZ]

umm,...could have been my pickings....

In the Dominion Post it says NH90 have been selected to replace the 14 Hueys.
The quantities haven’t been disclosed yet. The government has budgeted $400 to $550 million to buy the new helicopter fleet which also includes several new training/light utility helos to replace the Sioux’s.

[turboNZ]

How do we confirm this?

Dave, you got an insider who can ?

Cheers
TNZ

[Dave Homewood]

I'll see what I can find.

And I hope they buy more than 12, that's not even squadron strength.

[Bruce]

Just checked out the Eurocopter web site, my suspicions are confirmed. The NH90 is an awesome machine and extremely capable, able to lift large loads which makes it ideal for disaster recovery. The big problem with that though - dimensions according to the Eurocopter page:

Fuselage length 16.13m
Fuselage width 4.52 m (Across undercarriage sponsons)
Height 5.23 metres.

Folded size (Naval Variant only)
Length 13.50m
Width 4.16m
Height 3.80 m

C130 Hercules cargo hold internal dimensions:
Length 12.19m
Max width 3.12m
Height 2.74 m

Now, basic spatial understanding suggests that rapid deployment via air to Pacific disaster areas, Antarctica or peace keeping operations may be somewhat of a problem....

Are the chiefs of staff planning to rely on our new "Logistics deployment vessel" (if it ever comes) or will we have to hire something like Heavylift's Short Belfast (!!!) in order to move each one.....
has someone actually thought about the big picture?

[Dave Homewood]

"ideal for disaster recovery"

Does that mean it can save what's left of the RNZAF?? ;D

I think it may be Labour's plan to purchase equipment that they can't take overseas simply so they can get out of spending more money on UN deployments, etc.

Perhaps we can buy the ex-Operation Deep Freeze Galaxy fleet which has been withdrawn.

How many Seasprites does the RNZAF have now? I think they will only end up with four, isn't it? There were some interum second hand ones whilst the new ones were built I think, but do they go back to the factory or do we keep them as attrition airframes?