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Post by baz62 on Jul 27, 2013 17:12:11 GMT 12
Got this photo from Don yesterday, different angle of the same pair:  |
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Post by mumbles on Jul 27, 2013 19:13:26 GMT 12
Got this photo from Don yesterday, different angle of the same pair: Great shot. The single seater is NZ6215 according to the N-reg. Nice to see it has kept the full RNZAF roundel too. |
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Post by Gavin Conroy on Jul 28, 2013 7:17:37 GMT 12
Fantastic to see a pair of these flying again.
Might have to go and watch them fly one day.
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Post by delticman on Sept 30, 2015 21:42:55 GMT 12
One day last month, at least a couple of ex RNZAF MB339CB's headed out north from Lakeland, Florida. N344EM ex NZ6470, has been recorded as flying from Goose Bay to Narsasuaq on August 9th and N343EM, ex NZ6467 flying from Reykjavik to Benbecula on the 10th. I cant find any trace of them landing at any other UK airports.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Oct 1, 2015 13:12:50 GMT 12
Brilliant to see them back in the air where they belong!! I am sure when the RNZAF needs the capability the current owners will lease them back to us at a handsome profit. |
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Post by saratoga on Oct 1, 2015 16:07:50 GMT 12
I think they will be too busy, i hear they have just got the USAF adversary contract.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Oct 1, 2015 17:40:56 GMT 12
Correct! Draken International Awarded United States Air Force Commercial "Adversary" Contract LAKELAND, Fla., Sept. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Draken International, the leading provider of 4th-generation tactical flight services, has been contracted to provide adversary support for the United States Air Force. Flying the industry's most advanced Douglas A-4K Skyhawk and Aero Vodochody L-159E ALCA fighter jets, Draken is able to replicate numerous types of threat aircraft. Draken aircraft are equipped with modern radars, electronic attack pods, and are operated by highly-skilled reserve and former-military professionals. This unique service will result in considerable cost savings for the USAF and preserves military assets, such as F-16s and F-15s, while still achieving necessary training. The Draken-operated A-4K Skyhawks and L-159E ALCAs are uniquely configured to meet USAF adversary support requirements. This includes modern fire-control radars, counter-measures, HUD, HOTAS, training missiles, long endurance, low operating costs, and other advanced avionics that are relevant to the adversary mission. The A-4K Skyhawk and L-159E ALCA were engineered to have the reliability and efficiency of a 3rd-generation aircraft, but equipped with the sensors and sophistication of a 4th-generation fighter jet. "We are excited to begin delivering a professional, safe, and highly-capable aggressor service to the United States Air Force. Personally, I am really looking forward to integrating with and complementing the USAF Nellis-based aggressors. They have served this essential mission for a long time and are some of the finest in the world," expressed Col. Terry "Stretch" Scott, a recently-retired USAF F-22 pilot and Nellis Detachment Commander for Draken International. Jared Isaacman, CEO of Draken International, comments on the USAF contract award: "We have built a company with a considerable fleet of safe, sustainable, and credible fighter aircraft. We also have assembled a professional group of former military pilots and maintenance technicians. The organization has spared no expense to ensure that we are the absolute best at any commercial air services mission. As such, we feel we are absolutely ready and fortunate to have this monumental opportunity. This is our time to demonstrate the capabilities of our service while still achieving considerable cost savings for the United States Air Force." The fiscal environment has resulted in significantly constrained defense budgets on a global level. In order to achieve readiness, militaries around the world are turning to innovative solutions to achieve training objectives. This adversary contract for the USAF is just one example of several cost-saving solutions Draken is able to provide using commercially-operated fighter aircraft. Draken was also recently contracted to perform international air-to-air threat simulation for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Edwards Air Force Base. Other Draken missions include research and development, flight instruction to military students, Navy ship defense training, and other cost-saving services using the company's fleet of tactical fighter aircraft. For more information about Draken International, visit www.drakenintl.com. About Draken International Based in Lakeland, Florida, Draken International has set a new standard in tactical flight support. With a fleet of over 70 fighter aircraft, the company operates the largest privately-owned fleet of ex-military aircraft in the world. The aircraft are used to support various types of military training objectives around the globe, providing a tremendous cost savings over the use of traditional military fighter assets. For additional information, visit www.drakenintl.com. SOURCE: Draken International |
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Post by delticman on Oct 1, 2015 21:00:42 GMT 12
I viewed Drakens facebook page last night. It looks like they are in Europe with the L.159's but no mention of the MB339CB's. On a slightly different matter, I see the Canadian operator with the A4N's his helping out the German Air Force. I'm not sure where but would that be the first operations of A4's on mainland Europe?
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Post by saratoga on Oct 2, 2015 16:07:32 GMT 12
No, Flight Research(?) has supported Germany with A-4s in the past,mainly as target tugs, and the Singapore Air Force based some of their A-4S's in the south of France for about a decade.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Oct 2, 2015 20:12:31 GMT 12
BAE Systems operated A-4Ns in Germany prior to Discovery Air Services of Canada taking over the contract a few months ago. Discovery's A-4Ns are the ex ATSI aircraft from the US. The 6 ex BAE systems A-4Ns are now owned by Draken and at least two of them are operating in France with two of our old MB339s on a contract to the French Navy.
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Post by lesterpk on Oct 3, 2015 2:50:49 GMT 12
Couple of vids of the Macchis arriving in Europe.
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Post by nige on Oct 5, 2015 20:19:08 GMT 12
Good to see them flying still and getting to visit new places such as Europe (and at least the aircraft's camo scheme looks more "at home" there)!
But one thing puzzles me, we were told the main reason why they weren't brought back into RNZAF service a few years ago for advanced pilot training was to do with the RR engines being unsupported (unless upgraded at around $100M, from memory). So how come Draken don't appear to have an issue with the engines (or do they have to limit their use, more so than the RNZAF would if they had been brought back into service)?
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Post by lumpy on Oct 6, 2015 6:43:13 GMT 12
But one thing puzzles me, we were told the main reason why they weren't brought back into RNZAF service a few years ago for advanced pilot training was to do with the RR engines being unsupported (unless upgraded at around $100M, from memory). So how come Draken don't appear to have an issue with the engines (or do they have to limit their use, more so than the RNZAF would if they had been brought back into service)? Being unsupported doesnt mean they cant be used , maintained and repaired . It just creates some restrictions on what the engine can be used for ( you couldnt run a passenger jet engine like this for example ) The Skyhawk engine has been unsuported for years , but they still continue to be overhauled ( occasionally ) and used . I believe the responsibility on wether to use such an engine rests with the user ( and any regulations they must work within ) . Military use doesnt seem to be much of a problem . Thats as I understand it anyway . |
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Post by skyhawkdon on Oct 6, 2015 16:18:07 GMT 12
Once Deaken have burnt off all of the hours on the Macchi engines that will be it. No one is repairing or overhauling this variant to my knowledge (Safe Air was asked to but declined). But Draken have quite a few spare engines so that could take some time. Then they will have to look at re-engining with something else, most likely a lower powered Viper variant, one that is still available in numbers and supportable (although I doubt anyone will be overhauling RR Vipers anywhere for much longer).
The Skyhawk engine still has limited OEM support and can still be overhauled, including by our own Safe Air. This will only continue though while there are new parts available. But Draken got a pretty significant stock of brand new J52 spare parts with our Skyhawks. Probably enough to keep them going for many, many years.
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 21, 2015 12:49:25 GMT 12
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2015 13:26:56 GMT 12
For those keeping score at home: N140EM is the former NZ6251 and N141EM was NZ6252.
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Post by Swingtail on Dec 1, 2015 11:42:41 GMT 12
There is a two page spread photo of ex RNZAF Skyhawk now N147EM on pages 6 & 7 of the November 2015 Australian Aviation Magazine.
Its in formation with a Royal Netherlands F-18 and F-35.
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