|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2008 13:43:23 GMT 12
Why has the Government not leased the Maachis to a company operating as a pilot trainer, and then had its own pilots go through their school? I mean Air New ealand leases out its aircraft when it has too many on its books and makes money from it. If the Macchis were leased to civvies or another Air Force, we'd be making money rather than spend it and have a shcool where our new pilots could be sent. Has anyone thought of this?
|
|
|
Post by tbf25o4 on Mar 6, 2008 15:30:04 GMT 12
There are two problems with this approach 1. the contractor would be in the business of making a profit so that his margins over the lease costs of the aircraft, instructors etc would result in a higher cost than if the Air Force re-activated the macchis and used their own resources. 2. The Air Force has always resisted passing over training to an outside organisation as the need to maintain the highest of standards expected in quality of training has always been an issue. This would especially relate to high performance aircraft training and tactical training
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2008 15:39:21 GMT 12
Yes, I see both points there Paul. But they could still lease them out without any RNZAF people being trained rather than paying for them to sit idly rotting away, couldn't they? They could even lease them to an adventure tourism company.
|
|
|
Post by phil on Mar 6, 2008 16:08:14 GMT 12
Now I know Phil and others reckon they don't have the manpower to work on them even if they wanted to, but that situation and extra expense is ridiculous IMHO. For seats, I'd find the time ;D
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 6, 2008 16:20:29 GMT 12
The parachutes would have to be packed annually. and also the seat liferafts etc
|
|
|
Post by phil on Mar 6, 2008 16:32:19 GMT 12
Yes, but not by me.... Someone else would have to find the time to do that bit.
Not many S&S around anymore than there are armourers these days.
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 6, 2008 16:34:23 GMT 12
Well to be honest they must have just carried on as normal with regards servicing the Maachi safety equipment, unless they have just a few sets and swap them from a/c to a/c when they need to go flying.
|
|
|
Post by phil on Mar 6, 2008 16:35:50 GMT 12
I heard that Cam does it.
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 6, 2008 16:37:48 GMT 12
Thought the old bugger had left, even when he came back as a civvy. Does he still live on his wee farm with Ann. do you see him much Cam, well there are a few stories about that man..................
|
|
|
Post by phil on Mar 6, 2008 16:44:50 GMT 12
lol, I don't really know him well, except by sight. I'm sure he's still around, I saw him not too long ago, and had heard he was the one looking after the SEQs from the Mk10s.
The Avionics guys still look after the O2 gear as far as I know, just us poor armourers lost our seats.
It did make sense in the short term (which was what was always intended) but after 7 years or so you have to start to wonder if we wouldn't have been better off just keeping the capability.
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 6, 2008 16:48:35 GMT 12
the high's and low's of an air force career
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 6, 2008 16:56:51 GMT 12
I have been looking at the RAAF but probably getting a bit too old now at 44 the pay rates are a wee bit below what i am getting at the moment but then again, I cannot remember doing 60 hours each week in the force.
|
|
|
Post by skyhawkdon on Mar 6, 2008 16:57:41 GMT 12
with regards servicing the Maachi safety equipment, unless they have just a few sets and swap them from a/c to a/c when they need to go flying. Yep that's what they are doing. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2008 13:37:43 GMT 12
I used to pack the Maachi liferafts, and the Skwawk ones. Horrible things after doing the nice, easy CT-4 rafts.
Cam was a great boss and a good bloke. As was his predecessor as F/Sgt at Auckland when I was based there, Dak Lloyd. He was a top boss. I wonder where Dak is now
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 7, 2008 15:24:37 GMT 12
Who was Dak Lloyd I think you are getting mixed up with Dak Myer and Lloyd Puriri
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2008 15:39:30 GMT 12
Yeah you're right, Dak Meyer. I was thinking of some bloke at school called Dax Lloyd... sorry.
|
|
|
Post by beagle on Mar 7, 2008 15:54:55 GMT 12
Dak Meyer was running an internet cafe in Napier last I heard and Lloyd Puriri is still in and is also Base Aucklands Maori Culteral adviser
|
|
|
Post by vgp on May 26, 2008 7:22:50 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by skyhawkdon on May 26, 2008 7:44:08 GMT 12
Thanks for the update VGP. The're not looking so perly white any more! The covering must have really started to peel off by the look of all the repairs they have had to do to it. Looks like they have re-taped all the significant airframe joint areas over the top of the spraylat to hold it in place?? The photo looking through the fence at them from the front reminds me of visiting a zoo and looking (but not being able to touch!) the animals! God they look terrible sitting there like that... Are all 17 outside now? Last time I checked 3 were "missing".
|
|
|
Post by sniff on May 26, 2008 12:38:58 GMT 12
Dave, LOOK! Nose art on the A-4's...... ;D ;D ;D Naughty step... ?
|
|