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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 30, 2015 19:32:59 GMT 12
It's still recognisable and identifiable as the RNZAF roundel, even if it looks slightly different to those of us who know the design well. I doubt the 2010 change was done with any less consideration from the hierarchy than previous changes that have been made to the kiwi roundel and its predecessors. After all with this new version they'd have had to cut new metal stencils for each of the different sized aircraft types it is being applied to, so there'd be costs involved that would have to be approved, surely. I doubt it was all done by one man with a free reign to do as he'd like. (Unlike Key and the flag!)
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Post by lesterpk on Apr 30, 2015 19:38:56 GMT 12
No metal stencils these days Dave, all done with computer cut vinyl masks. Just need to have the drawing office update the files.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 30, 2015 20:07:33 GMT 12
OK, I take it back then.
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Post by Freighter5910 on Apr 30, 2015 21:04:30 GMT 12
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Post by baronbeeza on Apr 30, 2015 22:25:05 GMT 12
I have had a hand in a couple of livery changes on RNZAF aircraft. It was very much like putting a mod before the mod committee which I would have done on many more occasions.
The livery one was much the same in that it is sounded out on Squadron, Wing and Base first. Once you know most of those guys are in the loop and happy you then get the Staff Officer onside. He is the one that has to present it to the powers in Wellington. I don't recall anyone in Group HQ being involved but the Base Commander may have sorted that one out.
Most of this is going on within just hours anyway and is invariably a phone conversation with an exchange of ideas.
Once the Staff Officer thinks it is all looking good he will take the mod to the committee or in the livery case we did a publication amendment. Each aircraft type has a book with all the painting details and decals, placards etc clearly laid out.
The amendment can be done very quickly and may only be a few weeks all done. The book is amended first and then the aircraft follow. This was in the 80's and I am sure many guys were in the loop. I think the progression was from MFC to Staff Officer, the others in the chain couldn't just jump the queue so to speak. The Maintenance Flight Commander would be the sponsor.
I can recall quite a drastic change to the maintenance programme going through and it was about 8 weeks from we first mooted it until the Master Maintenance Schedule for the type had the revision in place.
A poor mod may get knocked back, it was always a nervy experience trying to get a mod through. D Eng or CAFTS would be very strict and all had to be 100%. Again it was either the Maintenance Flight Commander or the Staff Officer responsible for the type that could initiate and present the mod.
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Post by baronbeeza on Apr 30, 2015 23:23:58 GMT 12
Yes, we were surprised with the speed but it was actually the MMS for a very widespread civil type. The schedule was actually rewritten to reflect that ALL operators will do the A and B checks at the following intervals EXCEPT the RNZAF that will do theirs 50% later.
The calendar periods went from 2 weeks to 3 weeks and again from 4 weeks to 6 weeks.
Previously the aircraft were being over-maintained with the calendar hook. We were doing nothing like the hours and flight cycles of other operators.
The discussion started at SNCO level with the need for more staff to cope with the workload. The clarifying question was more staff, - or less work ?
Once we all agreed that less work was by far the best option then we decided to run with it and give it a go. No-one in the chain denied we were over-maintaining the machines so it was all very straightforward in the end.
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Post by beagle on May 1, 2015 11:03:46 GMT 12
somebody has already probably mentioned it, but the white leading edge of the vertical stabiliser
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Post by gibbo on May 1, 2015 22:05:06 GMT 12
somebody has already probably mentioned it, but the white leading edge of the vertical stabiliser Thought it was polished metal!?! Wonder when we'll get to see some vids of these flying about... |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on May 3, 2015 17:20:54 GMT 12
...does anybody know why they painted them black? I know the UK did it, for reasons unknown, but have the RNZAF forgotten the relatively recent trials they did with the Airtrainers when they moved to Ohakea where they re-discovered that yellow is the best for visibility in a busy training circuit (after testing all-white, all-red, all-yellow and all-black aircraft). Maybe it was the penguin guy again  Actually, from memory, that study concluded that Yellow and Black both had good qualities for visibility. Black was dominant against the sky (black doesn't reflect light therefore the eye is drawn to the 'hole in the sky' (note how easy it is to see Air New Zealand aircraft in their new schemes from long distance)) and Yellow was the best against the ground. NB the CT-4Es were painted Yellow with Black control surfaces as a compromise for these reasons. |
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Post by Calum on May 4, 2015 14:04:42 GMT 12
Regarding colour of the aircraft, training aircraft in particular, all the recent studies I've heard of have concluded that black is the colour that provides the most visibailty during daylight hour, primarily because it provides the most contrast between light sky and the aircraft.
As for night the colour doesn't really matter because it's dark.
I haven't seen the RNZAF study, but I expect if they believed yellow was a better colour then the T-6's would have been painted yellow.
A primarily black aircraft with a splash of yellow seems to the be current preferred scheme for training helicopters. The UK As350 and new ADF EC-135's are examples of this thinking
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 4, 2015 15:46:26 GMT 12
Black aeroplanes stand out far better against all the white chemtrails now in our skies.
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Post by beagle on May 4, 2015 19:41:21 GMT 12
so am I to take it, the full fleet is here now
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2015 8:26:29 GMT 12
It is.
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Post by ErrolC on May 23, 2015 13:13:08 GMT 12
A reminder that during the transition, RNZAF training is happening at BFTS Tamworth NSW.
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Post by baronbeeza on May 23, 2015 13:40:28 GMT 12
Presumably some of the instructors are 'on staff' over there also.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2015 13:50:51 GMT 12
We had one fly over our place a couple of weeks ago very low and very FAST,
Looked much bigger than I thought a Texan would be in the split second I saw it.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 23, 2015 16:12:26 GMT 12
So they are learning on CT/4B's at Tamworth?
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Post by ErrolC on May 27, 2015 19:35:19 GMT 12
Queenstown Airport @nzqn
Look who came to visit 2day! This Texan 2 is the new @nzairforce pilot training aircraft. Tks 4 the pic Bill Wrigley.
27 May 2015 16:33
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jul 15, 2015 11:54:01 GMT 12
For the second day in a row, one of the RNZAF's new Beechcraft T-6C Texan II's has been flying around in Wairarapa airspace, including lots of approaches to Hood Aerodrome. |
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Post by sqwark2k on Jul 16, 2015 9:23:57 GMT 12
Dave - I know one of the trainees in Oz currently, I think they're following the Oz training programs, starting on the CT4. He soloed on the CT4 recently. I assume he'll either go to the PC-9 or have a short wait between phases and convert to our T-6's.
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