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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 21, 2016 15:36:16 GMT 12
Is it likely that with the Texans now in service with No. 14 Squadron, they might reintroduce the Forward Air Control role that the squadron used to train pilots in to support the Army back with the Harvards, Strikemasters and (I think) Macchis?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 2, 2016 22:40:22 GMT 12
..."The kiwi has been refined to look less like a penguin with a streamlined head, longer curved beak, and straighter legs. The result is a silhouette that clearly resembles a
kiwi while still retaining the original shape and feel."The Roundel:  On Friday night I had a good chat with Ross Cleverly, who was a Safety and Surface Worker in the 1950's to 70's. He's famous for designing the albatross emblem for No. 5 Squadron and the "Ngaruawahia Ned" Maori warrior emblem for No. 3 Squadron. He told me in 1959 he was also asked to design a new RNZAF roundel with a kiwi on it as Air Department were keen on the idea. He produced this photo of his 1959 design, which was ultimately rejected in favour of the white fern (white feather) roundel. I could not help thinking how it looked rather familiar....  [/quote] |
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Post by camtech on Oct 3, 2016 12:43:40 GMT 12
I remember Ross being very proud of the Albatross and took great pleasure in seeing his design on the Orions.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 3, 2016 12:54:22 GMT 12
He is still very proud of it, and he's angry that Air Department insisted they dull the emblem down to grey even when the Squadron Commander at the time appealed to Wellington to have it remain coloured. I see no reason why they cannot have some colour. Camouflage is hardly an issue, you can see an Orion for miles with the black trails.
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Post by Freighter5910 on Oct 3, 2016 19:45:02 GMT 12
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Post by saratoga on Oct 3, 2016 20:02:47 GMT 12
I agree with Freighter5910,this so called new kiwi is more like a logo than a sumbol.
The 70s style Kiwi for me thanks.
Unfortunately i saw about 1000 of the new logo on patches the other day, so they will be finding their way out there,diluting the great symbol with mediocrity!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 3, 2016 20:46:17 GMT 12
I just find it really interesting that the new version looks remarkably similar to Ross's 1959 design, and I wonder if they found that in the archives and assumed it was the original standard.
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Post by Freighter5910 on Oct 4, 2016 20:18:40 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 5, 2016 0:15:23 GMT 12
Ross said he was in Singapore with No. 41 Squadron RNZAF when word came through they were wanting a new roundel, and he said that the one in his b&w photo was quite large and so they had pinned it to the ceiling to photograph it.
Your coloured roundel looks better proportioned, maybe it was a second attempt. Sadly Ross is not online so we cannot send him the link.
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hughw
Flying Officer
Posts: 58 
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Post by hughw on Oct 31, 2016 19:52:22 GMT 12
One question I have about the RNZAF T6C is regarding the wing hard points. I'm guessing they attach pylons too the wing hard points when needed for droptanks etc. But can the RNZAF T6C be armed? I know that there is only one variant advertised as armed in the T6 series (AT-6 Wolverine) but given the fact that the RNZAF T6C is a different variant for the main purpose of training but also has hard points, can weapons be attached to pylons attached to the hard points? When I was at Warbirds over Wanaka this year I got the chance to look in the cockpit of one and took a photo, later noticing that there was a master arm switch on the front panel. Is this just for avionic simulations of weapon firing/ dropping?
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Post by tomkilpatrick on Oct 31, 2016 20:38:58 GMT 12
One question I have about the RNZAF T6C is regarding the wing hard points. I'm guessing they attach pylons too the wing hard points when needed for droptanks etc. But can the RNZAF T6C be armed? I know that there is only one variant advertised as armed in the T6 series (AT-6 Wolverine) but given the fact that the RNZAF T6C is a different variant for the main purpose of training but also has hard points, can weapons be attached to pylons attached to the hard points? When I was at Warbirds over Wanaka this year I got the chance to look in the cockpit of one and took a photo, later noticing that there was a master arm switch on the front panel. Is this just for avionic simulations of weapon firing/ dropping? G'day Hugh, I'm active air force so hopefully I can help. The hard point's primary purpose (at least on our variant) is to attach auxiliary fuel tanks. With attaching weapons systems to hard points, there's specific electrical connections that have to be there, and connected. In ours, the connection for any form of weapons system just isn't there - only the fuel attachments are. I'm not sure if the electronic control unit on the T-6 has the software to arm/launch weaponry, but in my opinion (and it might not be right), it most likely wouldn't. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 31, 2016 21:03:18 GMT 12
Thanks Tom. Welcome to the forum.
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Post by TS on Nov 18, 2016 13:08:04 GMT 12
Heads up just saw a great formation of four T-6C Texan II's fly over Browns Bay heading for WP.  |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Nov 18, 2016 13:11:50 GMT 12
I've seen them in formation in Wairarapa skies a couple of times over the past several weeks.
On one occasion, they looked like they were on finals for Hood Aerodrome (either doing a low-level fly-past, or about to do a buzz & break). I was driving a train across the bridge over the Waingawa River on that occasion, heading towards Wellington, so I didn't see any more, because JNL's factory got in the way once I was across the river.
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rodm
Flying Officer
Posts: 67
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Post by rodm on Nov 18, 2016 15:58:26 GMT 12
a five-ship formation of the Black Falcons is currently conducting a full flying display practice over Whenuapai...
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hughw
Flying Officer
Posts: 58
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Post by hughw on Nov 18, 2016 16:39:03 GMT 12
a five-ship formation of the Black Falcons is currently conducting a full flying display practice over Whenuapai... The RNZAF posted photos of a 9 ship formation on their Facebook page...  Apparently if you want to see this in person you should come to the Naval anniversary event tomorrow in Auckland between 12:30 and 2:30 when they will be flying. |
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 18, 2016 18:01:18 GMT 12
The five ship display was excellent , quite high speed ,with a pair doing opposing passes with smoke . Also an interesting variation of an open barrel roll by one aircraft around the formation on a fly past.
Like lots of others I will parked at the western end of the runway to watch the take off sequence , then off for the harbor views.
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Post by noooby on Feb 2, 2017 5:12:26 GMT 12
Quick question. Why did the RNZAF call it the Texan? Canada also operate the T6 Texan II but decided to call it Harvard II as a link to the original Harvard, which was the Commonwealth name for the Texan.
Would have been nice to Harvard's back in service in NZ!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 2, 2017 18:53:14 GMT 12
Probably because they still have several Harvards at Ohakea and it would get confusing?
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Post by noooby on Feb 4, 2017 3:05:35 GMT 12
LOL. The Canucks call them Harvard II, although technically that could still be confusing! They really should've been Harvard V shouldn't they? Didn't Harvards only go up to IV???
Sorry for the thread drift. Back to the regular program now...
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