New RNZAF Beechcraft T-6C Texan II's Entering Service

[delticman]

Rain, not a problem but will the wings stand up to the wind and our rough air?

[oldfokker]

Aug 16, 2014 23:05:12 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I see you even got an old Fokker in the background, oldfokker.

Well Fokk spotted Dave

How about a wet Smaug - or a dripping Diesel 8 ?

OF





OF

[area51]

Both are well on their way to Whenuapai from Norfolk Island, appears ETA around 1600-ish.

[suthg]

HKB170 aka TEX2 has landed, and TEX1 HKB177 is about two mins out i hope some cameras see them arriving!!
Yes, both have landed safely! Good on them. Tomorrow to OH then.

[area51]

Some snaps of them on the drop into WP earlier today at www.mrcaviation.blogspot.com

Apparently they are at WP until Friday! Or could they possibly go across to the Beech distributor at Ardmore for something or other??

[Dave Homewood]

These RNZAF Official photos have just come in from Richard Jackson of the Air Force PRO. he writes:

"Dave,

I havent checked your site for a while, so you may already be aware of these images.

The T-6C 's transited thru Darwin last week and these photos were taken by our RNZAF photographer attending Ex PITCH BLACK.

You will note that NZ1401 has black ferry tanks, and -02 cream-colured ones. The ferry tanks will be sent back to wichita for the next ferry flights.

The aircraft are now in Whenuapai but keeping a low profile until Friday when they will fly to Ohakea with some media fanfare...

You are welcome to place these images on your site; date was 14 August.

cheers
Richard"










"And one more, which will gladden the heart of any military jet enthusiast - a USAF KC-135 taking off in the background
Richard"

[area51]

Nice shots at Darwin, thanks for sharing.
FYI, the last shot shows a Republic of Singapore Air Force KC135 departing, not USAF.

[noooby]

We don't get to keep the tanks? Beech isn't throwing in a set of ferry tanks with each aircraft so they can do long distance repositioning flights??

[Dave Homewood]

They're trainers, where will they need to go? Wikipedia says the range in standard configuration of the T-6A is 1,667 km. The Airtrainer has only a 963km maximum range and it gets all round NZ with no worries.

[Mustang51]

So........ Where's the best spot for some red and white checkers ?

[camtech]

Aug 20, 2014 10:03:18 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

They're trainers, where will they need to go? Wikipedia says the range in standard configuration of the T-6A is 1,667 km. The Airtrainer has only a 963km maximum range and it gets all round NZ with no worries.

How about representing RNZAF at aussie air shows?

[Dave Homewood]

Actually Whale Oil Beef Hooked reports that the T-6C model that we're getting has a range of 1,667 km. They could fly the Tasman without extra tanks if that's the case.

852 km from Kaitaia to Norfolk Island
898 km Norfolk Island to Lord Howe Island
781 km Lord Howe to Sydney

www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/01/rnzaf-purchasing-new-training-aircraft/

[baronbeeza]

Did you hear on the TV News interview the other week, Heather du Plessis-Allan made mention of the correct pronunciation of that website ?
She was saying you can put on your best Irish accent while reading, , I thought it was all rather witty.

Anyway, the article Dave has linked to was breaking news at the time.... it is obvious someone did a little research before they broke the story but given that scenario the facts may not be 100%. I have no expectation of any aviation related press release from the Herald getting even close in accuracy all the same.

As for the aircraft, well it can be seen the tanks do the job so I would be very surprised if the RNZAF didn't receive a few sets as part of the deal.
I can recall reading about the BN Islanders being built in Romania, they were then ferried to Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, for final completion. They seemed to use the same two Lycoming engines, removing them and posting them back to fit to the following aircraft.
In true British fashion they did this for all Islanders, even the Turbine versions... !! They were then converted at Bembridge.
Just thinking about it, I was at the factory in the early nineties and can't remember seeing an Islander being built from scratch, I have to imagine that is what they were doing then. I seem to recall the instruments were removed and placed in another suitcase and posted back as well.

The BAe 146 were flown from the factories to Marshall's at Cambridge for completion also, in green primer paint I believe.

At least the new RNZAF machines here are being ferried in a more complete state.

[machpants]

I love the bubble canopies, be a great view from that cockpit. The pics show that off very well.

[scrooge]

Nice of one of them to have just done a couple of orbits over my house- drowned out the Seasprite it was actually orbiting.

[fwx]

Mine too - very smart-looking in shiny black ..!

[atea]

A couple of shots of them landing at Ohakea this afternoon.





Sorry for the poor quality.

[Kereru]

Couple of shots taken at Whenuapai today.

N2824B did a high speed pass before landing, seen here doing the wing over after a steep climb.



N2824B (NZ1401) coming in to land after a flight this morning.



N2826B (NZ1402) coming in low before departing to Ohakea.



Very quick machines, I am looking forward to seeing them at the Air shows in future.

Cheers,
Colin

[Chris F]

Short but good piece on One News tonight...only issue that ruined it was the idiot Green Party Defence spokesperson questioning the deal with America as too close.
Please f..k off Green Party and go live in a jungle and hug some trees you complete weirdos...The day they form part of a Govt will be the day you can marry your pet and end of International relations full stop.
What's with this anti America shit anyway?
Are Americans that bad?
We took the family for 5 weeks in 2012 and went to Fleet week airshow and the kids could not see and without asking several adults made way for the kids to get to the very front...how kind...we never once had bad service or ever felt Americans were anything other than normal hard working people.

[Bruce]

I'm quite pleased that there is already a model kitset available for the Texan II - in both 1/72 and 1/48. I think I'll order one very soon! Just need some of them White - bordered, Barred roundels!