melbkiwi
Leading Aircraftman
How has the 2015 budget set aside sufficient funds for the replacement of the Endeavour?
Posts: 4 
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Post by melbkiwi on Jan 27, 2015 18:29:19 GMT 12
While we are talking new aircraft....can anyone shed any light on the article in Australian Defence News Asia Pacific Defence Reporter that NZ have placed an order for 2 C17, with an option for another 2. This is to replace the C130s |
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Post by lesterpk on Jan 27, 2015 18:47:17 GMT 12
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Post by Radialicious on Jan 27, 2015 19:43:33 GMT 12
My first job when I joined SAFE Air after leaving the RNZAF was the manufacture of much of the support tooling for the Kiwi/Aussie Seasprite purchase. From memory, we made fifteen sets of everything and I spent a year in the machine shop constructing everything from intricate rigging/setting tools to rigs designed to lift the entire helicopter. As an Aircraft Technician, it was exciting to be hired in a machinist role and a privilege to be able to use the machinery that had always been the tools of only the machinist trade in the days when the RNZAF managed No. 1 Repair Depot. Looking at the pictures of the 'new' helicopters, I remember the work that went into making the rotor blade fold support poles. They were fairly beefy items that had quite complex internal locking/release components and large heat formed plastic surfaces that required a lot of good old kiwi ingenuity to construct. Fifteen sets of four kept the boys busy  ? |
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Post by Radialicious on Jan 27, 2015 20:02:38 GMT 12
With reference to the above post, I have to say that the year I spent in the machine shop on the Kaman support project was one of the most enjoyable, challenging and satisfying chapters in my time as an aeronautical tradesman. Lotsa great memories and I hope Roy Gardner doesn't mind me publicly thanking him (again) for his support and guidance throughout the project. Roy supervised the project at workshop level and was a great mentor as I got to grips with my transition from maintainer to manufacturer.
It was very satisfying towards the end of my time as a 'machinist', to be trusted with carrying out repair and overhaul tasks on gas turbine components that had price tags that resembled phone numbers.
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 4, 2015 15:35:27 GMT 12
Ready to fly in NZ!
Chief of Navy NZ @jackrs55
Our SH2G(I) about to make its first flight in NZ. Great progress for NZDF Maritime Aviation #kiwinavy /photo/1
4 Mar 2015 16:29 via iOS
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Post by phil on Mar 4, 2015 19:50:21 GMT 12
The Navy FB page has a couple more photos.
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 4, 2015 20:16:46 GMT 12
The Navy FB page has a couple more photos. Handover from Kamen will be Friday  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2015 16:42:36 GMT 12
Are all of them being handed over in one hit? Or will it be one at a time?
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Post by lesterpk on Mar 6, 2015 17:39:46 GMT 12
Will they wear the sqn markings after handover?
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Mar 6, 2015 22:04:11 GMT 12
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 6, 2015 22:53:21 GMT 12
Are all of them being handed over in one hit? Or will it be one at a time? Seems to be two at this stage. Fairly sure that they aren't all in-country yet! |
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 6, 2015 23:41:43 GMT 12
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Post by frankly on Mar 7, 2015 6:48:21 GMT 12
Not a bad news story. Navy was quiet keen on NH90 around 2008/2009. In reality the NH90 delays meant that was never going to be a low risk option, and the NFH has had a few challenges.
Was the Seapsrite the right choice originally? Probably not, but Navy's made a good fist of it and as long as we don't try to keep the latest batch too long then it'll end up being a cheap aircraft to own, probably $300M-$400M than the alternative. In context that's about the cost of the frigate weapon system upgrade.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Mar 9, 2015 12:38:48 GMT 12
Have any NZ3XXX serial numbers been applied to the new aircraft? If so what is the range?
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Post by lesterpk on Mar 9, 2015 12:58:00 GMT 12
Pretty sure they start at 3611 and up. You can see the large numbers on the fwd float fairings in the same place as the G models.
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Post by beagle on Mar 9, 2015 13:08:39 GMT 12
easy to see you have been eating your carrots like a good lad there Les
One question. The radar is different ??
The radome seems deeper
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 9, 2015 13:10:42 GMT 12
The Alert5 article above says they were NZ3611/ NZ3612 / NZ3613.
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 9, 2015 19:04:24 GMT 12
Yes - Radome is the same - I should know, as designed it back in 1997 / 98. Aim was to keep the bottom lip out of the radar FOV ... yet make it overall short enough not to contact the deck in a heavy (heavy) landing... the non-aerodynamic shape was something we never liked - but the aero guys said it produced surprising little drag.
Cheers
Hvd1041
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Post by beagle on Mar 9, 2015 19:19:13 GMT 12
yeah, just had a better look at different images.
Is the IRDS turret in the I model HD
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Post by machpants on Mar 9, 2015 21:49:04 GMT 12
Sadly such an ugly beast, and I'm saying something as ex Sea King guy!
But hopefully they'll fulfill the roles envisaged decently. Which is really all you can ask for most procurement programs now days
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