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Post by fishing2day on Jul 9, 2018 18:06:28 GMT 12
It is an interesting commentary on the slowing pace of technological development that an airframe design first conceived 54 years ago is the basis for an aircraft that could easily still be in service in 2064.
Does this mean we will also follow Australia when they announce what UAV they'll be buying to partner their P-8As?
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Post by gibbo on Jul 9, 2018 18:10:32 GMT 12
Ron Mark is currently having a very informative discussion with John Campbell on Radio NZ's Checkpoint programme and he has just given an assurance that, unlike the previous government which was planning to close Whenuapai and move everything to Ohakea, that under his watch Whenuapai will remain a RNZAF base. The discussion should be available to download and/or listen to from HERE once it has been archived on the Radio NZ website.  (click on the photograph to view the news story on Radio NZ's website)
Wow...great news, and boy doesn't that albatross look great on the P8 fin!?! Would like to see 5Sqn keep the darker grey! There's talk of simulator for both the 'front & back office' on other sites but AFAIK that's not been officially & explicitly detailed yet... hope so as that is critical with a small fleet. Also fantastic to see there is definite talk of a complimentary capability for the smaller tasks - again essential given the small fleet will be stretched! This is going to be the RNZAF's core combat capability for the forseeable future and that's the space it will more focused on once a complimentary capability comes on stream. Ohakea & new hangar etc is no surprise. So wonder what weapons systems are planned... fair to say we won't go the full monty as per RAAF but we'll know in time. |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Jul 9, 2018 18:20:54 GMT 12
Yeah, I heard that was one of the significant considerations, Bruce |
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Post by Calum on Jul 9, 2018 18:21:27 GMT 12
It's not, in the conference he said that the P-3's already have to fly to Ohakea to bomb up, which we knew anyway. I'd say because P-8A has forward firing weapons (harpoon etc) |
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Post by saratoga on Jul 9, 2018 18:23:12 GMT 12
With all the earlier discussion I'm surprised that criteria was missed out...but we really need a 1/72 version as well! |
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Post by Calum on Jul 9, 2018 18:27:06 GMT 12
Ron Mark is currently having a very informative discussion with John Campbell on Radio NZ's Checkpoint programme and he has just given an assurance that, unlike the previous government which was planning to close Whenuapai and move everything to Ohakea, that under his watch Whenuapai will remain a RNZAF base. The discussion should be available to download and/or listen to from HERE once it has been archived on the Radio NZ website. (click on the photograph to view the news story on Radio NZ's website)
Wow...great news, and boy doesn't that albatross look great on the P8 fin!?! Would like to see 5Sqn keep the darker grey! There's talk of simulator for both the 'front & back office' on other sites but AFAIK that's not been officially & explicitly detailed yet... hope so as that is critical with a small fleet. Also fantastic to see there is definite talk of a complimentary capability for the smaller tasks - again essential given the small fleet will be stretched! This is going to be the RNZAF's core combat capability for the forseeable future and that's the space it will more focused on once a complimentary capability comes on stream. Ohakea & new hangar etc is no surprise. So wonder what weapons systems are planned... fair to say we won't go the full monty as per RAAF but we'll know in time. I'd say these will be virtually exactly the same as the USN/RAAF ones. It's much cheaper to that rather than go down your own path. So whilst we may not purchase all the weapons the aircraft will be capable of using them all |
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Post by No longer identifiable on Jul 9, 2018 18:43:47 GMT 12
I seem to recall a post some time ago to the effect that Ron Mark was "an idiot". This is a pretty good outcome from someone who is supposedly "an idiot".
Perhaps the poster was looking in the mirror when they wrote it.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2018 18:49:46 GMT 12
It's not, in the conference he said that the P-3's already have to fly to Ohakea to bomb up, which we knew anyway. I'd say because P-8A has forward firing weapons (harpoon etc) Mark stated it is because of all the houses built right next to Whenuapai. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2018 18:51:16 GMT 12
I'd say these will be virtually exactly the same as the USN/RAAF ones. It's much cheaper to that rather than go down your own path. So whilst we may not purchase all the weapons the aircraft will be capable of using them all I'd imagine the New Zealand ones will have at least one optional extra, a pie warmer. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 9, 2018 18:57:26 GMT 12
I seem to recall a post some time ago to the effect that Ron Mark was "an idiot". This is a pretty good outcome from someone who is supposedly "an idiot". Perhaps the poster was looking in the mirror when they wrote it. Mark has added 8.5 months onto the process and then taken the exact same deal already worked out by the previous government, and is now taking all the credit. On ya. |
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chasper
Flight Lieutenant
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Post by chasper on Jul 9, 2018 19:04:20 GMT 12
My understanding is that there was never any alternative option to the P8 and it was significant pressure from our allies (Australia in particular) rather than any local political party that forced the decision, I understand that it was more a buy in or bugger off sort of option so the current coalition had no choice but to commit. Whatever the deal thank goodness that we have something impressive to look forward to.
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Post by gibbo on Jul 9, 2018 20:11:13 GMT 12
My understanding is that there was never any alternative option to the P8 and it was significant pressure from our allies (Australia in particular) rather than any local political party that forced the decision, I understand that it was more a buy in or bugger off sort of option so the current coalition had no choice but to commit. Whatever the deal thank goodness that we have something impressive to look forward to. Frankly I wouldn't be surprised if it was a 'buy in or bugger off sort of option' as let's face it, the P8A is going to be the RNZAF's core combat capability going forward. Other alternatives didn't quite get over the line & dare I say a significant factor is probably the ADF/RAAF probably basically told us we're on our own trying to integrate other providers platforms / systems with theirs. They probably also pointed out to NZ that we would then run the very real risk of meeting or even surpassing the P8 price trying to create a bespoke / orphan P8 integrated capability. What may escape some is if we try to integrate disparate systems with theirs then they the have to spend considerable time & energy (which ultimately also means $$$) themselves in working with us to define the requirements & assist in development & testing... basically they would've said ' not bloody interested, join the club or go find another'! Fair enough too! I for one would like to see a little more 'direct back-room influence' by the Oz Govt... better some friendly pressure now than scrambling around in an emergency trying to cobble together a meaningful response to events. |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jul 9, 2018 20:22:10 GMT 12
I still reckon they should be purchasing six airframes to replace six airframes.
And doubling the number of frigates to four (like we used to have).
Much as I'd like to see a fast-jet combat air force capability again, I consider those two things to be of more importance to New Zealand if a choice has to be made between one and the other.
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Post by fishing2day on Jul 9, 2018 20:35:11 GMT 12
I still reckon they should be purchasing six airframes to replace six airframes. Dollars to donuts we end up leasing a couple of ATR-72 type turboprops for a lot of the low and dirty surveillance and SAR missions. I can't imagine the Air Force brass would want to wear out there expensive airliner airframes by flying too low more often than they have to. |
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jeffref
Flight Lieutenant
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Post by jeffref on Jul 9, 2018 20:52:06 GMT 12
The Aussies are extending RAAF Edinburgh from 2560 M (longer than Ohakea) to 2830 M. Do they know something Ron doesn't? It gets a lot hotter in Aus so their runway requirements are always more than temperate NZ Not 400 M worth. Check the Boeing website for the closest equivalent the 737-900ER which has a similar MTOW. |
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Post by saratoga on Jul 9, 2018 21:00:35 GMT 12
Lets not get anything that the Aussies have 'integrated', Integrating hasn't been too successful for them in the past...
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Post by richard1098 on Jul 9, 2018 21:11:42 GMT 12
Lets not get anything that the Aussies have 'integrated', Integrating hasn't been too successful for them in the past... ?? Like CEAFAR and CEAMOUNT into the ANZACs; CCS Mk2 (AN/BYG-1) and MK48 ADCAP Mod 7 (CBASS) into the Collins class; SM-2 along with Mk-41VLS and ESSM into the Adelaide class FFGs; ASRAAM, JDAM-ER and AGM-158 JASSM with F-18; MU-90 into major surface combatants, or....  |
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Post by Bruce on Jul 9, 2018 21:33:34 GMT 12
With all the earlier discussion I'm surprised that criteria was missed out...but we really need a 1/72 version as well! Theres a really nice 1/72 A400M kit on the market too!  |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jul 9, 2018 21:48:15 GMT 12
 (if you hunt around online, you can locate a 1958 x 909 pixels sized copy of that image) |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jul 9, 2018 22:29:26 GMT 12
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