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Post by ErrolC on Oct 20, 2016 8:47:42 GMT 12
There is a thread about the overall Review etc on the Navy Board However there is a Flypast up Waitemata Harbour at 1400h that I think it useful to call out here. Per info given to Fly DC3 on 15th Oct Aircraft will include: • Catalina • Seasprite(s) • Overseas Military helicopter • 3 SQN (mixed A109 / NH90) • Dakota • Harvards • Kingair(s) • Texan(s) • Hercules • Orion • B757 • and US aircraft. Potential Overseas Military Helicopters appear to be Canadian CH124 Sea King (although not listed in the Review column of the graphic on the other thread), Chinese Z-9 (ditto), RAN Sea Hawk, Japanese Sea Hawk, Korean Lynx/Sea Hawk. USN Orions are listed for the preceding exercise, as are a French FA20 Guardian, Japanese P-1, and Korean Orion - so some spotting potential (presumably at Whenuapai) there! |
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 11, 2016 11:02:43 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 18, 2016 11:55:11 GMT 12
I have just had it confirmed by the RNZAF that this event is still happening tomorrow despite several of the aeroplanes and helicopters having diverted south to the Kaikoura region. The weather looks great too.
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 19, 2016 13:48:01 GMT 12
Sadly this was cancelled due to poor visibility at Whenuapai and over the harbour.
The DC-3 was cleared for a buzz and break at Whenuapai!
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 19, 2016 14:08:24 GMT 12
I was on Whenuapai's boundary this morning with Peter Lewis and two other Forum dwellers to see the Texans depart for Ohakea. No other signs of life. At midday the ceiling was 500 ft with the tops at 5000ft.
A shame for all. we were lucky to see the practice yesterday.
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Post by delticman on Nov 19, 2016 16:45:12 GMT 12
With the recent events at Kaikoura and weather today in Auckland, perhaps we could have a 75th plus One next year.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 19, 2016 17:16:11 GMT 12
A bit of a disappointing day. I called into the club at WP this morning. The ATIS was saying cloud broken at 1500ft, 8/8 at 1700ft. The Texan IIs were all lined up but not really clear in the murk, 9 in all.  I then had to go over to International to photograph ANZ's latest, 787 ZK-NZJ, and while I was there I received a call from Auckland Seaplanes that they had to cancel my pre-arranged trip in the Beaver floatplane ZK-AMA (which was scheduled to participate in the flypast along with the Catalina and Beaver ZK-CKH) as the chop in the harbour was above limits. Very disappointing. Apparently at that time the cloudbase in Auckland City was 1400, and the Air Force was due to make a go/no go decision at midday with a requirement for at least 1500ft. This, as we now know did not happen, and the event was cancelled. After a couple of other chores, I made it back to WP mid-afternoon just in time to see the last two of the Texans, NZ1407 and NZ1408, departing back home to Ohakea.   As pjw says, the cloud was down to 500AGL by that time, so I was not jealous. So back home for a grandpa nap after a hard week. |
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Post by Bruce on Nov 19, 2016 17:46:19 GMT 12
I see on the News the "Warships not welcome" protesters were there... didn't see any in the news coverage from Kaikoura though.
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 19, 2016 19:05:33 GMT 12
So what foreign aircraft are still at Whenuapai?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 19, 2016 20:06:49 GMT 12
Well, I set off for Auckland at 10.00am this morning with my best mate Mike and his dad Mike senior. We stood on the wharf next to The Cloud for a couple of hours watching all the ships, and watching the weather slowly improve, and then get worse, and then improve again.... We were so looking forward to the 2.00pm flypast. Not a single mention was made that it was cancelled by any of the Navy personnel around, nor on their whiteboard explaining the activities. At ten minutes to 2.00pm some bloke next to us on the wharf heard us talking and said it had been cancelled at 10.30am, when we were en route. Bitterly disappointing, so we went to the Mac bar for lunch. On the way out to the bar though we'd seen a Navy sign saying the sailing ship Esmerelda would be open at Cooks Wharf for looking over from 4pm till 6pm. Great, this was the one we were really keen to get onboard, so after lunch and a couple of pints and a good banter session we wandered back across the road to Cooks Wharf - no Esmerelda! She was sitting in the middle of the harbour still. We waited around till after 5pm and she'd still not moved. So, begrudgingly we said sod this as the rain was getting worse, and we came home back to Cambridge. Really disappointing not to see the flypast. Bloody Auckland weather. And gutted that the Esmerelda did not come into the wharf and allow people on as the Navy's sign stated. She's not going to be open tomorrow either.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 19, 2016 20:57:41 GMT 12
Some photos from the wet, miserable day at the end of the pier... but it was great fun with great company though  HMNZS Te Kaha and The Spirit of New Zealand  The RNZN Ensign being hoisted on HMNZS Otago (not sure why Photobucket has turned this sideways, the new version of PB is a bit weird)  The mirk  The tug William C. Daldy on the right  One of the very few protesters on the water  What do these colours mean hoisted on HMNZS Otago?  The Otago crew were probably bracing against the weather but they look like they're dancing a jig in this snap   The gorgeous Esmerelda from Chile  Not sure which this ship is  The William C. Daldy loaded with Old Salts  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 19, 2016 21:08:20 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 19, 2016 21:17:05 GMT 12
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Post by Bruce on Nov 19, 2016 21:25:54 GMT 12
Otago's flags are ZMKF, which a quick Google search indicates is the vessels Callsign.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 19, 2016 21:30:20 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 19, 2016 21:32:40 GMT 12
As you see from my photos, there were very few protesters on the water, and even less on the land, not enough to take any notice of or write about in the media. I saw tree small yachts that were protesting, each with about two people on. No doubt the last few Labour voters left in captivity...
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Post by Ian Warren on Nov 20, 2016 6:14:34 GMT 12
They are all great photo's ... Love the beer-cycle  The Esmerelda , yeah! Gorgeous ! , pity it was a wet day, had that been gorgeous the crowd really would have be out ! |
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 20, 2016 8:39:12 GMT 12
Errol , as of this morning , bright and sunny now !!! the US P3, the pair of Japanese P1 and a small twin were parked as they have been for two days. No sign of either 757s
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Post by ErrolC on Nov 20, 2016 9:06:18 GMT 12
@maritimenz: @nznavy ships in #Wellington harbour today? They've assisted #Kaikoura #eqnz &will anchor as part of an impromptu #KiwiNavy75th celebration! pic.twitter.com/booyeLqPWS
Sent from my E6653 using proboards
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Post by Brett on Nov 20, 2016 9:09:11 GMT 12
If they are spelling out the alphabet, then it would be : N E I X Z G H C ?
If they are using the message option then:
-Your movements are not understood
-Altering course to starboard
-Altering course to port
-Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signal
-I require a tug
-I require a pilot
-I have a pilot onboard
-Yes / Affirm
-?
Or it could mean that everything got wet in the Auckland weather and they are hanging all their laundry out to dry.
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The Esmerelda , yeah! Gorgeous ! 
