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Post by mcmaster on Dec 6, 2018 13:05:23 GMT 12
Does he know something we don't? About what? As far as I am aware the Singapore deal is still on. That is according to several currently serving people here, plus what Winston Peters said, and now this guy. In fact the only place I have seen any mention that the deal is off is in the rumours and speculation on this page. What's the latest with this deal? |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Dec 6, 2018 15:37:02 GMT 12
I wa told a couple of months ago by somebody from Defence Headquarters who is a regular commuter on our Wairarapa trains that a number of Singapore Air Force officers had been posted to Ohakea for a period of two years and that their families were joining them. Also that negotiations over housing for Singapore personel were under way, so I guess that tends to say something.
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hughw
Flying Officer
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Post by hughw on Dec 6, 2018 17:27:08 GMT 12
I've done a bit of digging on the Parliment TV website and have found out that the conclusion of negotiations for the deal is required to be reported to cabinet by the end of this year. Also, I found a weblink to a project tender page which describes the construction of new infrastructure for the P-8's and how its going to be "all new construction" including 12,000 square meters of hangar space. Leading me to believe they are saving space for the F-15's even though the new P-8's are to be based there. I could be wrong. www.gets.govt.nz/MD/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=20095928 |
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Post by lesterpk on Dec 6, 2018 23:35:43 GMT 12
12,000 m2 of hangar, office and workshop is pretty much what the sqn has now at Whenuapai. There's no room for F15's in that equation.
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hughw
Flying Officer
Posts: 58
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Post by hughw on Dec 7, 2018 9:47:55 GMT 12
12,000 m2 of hangar, office and workshop is pretty much what the sqn has now at Whenuapai. There's no room for F15's in that equation. But what about the old 3 squadron hangar? The P-8's are going to use all "new construction" according to this. |
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Post by madmac on Dec 7, 2018 11:03:20 GMT 12
12,000 m2 of hangar, office and workshop is pretty much what the sqn has now at Whenuapai. There's no room for F15's in that equation. But what about the old 3 squadron hangar? The P-8's are going to use all "new construction" according to this. Can't let fiscal efficiencies get in the way of shiny new toys, you know abit like the joke about always building an airbase with the runway last thing to be built because that way any cost over runs are going to be funded. One would guess the hangar door is too low for 737 tail, although something to drop the tail by lifting the nose wheel wouldn't be hard. |
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Post by frankly on Dec 7, 2018 12:51:55 GMT 12
#2 and #3 hangars are both earthquake prone. #3 has steel lattice inside it making it unstable for taller aircraft even if the doors were modified.
Easy to focus on aircraft, but most of the hangars should also be junked. The maintenance cost for old buildings is huge. And defence currently has around 1 building for every 4 people. Which is interesting in the it sense it illustrates how ad-hoc building works have been and how much of a headache maintenance is.
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Post by saratoga on Dec 7, 2018 14:11:33 GMT 12
12,000 m2 of hangar, office and workshop is pretty much what the sqn has now at Whenuapai. There's no room for F15's in that equation. But what about the old 3 squadron hangar? The P-8's are going to use all "new construction" according to this. You really mean the old 75 Squadron hangar. |
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Post by mumbles on Dec 11, 2018 11:43:58 GMT 12
#2 and #3 hangars are both earthquake prone. #3 has steel lattice inside it making it unstable for taller aircraft even if the doors were modified. Easy to focus on aircraft, but most of the hangars should also be junked. Both of those hangars are also Category 1 historic places, which complicates things a bit www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/9009 |
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Post by frankly on Dec 11, 2018 16:09:23 GMT 12
Ultimately both hangars have been heavily modified from their original form, and being heritage-listed isn't a strict protection from demolition. The position on the apron of #3 and #2 and the huge cost of bringing them up to a modern standard means they're probably one earthquake away from an emergency demolition. Heritage is all fine and dandy, but it can't compromise the operation of the base.
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Post by mcmaster on Dec 11, 2018 17:14:29 GMT 12
The trend these days is very much new build standalone facilities. If it goes ahead I'd be really surprised if the RSAF didn't build a new separated hardstand and hangar and ops buildings like they have at Pearce (PC-21s) and Oakey (Helo's).
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Post by gibbo on Dec 11, 2018 20:57:39 GMT 12
12,000 m2 of hangar, office and workshop is pretty much what the sqn has now at Whenuapai. There's no room for F15's in that equation. But what about the old 3 squadron hangar? The P-8's are going to use all "new construction" according to this. Latest AF news confirms 5 Sqn is to get a 'green-fields' build of new facilities near No 3 Sqn hangar close to SH1. |
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Post by saratoga on Dec 11, 2018 21:12:35 GMT 12
Interesting, there isn't a lot of space in that(admittedly vague) location. And with the runway needing to be extended, i guess that will have to go NW?. So where does the bomb dump get moved to?.
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Post by gibbo on Dec 11, 2018 21:39:35 GMT 12
Interesting, there isn't a lot of space in that(admittedly vague) location. And with the runway needing to be extended, i guess that will have to go NW?. So where does the bomb dump get moved to?. Yeah not a lot of detail in the article, certainly no mention of the bomb dump, but they intend to have regular updates on the P8 project. |
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Post by skyhawkdon on Dec 12, 2018 14:09:43 GMT 12
The bomb dump is on the SW side of the base but there is very little kept there these days due to the HSNO rules (it is too close to where people live and work). 5 Sqn are supposedly going over by the new 3 Sqn and MSS buildings on the NE side of the base, so no where near the current bomb dump. Will be interesting to see where the Singaporeans go if they come. No 3 hangar most likely initially but I wouldn't be surprised if they built their own new (and secure) facilities somewhere. My pick would be on the opposite side of runway 09/27 to the current (original) hangars.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 12, 2018 14:32:48 GMT 12
Siberia?
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Post by saratoga on Dec 12, 2018 16:20:10 GMT 12
Good one Don ,cunning plan..and the river is to the south...  |
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Post by atea on Dec 12, 2018 19:19:48 GMT 12
Surely any runway extension will be at the Sanson end as the cost of earthworks to fill to the required level at the river end would likely be more than either altering the path of SH1 or putting a cut and cover tunnel in place.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 12, 2018 19:53:24 GMT 12
They should extend it far enough to tarmac over that bloke's house in Sanson that was complaining about the jet noise.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Dec 13, 2018 6:50:00 GMT 12
Surely any runway extension will be at the Sanson end as the cost of earthworks to fill to the required level at the river end would likely be more than either altering the path of SH1 or putting a cut and cover tunnel in place. No they can't extend it that way due to SH1, they are looking to move a LOT of dirt and extend it by 2000ft towards the Rangitiki River. |
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