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Post by frankly on Apr 12, 2018 17:19:51 GMT 12
Does anyone have a detailed history of the Police Air Support Unit?
I'm interested in the initial trial, machines they've operated and who has been operating them (has it always been Airwork?).
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Post by noooby on Apr 13, 2018 9:09:31 GMT 12
Remember when the Eagle helicopter (well one of them anyway) used to have a pink pig with wings on the nose? LOL. That was a long time ago!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 13, 2018 10:23:06 GMT 12
I took this photo at an airshow at Whenuapai around 1996 or 1997:  |
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Post by madmac on Apr 14, 2018 5:52:32 GMT 12
I seem to recall that their AS355 are the highest timed airframes in the world. sometime in the last 15 years a third machine (AS355) was used due to accommodate a heavy maintenance / modification program.
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Post by frankly on Apr 14, 2018 9:17:07 GMT 12
I seem to recall that their AS355 are the highest timed airframes in the world. sometime in the last 15 years a third machine (AS355) was used due to accommodate a heavy maintenance / modification program. Yeah there are definitely 3 machines. |
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Post by noooby on Apr 14, 2018 10:25:39 GMT 12
They were the highest timed 355's when I was at Airwork (99-03). Not sure what hours the third one has.
Nice photo Dave! Is that at Whenuapai? I remember an airshow there around that time and Eagle was parked outside 5Sqn. For some reason I was "volunteered" to look after warbird ground movements for the show.
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Post by frankly on May 16, 2018 10:42:44 GMT 12
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Post by madmac on May 16, 2018 13:27:54 GMT 12
"What a Shambles" hasn't that been the NZ's unofficial national anthem for at least the last 30 years. Edit sorry that should have been that its the core planning principle. |
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Post by frankly on Dec 23, 2018 7:52:26 GMT 12
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Post by madmac on Dec 23, 2018 8:13:50 GMT 12
will be interesting to see what cabin configuration they use, the current AS350 config seems less than optimal (observer with all the screens is in the front and the one looking out the window is in the back)
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Post by frankly on Dec 23, 2018 8:59:49 GMT 12
Bell has a Police-configured layout that has the the sensor operator in the rear centre, but that was for two-pilot configuration and NZ Police seem to want two cops onboard plus a pilot rather than two pilots and a cop.
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 23, 2018 9:13:21 GMT 12
More black helicopters near work then!
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Post by Calum on Dec 23, 2018 18:32:37 GMT 12
Bell 429 is probably the most capable light twin out there. Especially with the IGW fit that they will be getting. I wonder if they go with some of EO gear the Turkish police fit has. |
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Post by 30sqnatc on Dec 23, 2018 18:43:03 GMT 12
So what will Mechanics Bay now be used for? Was the new lease holders aim all along to get the sitting tenants to leave so they could can the use the land for something with more financial lucrative.
If its non aviation there is a long history coming to an end.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 23, 2018 20:23:26 GMT 12
"So what will Mechanics Bay now be used for? "
Goof's waterfront stadium?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 23, 2018 22:19:24 GMT 12
" . . . relocating from its present location in Mechanics Bay to Auckland Heliport in Onehunga,"
Pikes Point.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Dec 24, 2018 18:34:34 GMT 12
A couple of decades ago I used to enjoy flying into Pikes Point. It was a great wee strip in a unique location
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 25, 2018 8:09:47 GMT 12
Yes, I flew in there once - Cub BQS - as part of my project at that time to aerial visit all Auckland airfields.
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Post by kiwined on Dec 25, 2018 11:55:43 GMT 12
Its always fun reading some of these posts  Eagle has had a number of aircraft over the years, but primarily two AS355s. The initial aircraft was a Bell 206B and this used to pick the guys up from the infield at Ellerslie racecourse when they were doing the 3/6 month trial. Airwork put in bunch of $$ and so did the ASB bank I think it was. After they moved to the AS355s its been that airframe since back then, apart from the day that one was lost in the midair over Auckland. Yes the operation is moving out to Advanced Flights facility in Onehunga, nice new setup for the guys. Rumour has it ARHT are going to operate out of the hangars next to Ardmore Helicopters. Their first AW169 is here and second one on the way or due to arrive very soon. The 3 x 429s that are coming for Eagle are the ex RAN 723 Squadron airframes (I did an air to air shoot with them a few years ago - nice airframes) I think the change to the 429 is a great move, over the last couple of years I have visited a number of agencies that operate the 429 in law enforcement and they love it. Will post a few pics here when I can. Its a very capable machine, PBSO in FL also do fast roping from it and many of the agencies use it for swat team insertions which I assume NZ Police will also do. The setup from what I understand is two observers, one in the front and one in the back same as the 355. They are working on the actual layout of the front and back seats for the observers but have a lot of overseas experience to draw on as to what works and what doesnt. Mechanics Bay wont be shut down or anything like that. The Poppelwells are going to grow the corporate/VIP market and will be using it as a hub with flights back and forth from Auckland Airport etc. I for one am glad to see that, I used to go for rides to Waiheke and the Barrier in the widgeons and Goose when I was a kid with SeeBee air. Like someone said a LOT of history there. With the new aircraft types and the weight of them ARHT was never going to be able to operate out of there anyway. The AW169 is overweight for mechanics bay. Wing Commander - Let me know any specifics you want and I can put you in touch with the guys - I catch up with them every week and we recently had the 25 year remembrance for Lou, Rosco and Sammy. Ned |
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Post by kiwined on Dec 25, 2018 12:07:13 GMT 12
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