NZ F-111 crash Aug 79 photos ADF-serials.com

[FlyNavy]

That is the 'mutha' of all fire trucks is it not?

BTW McMaster what is the name of the A4K? Video you have of the Triad 84 exercises or whatever else please. Thanks. If there is more content can you describe other features of the doco? Tah. And here is a cartoonie:

[vgp]

it is what re: fire truck - I have a video don't know if the same one as mentioned called airbourne magic primarily has the practice day of the 87 whenuapai airshow on it but has about a min or 2 after the airshow on the triad 84 excercise at whenuapai shows the f-15 (2)taking off skyhawks attacking the airfield then a skyhawk chasing an f-15 across the sky then the f-15s (2)landing and a solo handling display by one of the f-15s.

[corsair67]

Ah, TRIAD 84!

I spent many a morning and afternoon out at Christchurch Airport watching the F-111s (4), KC-135 (1) and E-3A Sentry (1) that were based there during the exercise - time that I really should have been spending studying for exams! ;D

The USMC is spending more time now in Australia as they have been using the Delamare bombing range in the NT fairly regularily for exercises. The USAF is using the same range for long distance training flights from Guam for their B-2 and B-52 fleets as well.

[FlyNavy]

Is that 1987 airshow all military? Thanks - sorry for questions but it would seem to be an interesting video of that era.

[vgp]

RNZAF 50th RNZAF/ RAAF i.e starts with airfield attack by skyhawks/strikemasters herks, hueys SAS/infantry etc then on handling displays andover, mirage III, F111, Caribou, strikemaster, C-130s(3), Hueys(2) Navy Wasp, Hornet, orions(3) and Skyhawk Aerobatic team + couple others with about 10 mins warbirds after the military display but before the triad segment, quality is about that of the time looks to of been filmed by one of the locals in the whenuapai area average vid quality-cheers.

[phil82]

vgp said:

[Maybe the fire truck is there to douse the orange suited aircrew.]

It is their to show off the Super high technology that was employed at that time in history by RNZAF fire in comparison to an F-15 Eagle ;D

That vehicle isn't a crash-fire truck. ;D

[FlyNavy]

VGP thanks for video description. Does anyone have it or is it available on DVD please? Any info would be good. Thanks.

[skyhawkdon]

The "flame" coming out the back of the F-15 is actually the rising sun! The full photo shows an F-15 taking off from Whenuapai with the sun just coming up behind it - it is a stunning photo and I believe was voted the "USAF photo of the year" in 1984. I think it was in the USAF calandar the following year too. Very sad that this was the last time the USAF came to NZ for an exercise

I was at Woodbourne on my Basic Engineering course during Triad 84 but a number of us went down to Chch for the weekend to plane spot at Chch international where the F-111's, AWACS and KC-135's were based. I remember a flight of Mirages doing a beat up of the airport and as one flew past us up on the viewing gallery a panel fell off the aircraft and landed on the grass!

[mcmaster]

Thanks VGP this is it flynavy

[corsair67]

I was at Woodbourne on my Basic Engineering course during Triad 84 but a number of us went down to Chch for the weekend to plane spot at Chch international where the F-111's, AWACS and KC-135's were based. I remember a flight of Mirages doing a beat up of the airport and as one flew past us up on the viewing gallery a panel fell off the aircraft and landed on the grass!

Don, I was just pushbiking to school (for a special dummy's Maths cram session!) on the Saturday morning when those Mirages flew through - one flew over the school at very low level on its way over to beat-up Wigram too. My old high school is only about 2kms from Wigram.

Had those Mirages just bounced the F-111s on their return to Harewood?

[skyhawkdon]

Yep I believe so, 'cause the F-111's did a buzz n break and landed just before the Mirages appeared! I never had a camera in those days but the Mirages flew by at the same height as us - we were on the viewing area on top of the terminal building. It would have been on the Saturday too. The Brevet Club Spitfire replica had been torched the night before in protest at the presence of the USAF at the airport . We did a drive-by on the protesters "camp" on the Saturday morning and told them what we though of them! ;D

[corsair67]

Don, I know what you mean about not having a camera at the time, but knowing my luck the Mirage I saw would have been gone by the time I took the picture anyway - it was certainly hoofing it when it flew overhead.

I went out to the airport later that day to see the Spitfire too, and I still recall the strong smell of petrol at the site. Bloody tree-hugging hippies!

[FlyNavy]

Thanks for the great story about the F-15 'sun' photo Don. And thanks to McMaster for the video info. I'll look for it online. Looks to be good value. Is it on DVD now or only on VHS tape?

[mcmaster]

Great stories guys, and thanks for posting/taking collecting such great images flynavy and skyhawkdon. Is taht collection in flickr or some such place?

Sounds like NZ was virtually an aircraft carrier for that ex with fast jets spread across north and south islands. It appears to me, those type of exercises are rare in Aus now too with the main eastern seaboard bases not oftern used for that style of full scale mock attacks. But gees they were good to watch - always unpredictable stuff happened. Think you are right Corsair that the big ranges are used more now like delamere and shoalwater bay.

Flynavy i think that video is most likely only on VHS. I can try and convert to 0&1's but im no wiz. Happy to send you VHS tho.

[FlyNavy]

McMaster thanks for the offer. I'll see what can be found and probably PM (private message you on this forum). My thinking about the nature of the TRIAD exercise? It must have been huge in its day. A great workout for RNZAF and all. You would have to enquire to 'skyhawkdon' Don Simms about the photos. Thanks.

BTW there is a PDF with some more RNZAF Skyhawk photos at:

files.filefront.com/RNZAF+A4K23jan08pdf/;9487496;/fileinfo.html

(455Mb PDF - 527 pages with embedded video clips - colour and movement)

Bear in mind this PDF is only a subsection of a much larger PDF about the A4G Skyhawk and RAN FAA aircraft in general. My selection of information about the A4K was in relation to the subsequent purchase of the A4G and their conversion to KAHU status later. Their return to NAS Nowra with No.2 Squadron was of course amazing. I welcome any comments that will correct errors/omissions in this PDF.

[nzav8a]

E-3 Sentry at Christchurch, F-111 behind the nose. Photo by Ron Killick

F-15's Ohakea


Mirage Ohakea

[corsair67]

Nice photos! Thanks for posting.

[mcmaster]

lovely shots nzav8a! interesting that mirage a3-12 has 2 "grumpy monkey" emblems.

[Dave Homewood]

This is a terrific thread chaps. Really interesting about the F-111 crash, some superb photos (thanks and welcome Woodsiee!).

And the development into a Triad 84 thread is also superb. I rememebr lots of jets buzzing here over Cambridge during that time and I distinctly recall my Nana saying that my cousin had been hang gliding at just a few hundred feet when suddenly two F-16's or F-15's went right underneath him! A brown trouser moment.

I would be very keen to get a copy of the video discussed too please.

How many Triad exercises did NZ ever attend? Was 1984 the only one?

[corsair67]

I love this TRIAD 84 Strikemaster formation photo:




US DoD photo.