Author Topic: Aviation Pictures Part Trois (Read 198888 times)

truetanker · « **Reply #1380 on:** 30 September 2018, 12:54:38 »

Just saw this:

Focke-Wulf Fw 189

TT

beachhead1985 · « **Reply #1381 on:** 30 September 2018, 14:06:52 »

Where is Micheal Jackson when we need someone to should "UHU!"

Fat Guy · « **Reply #1382 on:** 30 September 2018, 14:12:16 »

Indian Air Force AH-64

Looks pretty good in gray.

Fat Guy · « **Reply #1383 on:** 04 October 2018, 10:13:09 »

Night Ops aboard the Queen Elizabeth.

glitterboy2098 · « **Reply #1384 on:** 04 October 2018, 13:24:01 »

i'll give the F-35 this.. it sure is pretty for an overpriced Lemon

Feenix74 · « **Reply #1385 on:** 05 October 2018, 09:58:41 »

It will be interesting to see if they are still considered lemons when they get to Block 50/60 builds.

RAAF No.2 OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) are sticking with the traditional tail flash with the tiger's head in the centre for their F-35As:

Although it is much easier to make out the detail when it is not low-vis (this is the hi-vis version that is on the F/A-18 Hornets):

Whereas RAAF No. 3 Squadron has some pretty tail art for their F-35As:

I like the low-vis Australian flag at the top of the tail.

beachhead1985 · « **Reply #1386 on:** 06 October 2018, 07:04:49 »

Quote from: Fat Guy on 04 October 2018, 10:13:09

Night Ops aboard the Queen Elizabeth.

Hey! They got the decks fixed?

I am Belch II · « **Reply #1387 on:** 06 October 2018, 18:20:47 »

Great photo of the night ops.

Kidd · « **Reply #1388 on:** 07 October 2018, 15:45:22 »

@Feenix - I didn't know the RAAF have 2 squadrons operating the F-35s already.

Besides Indonesia's Army Air Corps, I'm not sure where else one would find the AH-64E Apache and Mi-35P Hind-F operating side by side.

Feenix74 · « **Reply #1389 on:** 07 October 2018, 17:47:53 »

Quote from: Kidd on 07 October 2018, 15:45:22

@Feenix - I didn't know the RAAF have 2 squadrons operating the F-35s already.

It is smoke and mirrors. The first two (serial numbers A35-001 and A35-002) are the training aircraft so they are allocated to 2OCU (and remain in the US as part of the "international training pool" for the next few years). The next batch of 8 F-35As be on the roster of 3SQN to be the first online operational F-35 squadron for the RAAF. So technically we have two squadrons operating the F-35s already but in reality at the moment we have about 1/6 of an operational conversion unit and 3SQN are scheduled to have 8 F-35s by the end of this year (2 of which will be based in Aus, the remaining 6 will initially stay in the US).

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #1390 on:** 07 October 2018, 18:07:57 »

Quote from: Kidd on 07 October 2018, 15:45:22

Besides Indonesia's Army Air Corps, I'm not sure where else one would find the AH-64E Apache and Mi-35P Hind-F operating side by side.

And not standardizing on payloads either; check out the rocket pods and ATGMs on each one. I'd at least try to avoid having two completely different national logistics chains myself...

Kidd · « **Reply #1391 on:** 07 October 2018, 18:19:41 »

Quote from: Feenix74 on 07 October 2018, 17:47:53

Quality info, thanks! :thumbsup:

Quote from: ANS Kamas P81 on 07 October 2018, 18:07:57

And not standardizing on payloads either; check out the rocket pods and ATGMs on each one. I'd at least try to avoid having two completely different national logistics chains myself...

Rightly or wrongly (I make no judgements), the logic at play here is - as a 3rd world/NAM country, play off the 1st and 2nd worlds' rivalries to buy whatever either will offer

There are obvious pros and cons to this approach

Feenix74 · « **Reply #1392 on:** 07 October 2018, 18:30:50 »

Quote from: Kidd on 07 October 2018, 18:19:41

Quality info, thanks! :thumbsup:

No problems, from what I have found via google the delivery schedule to the RAAF is:
- two airframes (2014) – AU-1 and -2 to the training squadron in the US
- eight airframes (2018) – six airframes to the training squadron in the US, and two airframes to arrive in Australia end of 2018
- eight airframes (2019) – direct to Australia
- fifteen airframes (2020) – direct to Australia
- fifteen airframes (2021) – direct to Australia
- fifteen airframes (2022) – direct to Australia
- nine airframes (2023) – direct to Australia

With all 72 airframes are planned to be in Australia by end of 2023.

So my first post could be incorrect, the 6 airframes being delivered to the training squadron in the US may go to 2OCU with only 2 airframes to 3SQN and then another 8 airframes to 3SQN in 2019.

Kidd · « **Reply #1393 on:** 07 October 2018, 18:54:40 »

Quote from: Feenix74 on 07 October 2018, 18:30:50

With all 72 airframes are planned to be in Australia by end of 2023.

For this day and age, that's a savage IOC schedule!

So reading up on the RAAF's F-35 plan, that's 72 F-35As across one OCU and three frontline squadrons. I'm guessing that's 18 aircraft per squadron?

Meanwhile 1SQN uses up the last of the Super Hornets

And 6SQN operates 12 11 Growlers

Feenix74 · « **Reply #1394 on:** 07 October 2018, 19:21:04 »

I would describe it as "ambitious" . . .

18 aircraft per a squadron which give us 12 on the official ORBAT plus + 6 attrition spares per a squadron. These replace the classic Hornets that were operated by 2OCU, 3SQN, 75SQN and 77 SQN since the mid-1980s.

1SQN will operate the 12 Super Hornets and 6SQN will operate the 11 Growlers that were delivered in 2009-2010. Hopefully they will find the money to replace the lost Growler to get 6SQN back up to full strength but the longer term grand plan is to replace the Super Hornets and possibly the Growlers with more F-35s.

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #1395 on:** 07 October 2018, 22:40:46 »

Wonder who gets the Bugs.

Feenix74 · « **Reply #1396 on:** 07 October 2018, 23:15:04 »

In the words of South Park "Blame Canada" 8)

wantec · « **Reply #1397 on:** 08 October 2018, 08:32:24 »

Quote from: ANS Kamas P81 on 07 October 2018, 22:40:46

Wonder who gets the Bugs.

18 of them going to Canada as Feenix74's link explains. There's talk Canada might want the rest, but nothing in the works right now

beachhead1985 · « **Reply #1398 on:** 08 October 2018, 08:32:45 »

Quote from: Feenix74 on 07 October 2018, 23:15:04

In the words of South Park "Blame Canada" 8)

because it worked SO well with the Voodoo

DaveMac · « **Reply #1399 on:** 08 October 2018, 09:48:55 »

Quote from: truetanker on 30 September 2018, 12:54:38

Just saw this:

Focke-Wulf Fw 189

TT

Paul Allen has one of those under long term restoration to fly...

beachhead1985 · « **Reply #1400 on:** 08 October 2018, 09:58:35 »

No kidding? That's awesome!

Kidd · « **Reply #1401 on:** 08 October 2018, 10:17:30 »

Quote from: wantec on 08 October 2018, 08:32:24

18 of them going to Canada as Feenix74's link explains. There's talk Canada might want the rest, but nothing in the works right now

and another 7 airframes to cannibalise for spares

I dunno about the rest though. To cut a long story short, the other airframes are gonna have only a literal handful of years of life left in them by the time the RAAF's F-35 fleet is ready, then it'll be time for a SLEP - that is, if any will have been developed for the F-18 "classic". And the end result is still limited as it's never going to catch up to a Super Hornet, bear in mind.

Alexander Knight · « **Reply #1402 on:** 08 October 2018, 11:24:11 »

Quote from: beachhead1985 on 08 October 2018, 08:32:45

because it worked SO well with the Voodoo

Who do? ;)

Feenix74 · « **Reply #1403 on:** 08 October 2018, 18:04:38 »

Quote from: Kidd on 08 October 2018, 10:17:30

and another 7 airframes to cannibalise for spares

I dunno about the rest though. To cut a long story short, the other airframes are gonna have only a literal handful of years of life left in them by the time the RAAF's F-35 fleet is ready, then it'll be time for a SLEP - that is, if any will have been developed for the F-18 "classic". And the end result is still limited as it's never going to catch up to a Super Hornet, bear in mind.

The RAAF Classic Hornets are old but they are well maintained. They have had various SLEP work done to them (mainly wings, main undercarriage and fuel tanks) to carry them through to their planned replacement by the F-35 but the really big SLEP program that was planned in the late-2000s was canned after doing about 10 airframes due to complexity and cost issues. This was known as the Hornet Centre Barrel Replacement program and involve completely stripping down the airframe, sending the centre barrel of the airframe over Canada where the three main elements of the centre barrel were replaced. Centre barrel was then returned to Aus, everything reinstalled and aircraft re-commissioned for active service. There was also a long running HUG (Hornet Upgrade) program during the noughties to upgrade the radar, avionics, EW and software.

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #1404 on:** 15 October 2018, 19:36:54 »

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/f16-euro-fighter-destroyed-fire-explosion-belgium-friendly-fire-florennes-a8584451.html

Meanwhile in Belgium, BRAAAAAAAAAP. Apparently someone accidentally triggered a parked F-16's gun, shells hitting another aircraft and setting it and a nearby -16 merrily ablaze. One a/c totally destroyed, the other one suffering 'collateral damage' from the fire. Apparently the one was fueled up and was about to go for a patrol flight when it got hit, hence the destruction.

Kind of a surprise, really, unless the firing aircraft was being readied itself or had just flown. Onboard power to run the gun, plus the fact it was actually loaded, I'd imagine both of these would not normally be the case...

Feenix74 · « **Reply #1405 on:** 16 October 2018, 06:11:21 »

Ouch, somebody is going to get invited to morning tea with the CO, bring your hat, not your coffee cup.

Weirdo · « **Reply #1406 on:** 16 October 2018, 10:31:22 »

Quote from: Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries

Maxim 5
Close air support and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.

Apparently getting closer doesn't always help...

I am Belch II · « **Reply #1407 on:** 16 October 2018, 12:08:48 »

That F-16 goof is almost as bad as this one with the F-22s

https://www.wearethemighty.com/news/hurricane-michael-f-22?utm_campaign=News&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_term=News&utm_content=hurricane-michael-f-22&fbclid=IwAR1dhZhcSjgRlVc6KVGKBlvGtNHC6mE3EUKQ1KlUOjhEuLcWkiBJb6ymaZo

Cache · « **Reply #1408 on:** 16 October 2018, 16:57:35 »

The F-22s weren't a goof. Leaving them was a command decision where there wasn't much choice.

Feenix74 · « **Reply #1409 on:** 16 October 2018, 17:11:14 »

Agree with Cache, the only goof was to locate Tyndall AFB in hurricane territory.

It was a part of the reasoning behind why our RAAF Base Tindal is located at Katherine in Northern Territory, which is 200 km south of Darwin and thus far enough inland that it is protected from tropical cyclones. RAAF Base Tindal is home base to 75SQN and RAAF Base Darwin effectively becomes to the Forward Operating Base where they can deploy to in the event of "interesting times".