Royal New Zealand Air Force

Shanesworld

Well-Known Member
That would be my guess as well... I very much doubt it would be flying over built up area's if it was fuel burning because an aircraft related problem...
I would have thought so too but it was hard to see why they were there. Their orbits were irregular and didn't seem to have a pattern to them. And we did have a commercial aircraft orbit over us a couple of years back that had some issues but can't remember of what nature.
 

Nighthawk.NZ

Well-Known Member
I would have thought so too but it was hard to see why they were there. Their orbits were irregular and didn't seem to have a pattern to them. And we did have a commercial aircraft orbit over us a couple of years back that had some issues but can't remember of what nature.
I would suggest If they were burning fuel for a aircraft related issue, the orbit would have most like been more regular, so on a easy to follow path incase bad stuff happens...

Having irregular orbit as you say sounds more like tasking, maybe pilot training? or something?
 

thomble

New Member
Anyone aware of one of the p-3's having an incident or a tasking on Wellington today? Had one do maybe 5 circuits over lower Hutt today before midday. At approx 2 to 3000 feet. Wondering if he was burning off fuel before coming into Wellington? Nothing I could find in the news though.
A Reddit user says it was a funeral flyby:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Wellington/comments/ivh445/_/g5r9fsy (OP on that post got mixed up with the aircraft type).
 

swerve

Super Moderator
Personally I think that the Spitfire is overrated. I prefer the P-51D and the F-4U. Although I really like the Mossie, I believe that the Beaufighter is very much underrated and overlooked. It could do a tremendous amount of damage with 4 x 20 mm cannon and 6 x. 303 mg, plus 8 x 60 lb rocket projectiles or a 21 in torpedo.
Horses for courses. If I wanted something to escort night bombers & hunt enemy nightfighters, for example, it'd be a Mosquito every time. If I wanted something to do anti-shipping strike, it'd be the Beau, no hesitation.

I think I may have had an Airfix model of a Beaufighter. Can't remember 'em all. Spitfire, Hurricane, Bf109, Fw190, a couple of WW1 fighters, Me 262, F4U (can't forget that wing!) - what other aircraft? Some bombers - Do217? Lanc?
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Horses for courses. If I wanted something to escort night bombers & hunt enemy nightfighters, for example, it'd be a Mosquito every time. If I wanted something to do anti-shipping strike, it'd be the Beau, no hesitation.
Definitely on both counts. The RAF used the Mossie NF against the Luftwaffe nightfighters with great success. The RAAF used the Beau with great success against the Japanese in both the anti-ship and ground attack role.
I think I may have had an Airfix model of a Beaufighter. Can't remember 'em all. Spitfire, Hurricane, Bf109, Fw190, a couple of WW1 fighters, Me 262, F4U (can't forget that wing!) - what other aircraft? Some bombers - Do217? Lanc?
I too had some in my younger days. Spitfire, F-4U, Boston - Havoc, Mossie, Beau, P-51, P-40, FW190 etc. Now I collect them in my flight sims.
 

Nighthawk.NZ

Well-Known Member
19 OCTOBER, 2020

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has deployed a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea.

The sanctions resolutions are intended to persuade North Korea to denuclearise and abandon its ballistic missile capabilities.

The P-3K2, a long-range maritime patrol aircraft, will carry out maritime surveillance patrols to detect and deter attempts to evade sanctions such as through illicit ship-to-ship transfers at sea of sanctioned goods such as oil and coal.

This will be the third deployment of a P-3K2 in support of the implementation of the UNSC resolutions, following previous deployments in September 2018 and October 2019.

The aircraft, based at Kadena Air Base in Japan, will fly patrols over international waters in North Asia.

Our deployed personnel had to undertake Covid-19 quarantine requirements on arrival in Japan, and will carry out 14 days managed isolation on their return to New Zealand. Our personnel have the necessary equipment and support so they are able to minimise risks from Covid-19 during their deployment.
NZDF to conduct third Orion deployment in support of UN sanctions against North Korea

I knew they did a mission a while back... but I didn't realise this is their third mission I missed one somewhere along the line... opps...
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro

40 deg south

Well-Known Member

Canadian company CAE announced on 19 October that it has handed over a flight simulator ordered by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in August 2018 to help train the pilots operating the service’s NHIndustries NH90 multirole medium helicopters.
Presumably, this will save a few pennies be reducing the need for airframe usage for training pilots and keeping them current.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro



Presumably, this will save a few pennies be reducing the need for airframe usage for training pilots and keeping them current.
Janes is somewhat behind the times. Sure this was announced a whiles back. I saw another post of theirs last night with Friday's date on the release and the news was about two weeks old.
 

Nighthawk.NZ

Well-Known Member
While the P8 technologically is a massive improvement on the P3 if the RNZAF is to continue supporting the UN it mean only 3 other aircraft been available.
it doesn't matter how good an aircraft is it can't be two places as once!
not sure what that has to do with my post... we all know vessels, airframes, vehicles etc can't be in two places at once...???
 

RegR

Well-Known Member
While the P8 technologically is a massive improvement on the P3 if the RNZAF is to continue supporting the UN it mean only 3 other aircraft been available.
it doesn't matter how good an aircraft is it can't be two places as once!
1 of the other 3 can be in the "other" place though...I think you may be over-estimating the availability rate of the current 60's era tech or under-estimating how many p8 hours the sims and medium range patrol craft will free up.
 

Nighthawk.NZ

Well-Known Member
1 of the other 3 can be in the "other" place though...I think you may be over-estimating the availability rate of the current 60's era tech or under-estimating how many p8 hours the sims and medium range patrol craft will free up.
The airframes yah 60's era of tech... the rest not so much ;-)
 

RegR

Well-Known Member
The airframes yah 60's era of tech... the rest not so much ;-)
Point being you need the 60s era tech to house, power and move the rest. We actually need 6 P3s just to have 3 flying at the moment which has become more and more of a feat as the years go on. There are valid reasons why we are finally replacing the frames rather than yet another "upgrade" otherwise we could just do this indefinately until they literally fall out of the sky. You can put on fresh socks, new laces and polish an old boot but you still end up with an old boot at the end of the day.
 

Nighthawk.NZ

Well-Known Member
Point being you need the 60s era tech to house, power and move the rest. We actually need 6 P3s just to have 3 flying at the moment which has become more and more of a feat as the years go on. There are valid reasons why we are finally replacing the frames rather than yet another "upgrade" otherwise we could just do this indefinately until they literally fall out of the sky. You can put on fresh socks, new laces and polish an old boot but you still end up with an old boot at the end of the day.
I am unsure why this is being said... over and over we know, we all know this... not sure why this is being repeated ...

Yes the P3 is old and needs replacing which we are in 2023... but in the meantime the P3 is being sent on a UN mission... what does that have to do with we need 6 to get 3 flying... I am sorry am I missing something here... I am not trying to get in to argument or anything... I just not sure why this has been said... about the current mission....

Both you & A4kscooter bringing it up after the post of the mission of the P3???
 
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RegR

Well-Known Member
I am unsure why this is being said... over and over we know, we all know this... not sure why this is being repeated ...

Yes the P3 is old and needs replacing which we are in 2023... but in the meantime the P3 is being sent on a UN mission... what does that have to do with we need 6 to get 3 flying... I am sorry am I missing something here... I am not trying to get in to argument or anything... I just not sure why this has been said... about the current mission....

Both you & A4kscooter bringing it up after the post of the mission of the P3???
Well actually, I replied to A4, you replied to me, remember, it's right there a couple of posts up. Is what inside a P3 not a repeat?
 

KiwiRob

Well-Known Member
Point being you need the 60s era tech to house, power and move the rest. We actually need 6 P3s just to have 3 flying at the moment which has become more and more of a feat as the years go on. There are valid reasons why we are finally replacing the frames rather than yet another "upgrade" otherwise we could just do this indefinately until they literally fall out of the sky. You can put on fresh socks, new laces and polish an old boot but you still end up with an old boot at the end of the day.
It depends on how good that boot was to start with. My dad has some Church's Chelsea boots he bought in the 60's, he's sent them back to the UK for a refurb a couple of times, the come back re-lasted, new liners, new soles and damn near as good as new.
 

kiwi in exile

Active Member
probably a long way off for us, if at all, but of interest in an aspirational sense

 

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