Royal New Zealand Air Force

Aerojoe

Member

Does this RAAF C130 order provide an opportunity for the NZG to add a couple more C130 to NZ at a better price than a one off small order?
 

Does this RAAF C130 order provide an opportunity for the NZG to add a couple more C130 to NZ at a better price than a one off small order?
While the opportunity would certainly be there if we asked or they offered, whether or not we would go through with it is a different story. I would at this point rather we purchased some of Spains surplus A400M seeing as they can carry the NH-90 and the NVLAV without having to remove the turret, and they can take more further in general. The A400M has also matured a bit more since the C-130H replacement program and I think it'd be a fine fit. Although more C-130J-30s is good nonetheless, yet I highly doubt we would be buying anymore at least right now and I also doubt an A400M purchase is on the table with it being even less likely.
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member

Does this RAAF C130 order provide an opportunity for the NZG to add a couple more C130 to NZ at a better price than a one off small order?
What order? Little more than speculation by a Defence Magazine at this stage, have they seen the report from the review team already? Everything is on hold right now; the current Government is not going to do anything until they have that review in their hands. Anyway any C-130 order would be an FMS sale through the Pentagon, and we would pay the same price per Aircraft as the US Military does.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
While the opportunity would certainly be there if we asked or they offered, whether or not we would go through with it is a different story. I would at this point rather we purchased some of Spains surplus A400M seeing as they can carry the NH-90 and the NVLAV without having to remove the turret, and they can take more further in general. The A400M has also matured a bit more since the C-130H replacement program and I think it'd be a fine fit. Although more C-130J-30s is good nonetheless, yet I highly doubt we would be buying anymore at least right now and I also doubt an A400M purchase is on the table with it being even less likely.
I have a problem with us acquiring the A400M because of the problems surrounding it. WRT the NH90 the rotor head and mast have to be removed to fit it inside the A400M because of the hold height being to low.

The KHI C-2 would be better in that aspect because its hold height is the same as that of the C-17A and it's also known as a mini C-17. It's powered by 2 GE CF-6 turbofans which are commercial engines and an acquisition by NZ would be a diplomatic and political advantage to both Japan and us. We should be forming a closer defence and security relationship with Japan and such an acquisition would be one way of illustrating our commitment in doing so.
 
I have a problem with us acquiring the A400M because of the problems surrounding it. WRT the NH90 the rotor head and mast have to be removed to fit it inside the A400M because of the hold height being to low.

The KHI C-2 would be better in that aspect because its hold height is the same as that of the C-17A and it's also known as a mini C-17. It's powered by 2 GE CF-6 turbofans which are commercial engines and an acquisition by NZ would be a diplomatic and political advantage to both Japan and us. We should be forming a closer defence and security relationship with Japan and such an acquisition would be one way of illustrating our commitment in doing so.
Agreed on that part, yet buying surplus A400s from Spain would be cheap and it still does give us the capability of transporting the NH-90. My preference would be C-17s but that's not going to happen. C-2 is a good option and I read back a few years on this thread to see what peoples thoughts were on it and it seems like a good aircraft. I do have two questions though, is it certified to carry the NH-90? as in has it actually had one loaded in it before and gotten the thumbs up? and is it proven?
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Agreed on that part, yet buying surplus A400s from Spain would be cheap and it still does give us the capability of transporting the NH-90. My preference would be C-17s but that's not going to happen. C-2 is a good option and I read back a few years on this thread to see what peoples thoughts were on it and it seems like a good aircraft. I do have two questions though, is it certified to carry the NH-90? as in has it actually had one loaded in it before and gotten the thumbs up? and is it proven?
No it's not certified to carry the NH90 and given the current war in Ukraine, I think that the surplus Spanish A400M may not be surplus much longer.
 

OldTex

Well-Known Member
I do have two questions though, is it certified to carry the NH-90? as in has it actually had one loaded in it before and gotten the thumbs up? and is it proven?
I would expect that the certification to carry the NH-90 in the C-2 should be either a joint effort between Japan and NZ as a precondition for a purchase or it is the responsibility of RNZAF to provide the supplemental certification after any possible purchase. The certification prior to parting with the cash would seem to be the more prudent approach.
 

Shanesworld

Well-Known Member
So just had what looked very much like a aermachi buzzing over Trentham. Some near full bank turns. Sub 2000 ft at a guess or lower.
Is someone making a point to jfhq about the state of our countries defences? Is there a flyable mb339 in the country or was this a large turbine powered model?
If anyone knows and is free to comment would love some clarity.
 
So just had what looked very much like a aermachi buzzing over Trentham. Some near full bank turns. Sub 2000 ft at a guess or lower.
Is someone making a point to jfhq about the state of our countries defences? Is there a flyable mb339 in the country or was this a large turbine powered model?
If anyone knows and is free to comment would love some clarity.
There are no flyable MB-339s in the country, however the one at classic flyers in Tauranga is in a taxiable condition.
 

chis73

Active Member
So just had what looked very much like a aermachi buzzing over Trentham. Some near full bank turns. Sub 2000 ft at a guess or lower.
Is someone making a point to jfhq about the state of our countries defences? Is there a flyable mb339 in the country or was this a large turbine powered model?
If anyone knows and is free to comment would love some clarity.
Could be an L-39 Albatros (this beastie). There are a couple in NZ, iirc, and they look pretty similar to an Aermachi. Used to see one flying over Central Otago every now and then. I'd ask over at the WONZ forum, somebody there is bound to know

There is an Aermachi (looking a little worse for wear) on a pole outside of Wanaka airport at Luggate. Down the road a little there is a Canberra, a Jet Provost & a DC-3 (amongst others), plus Valentine & Centurion tanks, at the National Toy & Transport Museum.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Could be an L-39 Albatros (this beastie). There are a couple in NZ, iirc, and they look pretty similar to an Aermachi. Used to see one flying over Central Otago every now and then. I'd ask over at the WONZ forum, somebody there is bound to know

There is an Aermachi (looking a little worse for wear) on a pole outside of Wanaka airport at Luggate. Down the road a little there is a Canberra, a Jet Provost & a DC-3 (amongst others), plus Valentine & Centurion tanks, at the National Toy & Transport Museum.
OFF TOPIC.
Haha, I played on that Valentine tank as a kid when it was in a playground in Invercargill during the 1960s. Was staying at my aunt & uncle's who lived close by. My cousins and I hung out around that playground quite a bit. The toy museum was a cracker. A mate and myself went for a nosey through it in 2008/09 New Years and when looking at all the toy trucks etc., were going, had one of those, a couple of those etc., and then the meccano sets. He had one but I didn't. A mate of mine who lived up the road had a #5 meccano set, the biggest one then available and they were great. Then we went into the vehicle hangar and my mate is a jeep fan. Well his eyes went out on stalks and his jaw dropped with a very audible clunk on the deck. They had a great jeep collection and between the Toy Museum we spent hours there. Wives were not amused because we had to be somewhere else. :D
 

Shanesworld

Well-Known Member
Could be an L-39 Albatros (this beastie). There are a couple in NZ, iirc, and they look pretty similar to an Aermachi. Used to see one flying over Central Otago every now and then. I'd ask over at the WONZ forum, somebody there is bound to know

There is an Aermachi (looking a little worse for wear) on a pole outside of Wanaka airport at Luggate. Down the road a little there is a Canberra, a Jet Provost & a DC-3 (amongst others), plus Valentine & Centurion tanks, at the National Toy & Transport Museum.
While that would be more logical this definitely was the svelte italian lines of the mb339 (not too say the albatross is a bad looking plane) . Just not sure if it was a real one.

I only took a 18 second video of it but ill see if i can get a decent still from it.

Thought it would make the news but nothing so far.

He must have done 8 or 9 pirouette s above jfhq. Definitely seemed like he was trying to get attention. But seemed to come from at depart heading to the north.

Definitely would feel better if we had something to police the skies at the least.
 

kiwipatriot69

Active Member
Interesting to see our current defence minister on the news today saying ' I won't rule out acquiring combat jets' for our RNZAF. Could it be that our govt is a little spooked by current events with China and the pacific now?
 
Interesting to see our current defence minister on the news today saying ' I won't rule out acquiring combat jets' for our RNZAF. Could it be that our govt is a little spooked by current events with China and the pacific now?
More likely spooked by both China and Ukraine, what part of the news was this and was it channel one or three? Seeing as it's a labour government right now that's quite surprising to hear.
 

old faithful

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro

I just watched this interview, and some interesting questions were put to NZ defence minister.
He sounds like a reasonable bloke, and if the review is conducted in a timely manner, we will see if NZ govt will follow through or continue on the way they are going, down hill! It maybe that NZ is about to revamp the NZDF, and if that is the case, we can expect to see some eye watering numbers!
 
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