RAAF Super Hornets in transit at AKL

[Raropilot]

Hey guys,

They arrived yesterday arvo. Anyone here know when they are planning on departing AKL? It'd be mint to catch a glimpse of them before they go (unless they already have! :confused:)

Cheers!

[Sqwark2000]

Fly out Friday.

There are photo's on mrcaviation site, but pprune is blocking the web link.

S2K

[ftrplt]

possibly Fri about 'lunchtime' - or so rumour has it

[Raropilot]

Aaah crap! I'll be paxing to work around that time dammit... :sad:

[weido_salt]

Try http://mrcaviation.********.com/ site. insert b l o g s p o t

[Mick.B]

Good photo opprtunity. This Fiday

From ASA:

LJR SE QUEENSLAND. MIL F111, F18F AND HAWK JET ACFT OPR ON THE FLW
RTE:
SCOTT / GOLD COAST 045015 (DESCENT) / GOLD COAST 108008 /
GOLD COAST 325009 / BRISBANE 078024 / BRISBANE 048017 /
BRISBANE 349006 / BRISBANE 220003 / ARCHERFIELD 001006 /
ARCHERFIELD 335005 / ARCHERFIELD 219005 / ARCHERFIELD 209009 /
AMBERLEY 049003 / AMBERLEY 339004 / AMBERLEY 270009 /
AMBERLEY 147020 / AMBERLEY.

DELAY AT PSN GOLD COAST 045015 AND AMBERLEY 147020
SFC TO 5000FT AGL
FROM 03 260200 TO 03 260430

Brisbane City, Gold Coast and Amberley from Defence Media:

http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Faul ... ntId=10074

Super Hornets - long flight to Australia

The historic first flight of Air Force’s Super Hornets into their home base, RAAF Amberley, will occur this Friday, 26 March 2010.

Minister for Defence Senator John Faulkner will formally welcome the new aircraft to Australia during a ceremony at Amberley, along with RAAF members, Industry representatives and community leaders.

The F/A-18F Super Hornets are the Air Force’s first new air combat aircraft in 25 years.

Five Super Hornets have departed Naval Air Station Lemoore in California after extensive preparations, including acceptance flights and ground tests. While air to air refuelling is occurring, the long journey to Australia involves several stops, including Hawaii and New Zealand.

Air Force is planning to mark the Super Hornet arrival with an escort of F-111s, as the new aircraft fly over Brisbane and Gold Coast on approach to Amberley. The F-111s which have been stalwarts of Australia’s air combat fleet will be retired at the end of 2010.

“The Super Hornets represent a major step forward in air combat capability for Australia. Air Force is acquiring 24 multi-role Super Hornets which will provide a bridging capability during the transition to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter,” Senator Faulkner said.

“The Super Hornets are an important acquisition,” Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet said.

“Air Force, Defence Materiel Organisation, United States Navy, The Boeing Company and their industry partners, General Electric, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon share the credit for this project’s success.”

Australia’s Super Hornets will arrive at RAAF Amberley progressively during 2010 and 2011.

[ozbiggles]

Amazing isn't it
2-3 years ago Labor were doing their best to stop them.
Now they will be there to get their picture on TV and say how great and wise they were for getting them.
I'm sure the worm will be happy. Credit to Brendan for having the foresight to listen to Defence and spend the money

[TBM-Legend]

meanwhile escorted out of NZ airspace by F[CT]-4's.........:p

[satos]

Here is the link to the arrival on You Tube if anyone is interested.

YouTube - RAAF F/A-18F SUPER HORNETS X5 + C-17 + KDC-10 TANKER ARRIVE AUCKLAND (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfZPj3Mf-Bs&feature=player_embedded)

[Cypher]

Damn, and I thought someone had finally got the b@lls to invade the Kiwis...

[Panop]

Super Hornets buzz Gold Coast today Local Gold Coast News | goldcoast.com.au | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia (http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/03/26/201991_gold-coast-news.html)

Super Hornets to fly over Ipswich | Ipswich News | Local News in Ipswich | Ipswich Queensland Times (http://www.qt.com.au/story/2010/03/26/super-hornets-flyover-ipswich-amberley/)

[Raropilot]

Nothing heard over Auckland city this morning...:confused:

[ftrplt]

Auckland departure between 1230-1330 local, the paper had it wrong (I would suggest they forgot about time zone changes).

[Sqwark2000]

Why do they park the aircraft with refuelling probes extended?

S2K

[rodrigues]

As mentioned, here are the approx flight path's and time's for SEQ. :cool:

12.45pm-1pm: Tweed Heads Gold Coast - Southport. Flying from south to north.
1pm-1.10pm: Sandgate Northgate - Nundah Hamilton Bulimba Flying from north to south.
1pm-1.10pm: New Farm Kangaroo Point Botanical Gardens South Bank West End St Lucia. Flying from east to west.
1.05pm-1.15pm: Indooroopilly Sinnamon Park Seventeen Mile Rocks Forest Lake. Flying from north to south.
1.05pm-1.15pm: Springfield Lakes Ipswich. Flying east to west.
1.30pm: RAAF Base Amberley.

[27/09]

Why did they stage thru Auckland International which is civilian instead of Whenuapai or Ohakea which are military and capable of handling these aircraft?

[Orion Delta]

I was thinking the same. Maybe for the Media ? Great aircraft very impressive

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

Damn, and I thought someone had finally got the b@lls to invade the Kiwis...

The NZRAF scramble to repell the invaders!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4442917156_26e1f33de4.jpg

Dr :8

[dat581]

Why did they stage thru Auckland International which is civilian instead of Whenuapai or Ohakea which are military and capable of handling these aircraft?

I suspect that has more to do with the tanker than the Hornets, Auckland International would have facilities to look after a DC-10 (and a 3600m runway vs ~2000). As for the Hornets, since they are just being ferried and are unarmed they can be treated just like any other aircraft and i'm sure the maintenace crew in the C-17 will look after them all night.