Draken Intl A-4 crash @ Nellis
Spaz, have you ever been supersonic with two wing tanks?
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'OK465' "...Spaz, have you ever been supersonic with two wing tanks?"
heheh. I was waiting for you to ask that question 'OK465' - you must know something that I do from long ago. The NATOPS limit with drop tanks is M0.9. After my OFS (Operational Flying School) later in 1970 I managed to reach M1.1 - almost - in a VERY STEEP DIVE chasing a Miracle from the RAAF with the well known author Dave Robson trying to zoom back into the sun (which he did). Closing the throttle briefly, instantly, got the A4G back under M0.9 allowing me to bring the nose up to attempt to keep up with the Mirage IIIO but boy the initial odd gyrations were something else at M1.1 
Thank goodness the two 300 gal (2,000lb) drop tanks were empty (my SP was not that cruel) and they did not split apart like banana peel. No damage whatsoever but almost a minute or so later the Miracle was out of fuel so we had to return to NAS Nowra. It must be said the Mirage IIIOs were experiencing undercarriage problems at that time so their SOP at Nowra was to have enough fuel to get back to RAAF Willyton - just in case.
After the debrief Rob expressed amazement at my rejoin before entering the circuit. He was going slowly south of Nowra at low level whilst I was high, going fast for rejoin so I had to do a tight barrel roll at idle, speedbrakes out, with undercarriage going down and back up again - to stay behind for the quick join up. He said he had never seen anything like it. I agree.
Later that day I went up in the rear of the two seater Mirage IIIO with Dave to be amazed at what it was like in a reheater vehickle. The Miracle was rock solid with great acceleration but it landed ever so fast!
To do ACM in the tandem seat trainer TA4G Skyhawk was a dispiriting experience. Trying to haul the nose around (compared to the A4G) was heart breaking. NATOPS max speed clean is Mach 1.1 (our SOP) AFAIK.
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 21st Aug 2016 at 06:46. Reason: corrections + add graphic
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Sat in the cockpit of an A4 once - seemed blimmin cramped!
Am feeling very sad looking at that photo Megan.
The remains of my nation's fast jet capability - now one less.
What a great little jet.
The remains of my nation's fast jet capability - now one less.
What a great little jet.
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The TA-4K was equipped to the same standard as the single seaters, including the Kahu upgrade:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Kahu
Yeah - guess you're right kiwi.
When I worked with Air NZ - went down to Woodbourne and visited Safe. We stood there amongst the white plastic wrapped airframes parked head to toe in the hangar and the guy who showed me round forlornly reached out and extended one of the leading edge slats by hand.
At least the T-bird died doing what it was supposed to.
When I worked with Air NZ - went down to Woodbourne and visited Safe. We stood there amongst the white plastic wrapped airframes parked head to toe in the hangar and the guy who showed me round forlornly reached out and extended one of the leading edge slats by hand.
At least the T-bird died doing what it was supposed to.
The TA-4K was equipped to the same standard as the single seaters, including the Kahu upgrade:
Yes, I see the blade antenna on TA-4K in megan's 2013ish pic. Thanks.
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"Former TA4G 880 – now RNZAF NZ6255 as it looks in 2011 with KAHU RNZAF update over in NZed" [N13/Bureau Number 154911 now in FAAM Fleet Air Arm Museum NAS Nowra]
SkyGod
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And I thought you fly boys were talking about this Draken:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_35_Draken
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_35_Draken
l always wondered why Draken Intl did buy this Draken - it would have been good for PR especially if they got paid gigs at air shows like numerous privately owned F-86s and the KVDV Inc F-104s do.
The asking price was dropped from $499K to $175K in 2010 due to rising fuel costs and still no takers. Completely rebuilt in the early 2000s.
Platinum Fighter Sales | Warbird and Classic Aircraft For Sale
The asking price was dropped from $499K to $175K in 2010 due to rising fuel costs and still no takers. Completely rebuilt in the early 2000s.
Platinum Fighter Sales | Warbird and Classic Aircraft For Sale
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Just $2.9m for a Scooter.
If only I was rich.
`spose those bang seats don't work tho...
And CASA/Airservices would probably have a blue fit.
"You're not tooling around anywhere near the TMA or Airways in that thing...!"
If only I was rich.
`spose those bang seats don't work tho...
And CASA/Airservices would probably have a blue fit.
"You're not tooling around anywhere near the TMA or Airways in that thing...!"
