Wiley

strip the tanker stuff out of an A330K and you've got something you can use. What else can you do with a Seasprite?

Mount them as (Bloody exspensive) Gate gurdians? 1 or 2 for NAS Nowra and a couple at DMO plus one leading up the Defense Ministers office.

:ugh:

Please explain....?

It hauls trash and pumps gas, we're not talking about anything ground breaking here.

never understood why they didn't buy Lynx.

Is there an issue with the design of the MRTT A330 that limits the floor load thereby reducing its potential max. cargo weight?

I seem to recall reading something about the modification of it from a pure airliner to the tanker role. Thats probably what Wiley is talking about.

God, we all sincerely hope not - "ground breaking", I mean... perhaps not the most appropriate phrase to use when talking about aeroplanes.

Yes, it's like talking about a 'crash programme'!

Given the recent history of Seasprite and Tiger I can't imagine that MRH90 is going to be any different.

Work with Americans, fight with Americans, buy European....go figure!

Arrrhhh!!:mad:

One could almost be tempted to ask where the commission went or who got what job post retirement.

Nah, it couldn't be that, 'cos that sort of thing only happens in 3rd World countries and Banana Republics.

Frazzled,
I am a bit confused by your last comment: I thought that SeaSprite was a US helicopter?

I think he's referring to the Tiger and MH-90 buy, Pegasus. He's not the first to express reservations about the ADF operating equipment, however good, that would not be able to make use of the huge US logistics system should spares/repairs/replacements be required for the Australian helicopters when they would most likely be operating alongside US forces in most planned for scenarios.

The ADF is buying the Abrahams tank with a view that spares would be easily accessible from the Americans and comms equipment etc would be seamlessly compatible - and if necessary, the Australian crews could be deployed to a remote theatre and be plonked into a US Abrahams.

Many would have thought the same thinking might have been applied to the chopper buys, to say nothing of the strength of the Euro versus the weakness of the USD, which has mede the European helicopters that much more expensive for the Oz taxpayer.

Is there also any truth to the rumour that the version of the Tiger the ADF is getting is, shall we say, not exactly compatible with what most would think its most likely role will be?

What rumour would that be, Wiley?

What is the role of the Tiger?

Why is it not compatible for its likely role?

From Minister for Defence Website: Media Announcement, 25 May 2007 (MIN44/07)

SEASPRITE HELICOPTERS

In April 2006, I initiated a full examination of the Seasprite project following grounding of the aircraft due to concerns over the reliability of the Seasprite’s Automated Flight Control System.

The review paid particular attention to the reliability of the Flight Control System and its associated safety implications; the ramifications to Naval aviation of the project being 6 years late; and the performance of the integrated sensor system.

The review examined how to resolve these issues so that the best possible capability can be provided to the Royal Australian Navy.

After detailed consideration of the issues involved, the Government has decided to continue the Seasprite project, subject to satisfactory contract arrangements.

The return to flying will involve a series of controlled steps to assess the contractor’s performance, and to ensure the safety, performance and reliability of the Seasprite.

The Government will take steps to ensure that the contractor’s progress is measured against milestones during the course of the additional work.

FYI, Wiley

"The M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT) is the namesake of the late General Creighton W. Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and commander of the 37th Armored Battalion."

Sea Sprite GO
Sea King NO - is there an inservice date for the MRH-90(or is ours NH), any idea on the number of frames that will replace the Sea king out of the 48 ordered?

The planned in-service date for the MRH90 is 2010, but it will probably slip a little to 2011 as these things have a habit of doing.

IIRC, Navy will be using 8 of the airframes but they aren't dedicated hulls. Both the Army and Navy will share from a rotatable pool. This means (gakk!) the Navy will have can't-see-me colours rather than the traditional low-viz grey.

Will the RAN put a nice sticker on "their" aircraft in a branding exercise like the RAF?

Assume they will all be up to operating off the new LHDs?

Now if only the government would re-look at the $6 Billion super hornet spend and do something more sensible with that money.

... like A10s?

I am sure there is a wish list a mile long, and I don't think if the gov't had of said, heres an extra 6 billion, anyone would have said, we'll have 24 super hornets thanks.

Why not ask the USAF to base some F-15s out here for for a few years, a much better deterant that 24 hornets.

Spend the money on additional AWD or when the time comes, a small number of F35C to operate off the spanish LHD, if we buy them, replacement for the Carbiou, additional Chooks, C-17's, tankers etc etc etc.