Super Seasprites who is responsible?
Agreed the PC9 is not a good advanced trainer. Unpressurized, unjet-like performance, heaps of yaw on any power application, poorly harmonized controls with high control forces to satisfy FAR regulations, bumpy lowspeed wing, poor sitting posture..list goes on. Energy management is just not a consideration like a true jet. As an advanced trainer, the MB326 was far superior despite it's aged design.
The RAAF really need a jet trainer with jet characteristics. In future only some transport aircraft will be prop-driven, and it will take much longer for graduates to get to a command level on Wedgetail, C17, Poseidon (737 P3 replacement), VIP types, MRTT (A330 tanker) ...list goes on.
But here we go again...RSAF has bought the PC21, to be based at Pearce and the industrial synergies and politics for buying the PC21 as our PC9 replacement will be overwhelming. The same old story unfolds, like seasprite and PC9, Defence will end up with what the bureaucrats think is a good idea and the repercussions will continue for years to come.
The RAAF really need a jet trainer with jet characteristics. In future only some transport aircraft will be prop-driven, and it will take much longer for graduates to get to a command level on Wedgetail, C17, Poseidon (737 P3 replacement), VIP types, MRTT (A330 tanker) ...list goes on.
But here we go again...RSAF has bought the PC21, to be based at Pearce and the industrial synergies and politics for buying the PC21 as our PC9 replacement will be overwhelming. The same old story unfolds, like seasprite and PC9, Defence will end up with what the bureaucrats think is a good idea and the repercussions will continue for years to come.
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Back to the topic, nice idea Dick. If somebody can prove they come by the required information by psychic means is the megabuck still on offer? That would make a total of $1,100,000 to some lucky (and deeply spritual) investigator.
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While You're At It.
Dick,
Why don't you do the same thing for the Collin's Class Submarine project? It was a huge fiasco that wasted billions of dollars also. If it weren't for the scale of the losses it could have just as easily gone the same way as the Kaman. People I know that were involved in the project could barely grasp the magnitude of the ineptitude, waste and incompetence that occurred, and they are about to do it again. God help us.
Then there is the present spending of the Brisbane City Council and State Government who are throwing billions of dollars into tunnels and huge inner city road networks when a blind newt can see that this is a recipe for urban and environmental disaster, not to mention the huge waste of public money. One day soon it will become a bike track. It may be significant that one of the key drivers for these projects is ex military.
It is in every level of government and bureaucracy. Take a look at this comment from the Cessna Pilots Association, that is relevant to CASA. and effects us personally as aviators.
Cessna 340 Wing Spar
Tech Support,
Please give me the details on the recent service bulletin concerning the wing center section (I think it is also called the stub wing). I understand that CPA is talking to the FAA about this as you did with the previous exhaust AD. I think it is based on airframe time in service. My aircraft now has 3250 hours on it. I bought it new.
Thanks for your help.
Bill L.
Bill,
I am unaware that CPA is talking to the FAA about this, because since it's only a service bulletin, there's no need to comply with it. Generally, CPA only gets involved if the FAA issues an NPRM (notice of proposed rulemaking for a proposed AD) or an ACS (Airworthiness Concern Sheet stating that the FAA is considering an NPRM).
I believe that the SB you're talking about is part of the Cessna SID (Special Inspection Document) program. The SID inspections are punitively expensive, and almost nobody is doing them except for poor folks in Australia and other countries where compliance is required by the national CAA, and operators of 400-series aircraft affected by the spar-strap AD. Fortunately, the FAA is not requiring compliance for 300-series aircraft, even for most Part 135 operators and certainly not for Part 91 operators.
FYI, there's absolutely no safety concern here in my opinion. There has never been any kind of spar or attach fitting problem in any 300-series Cessna. The only aircraft that have exhibited problems are very high-time Cessna 402s that were operated in commercial service with very heavy passenger loads and very light fuel loads (thereby putting extreme loads on the lower spar caps). I've seen no indication that the FAA is contemplating any regulatory action on 300-series Cessnas. I can't guarantee that they won't change their mind about this someday, but I'm pretty sure that if the FAA were contemplating something, we'd know about it.
My recommendation would be not to worry about this unless and until the FAA forces you to. If you want to worry about something, worry about your exhaust system, not your wing spar.
Mike Busch, CPA Tech Rep.
Lets face it Dick, We can't change the situation. Its part of democracy and still infinitely better than any other political system.
The best thing I have heard you say recently is that you will do all you can to legally minimize the tax you pay. You could then use some of what you save to make the world a better place at an individual level (which I know you do). and bring some of these bureaucrats and politicians to account through the courts and public exposure.
I hope someone takes up your challenge.
BP
Why don't you do the same thing for the Collin's Class Submarine project? It was a huge fiasco that wasted billions of dollars also. If it weren't for the scale of the losses it could have just as easily gone the same way as the Kaman. People I know that were involved in the project could barely grasp the magnitude of the ineptitude, waste and incompetence that occurred, and they are about to do it again. God help us.
Then there is the present spending of the Brisbane City Council and State Government who are throwing billions of dollars into tunnels and huge inner city road networks when a blind newt can see that this is a recipe for urban and environmental disaster, not to mention the huge waste of public money. One day soon it will become a bike track. It may be significant that one of the key drivers for these projects is ex military.
It is in every level of government and bureaucracy. Take a look at this comment from the Cessna Pilots Association, that is relevant to CASA. and effects us personally as aviators.
Cessna 340 Wing Spar
Tech Support,
Please give me the details on the recent service bulletin concerning the wing center section (I think it is also called the stub wing). I understand that CPA is talking to the FAA about this as you did with the previous exhaust AD. I think it is based on airframe time in service. My aircraft now has 3250 hours on it. I bought it new.
Thanks for your help.
Bill L.
Bill,
I am unaware that CPA is talking to the FAA about this, because since it's only a service bulletin, there's no need to comply with it. Generally, CPA only gets involved if the FAA issues an NPRM (notice of proposed rulemaking for a proposed AD) or an ACS (Airworthiness Concern Sheet stating that the FAA is considering an NPRM).
I believe that the SB you're talking about is part of the Cessna SID (Special Inspection Document) program. The SID inspections are punitively expensive, and almost nobody is doing them except for poor folks in Australia and other countries where compliance is required by the national CAA, and operators of 400-series aircraft affected by the spar-strap AD. Fortunately, the FAA is not requiring compliance for 300-series aircraft, even for most Part 135 operators and certainly not for Part 91 operators.
FYI, there's absolutely no safety concern here in my opinion. There has never been any kind of spar or attach fitting problem in any 300-series Cessna. The only aircraft that have exhibited problems are very high-time Cessna 402s that were operated in commercial service with very heavy passenger loads and very light fuel loads (thereby putting extreme loads on the lower spar caps). I've seen no indication that the FAA is contemplating any regulatory action on 300-series Cessnas. I can't guarantee that they won't change their mind about this someday, but I'm pretty sure that if the FAA were contemplating something, we'd know about it.
My recommendation would be not to worry about this unless and until the FAA forces you to. If you want to worry about something, worry about your exhaust system, not your wing spar.
Mike Busch, CPA Tech Rep.
Lets face it Dick, We can't change the situation. Its part of democracy and still infinitely better than any other political system.
The best thing I have heard you say recently is that you will do all you can to legally minimize the tax you pay. You could then use some of what you save to make the world a better place at an individual level (which I know you do). and bring some of these bureaucrats and politicians to account through the courts and public exposure.
I hope someone takes up your challenge.
BP
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Thought you folks might be interested in this quote from Asia Pacific Defence Reporter magazine.
"The settlement between the DMO and Kaman for the divestment of the RAN's SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopters contains clauses preventing Australia from talking down the aircraft in the marketplace. DMO's helicopter systems division head Maj Gen Anthony Frasier has told the Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade that "part of the deed of negotiation [that] we have agreed - and this is in our interests - is that we will not talk down the aircraft unnecessarily."
I can picture it now. "Why did we cancel the Seasprite contract? Well, it was a fine aircraft but we...err...decided that its lines just didn't gel well with the Anzac class. We wanted something less, um, ugly..."
I/C
"The settlement between the DMO and Kaman for the divestment of the RAN's SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopters contains clauses preventing Australia from talking down the aircraft in the marketplace. DMO's helicopter systems division head Maj Gen Anthony Frasier has told the Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade that "part of the deed of negotiation [that] we have agreed - and this is in our interests - is that we will not talk down the aircraft unnecessarily."
I can picture it now. "Why did we cancel the Seasprite contract? Well, it was a fine aircraft but we...err...decided that its lines just didn't gel well with the Anzac class. We wanted something less, um, ugly..."
I/C
Thread Starter
Yes, the $100,000 offer is still open, however it looks as if the money will be donated to the charities as per the statement on my website (see here). I have a feeling that there is not one investigative reporter left in this country who has the time to do such an important article.
What a pity. Remember the old days when the Fairfax family owned the newspaper and investigative journalism was at the forefront?
What a pity. Remember the old days when the Fairfax family owned the newspaper and investigative journalism was at the forefront?
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I have a feeling that there is not one investigative reporter left in this country who has the time to do such an important article.
J
I hear that recently graduated 2FTS navy pilots are trying to get out of the service as there isn't any operational flying on the horizon.
Don't know if its true. If it is and there are guys let go, someone should be shot at dawn!
Don't know if its true. If it is and there are guys let go, someone should be shot at dawn!
Looks as though it's true.
How much does it cost to train an ADF pilot? One million? Two million considering three years of zero productive employment and ancillary training?
Recently graduated navy pilots are being offered release due training bungling. Devastating for the lads involved- and another expensive casualty of the Sea Sprite.
But guess what? This weekend they will still be advertising for military pilots in the national newspapers.
Taliban- religious indoctrination in Pakistani madrass, age 14 to 16, funded by Saudis. A few hundred USD. AK47 & a few goes at an RPG- another few hundred USD. IED training...... 1000USD per combat soldier?
Australia-..............
How much does it cost to train an ADF pilot? One million? Two million considering three years of zero productive employment and ancillary training?
Recently graduated navy pilots are being offered release due training bungling. Devastating for the lads involved- and another expensive casualty of the Sea Sprite.
But guess what? This weekend they will still be advertising for military pilots in the national newspapers.
Taliban- religious indoctrination in Pakistani madrass, age 14 to 16, funded by Saudis. A few hundred USD. AK47 & a few goes at an RPG- another few hundred USD. IED training...... 1000USD per combat soldier?
Australia-..............
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How much does it cost to train an ADF pilot?
Army...........ah, who cares!
Taliban- religious indoctrination in Pakistani madrass, age 14 to 16, funded by Saudis. A few hundred USD. AK47 & a few goes at an RPG- another few hundred USD. IED training...... 1000USD per combat soldier?
Australia-..............
Australia-..............
Hardly relevant mate.
Yes many are transferring to the RAAF. There are a few going through the fast jet training system at the moment.
Reckon these kids would have a good case to contest their ROSO and get a job outside.
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Ah. Clearly you don't know that much about the Collins class.
Best boats in the world actually now.
I suppose the Australian Navy is just a little bit smarter than you give them credit for.
Best boats in the world actually now.
I suppose the Australian Navy is just a little bit smarter than you give them credit for.
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It isn't about there being no journalists with the time or the interest, it's about it being a sensitive military subject to which their editors will say 'lol' 'no'.
Don't forget that the government actually does censor a lot of Australian media and you are essentially asking people to look for classified information which they are not going to be able to get.
There is a different approach, but it requires a different strategy than the one you propose as you are in essence asking people to spend a lot of time to get fired and never work again.
Don't forget that the government actually does censor a lot of Australian media and you are essentially asking people to look for classified information which they are not going to be able to get.
There is a different approach, but it requires a different strategy than the one you propose as you are in essence asking people to spend a lot of time to get fired and never work again.
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It is always easy in retrospect to pick holes through a failed project in retrospect.
ADF capabilities are acquired against a set of requirements that ultimately have their roots in the Defence White Paper. And as has been hinted at in another reply to this thread, the length of time from project inception up until actually delivery is significant. Taking account of technology advances through project life so that you don't deliver something in 8 years time that is obsolete is not easy. And it is not just the ADF who have problems..... the list is endless. In fact the ADF probably has a better record than the US DOD.
Quite simply it is not an easy thing to do. And in the real world political considerations are thrown in as well...for example let's build submarines in Adelaide so that we can help the SA economy etc.
In summary, at the inception of each of these projects you will almost always find a team of reasonable people who think they are doing the right thing, making decisions that a lot of us would also have made in the same situation under the circumstances that were prevalent at the time.
But that was XX years ago and we now know different things than they did.
ADF capabilities are acquired against a set of requirements that ultimately have their roots in the Defence White Paper. And as has been hinted at in another reply to this thread, the length of time from project inception up until actually delivery is significant. Taking account of technology advances through project life so that you don't deliver something in 8 years time that is obsolete is not easy. And it is not just the ADF who have problems..... the list is endless. In fact the ADF probably has a better record than the US DOD.
Quite simply it is not an easy thing to do. And in the real world political considerations are thrown in as well...for example let's build submarines in Adelaide so that we can help the SA economy etc.
In summary, at the inception of each of these projects you will almost always find a team of reasonable people who think they are doing the right thing, making decisions that a lot of us would also have made in the same situation under the circumstances that were prevalent at the time.
But that was XX years ago and we now know different things than they did.
