Jet Fighter over Auckland
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Jet Fighter over Auckland
Heard a fighter whistle overhead at around 12:40pm (Friday 4th), tracking south towards the AA CTR. By the time I could catch a glimpse it was a way off, but didn't look like a Fouga/Hunter/Vampire that we see on occasion.
Does anyone know what it was?
Cheers, Dupre.
Does anyone know what it was?
Cheers, Dupre.
You can guarantee one thing! It sure doesn't belong to the RNZAF!!!
(someone had to say it)
TL
(someone had to say it)
TL
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Now that the sale is a done thing it probably wasnt a Skyhawk, but a couple were kept in operational condition for test flights for interested buyers etc. One came thru Napier earlier on in the year.
The sound was that of the "Helen Clarke emergency escape system" being tested. It is designed to extricate her from the clutches of angry New Zealanders when they finally see what that left-wing academic has done to their nation. 
It is tested regularly. Rumour has it that it may be the last operational jet-powered aircraft in New Zealand and that on arrival at her preferred escape desitnation it will be sold on as "as is, where is" basis to fund her convenient disappearance to a country which doesn't have an extradition treaty with New Zealand.
It is tested regularly. Rumour has it that it may be the last operational jet-powered aircraft in New Zealand and that on arrival at her preferred escape desitnation it will be sold on as "as is, where is" basis to fund her convenient disappearance to a country which doesn't have an extradition treaty with New Zealand.
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If you boys look close enough...you'll see it's my career as a porn star taking off into the distance!!!!.....sigh....never even got off the bench!.....ah well..............where's the remote?.............
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It wasn't the RNZAF B727 that was doing low level laps around Auckland on the last days before its retirement was it?
It'll be a shame to see her go. She was quite the performer at airshows in recent years. 40sqn will have to come up with something special in the 757 to keep up the airshow spectacle. I see they have gone away from the C130 overstress-wingover at airshows this year..................
It'll be a shame to see her go. She was quite the performer at airshows in recent years. 40sqn will have to come up with something special in the 757 to keep up the airshow spectacle. I see they have gone away from the C130 overstress-wingover at airshows this year..................
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Probable Cause
Wouldn't mind betting that it was most likely a RAAF Pig (F-111), as they have been conducting several missions on your turf in the past few weeks., but not without controversy.
In an exercise titled Lone Ranger, which took place on May 19, one of the Pigs encountered trouble with the Terrain Following Radar (TFR). The aircraft was flying low in mountain country at about midday when a voice-message terrain-warning-system sounded on the F-111.
The pilot initiated an emergency steep climb, during which the aircraft became "over-stressed". No one was injured and no other aircraft were involved, and the reason for the urgent warning was being investigated. The craft was given a detailed inspection on the ground before being flown back to Amberley.
The F-111 has had a troubled history, with 115 pilots and navigators killed in combat and accidents worldwide over 30 years.
I bet the old G's were pretty strong during the 'emergency steep climb'!
Cheers,
Soulman.
In an exercise titled Lone Ranger, which took place on May 19, one of the Pigs encountered trouble with the Terrain Following Radar (TFR). The aircraft was flying low in mountain country at about midday when a voice-message terrain-warning-system sounded on the F-111.
The pilot initiated an emergency steep climb, during which the aircraft became "over-stressed". No one was injured and no other aircraft were involved, and the reason for the urgent warning was being investigated. The craft was given a detailed inspection on the ground before being flown back to Amberley.
The F-111 has had a troubled history, with 115 pilots and navigators killed in combat and accidents worldwide over 30 years.
I bet the old G's were pretty strong during the 'emergency steep climb'!
Cheers,
Soulman.
Soulman
Good points but worth mentioning a couple of others. In case people get the wrong idea of the F111s troubled history.
An experimental detachment of six F111s were sent to Vietnam with disasterous results. Three were lost. The problem may have been in crew use of the sophisticated radar.
The aircraft returned in a big way. While other (fighter) bombers went into North Vietnam with tanker support, SAM suppression, fighter escort and flak suppression, the F111 would go in alone against the North's most heavily defended targets.
The strike on Libya in 1986 demonstrated the amazing range and consequential flexibility of the aircraft. The actual mission was a disaster.
In the Gulf War F111s destroyed more tanks and armoured vechicles than any other coalition aircraft-even more than the fabled A10 Tank Buster.
In Timor I imagine the F111 gave the RAAF a degree of flexibility due the aircrafts range and loiter time, if needed.
A great aircraft for the RAAF. Must be tired in the demanding roles it performs.
Our good friends the Americans should realise what great allies we have been, realise the professionalism of our forces, the likelihood of our participation in their expeditions and go part of the way in meeting the leasing costs of Strike Eagles!
Good points but worth mentioning a couple of others. In case people get the wrong idea of the F111s troubled history.
An experimental detachment of six F111s were sent to Vietnam with disasterous results. Three were lost. The problem may have been in crew use of the sophisticated radar.
The aircraft returned in a big way. While other (fighter) bombers went into North Vietnam with tanker support, SAM suppression, fighter escort and flak suppression, the F111 would go in alone against the North's most heavily defended targets.
The strike on Libya in 1986 demonstrated the amazing range and consequential flexibility of the aircraft. The actual mission was a disaster.
In the Gulf War F111s destroyed more tanks and armoured vechicles than any other coalition aircraft-even more than the fabled A10 Tank Buster.
In Timor I imagine the F111 gave the RAAF a degree of flexibility due the aircrafts range and loiter time, if needed.
A great aircraft for the RAAF. Must be tired in the demanding roles it performs.
Our good friends the Americans should realise what great allies we have been, realise the professionalism of our forces, the likelihood of our participation in their expeditions and go part of the way in meeting the leasing costs of Strike Eagles!
Last edited by Gnadenburg; 13th Jul 2003 at 18:00.
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Mr Proachpoint:
Definately wasn't a 727 - but I agree it's real sad to see them go
... somehow the 757 just doesn't have the same finess about her - nor the same noise!
Could conceivably have been an F-111 though...
Definately wasn't a 727 - but I agree it's real sad to see them go
... somehow the 757 just doesn't have the same finess about her - nor the same noise!Could conceivably have been an F-111 though...
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Overtalk, starter for 10:
See also - http://www.f-111.net/CarloKopp/aup.htm
F-111 Turning in an outstanding performance, the F-111 again proved itself to be a workhorse not only in the interdiction and strategic attack roles but across the spectrum of ground attack missions. With its FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) and laser designation system, the F-111F attacked key military production facilities; chemical, biological, and nuclear sites; airfields, bunkers, C3 assets, and portions of the integrated air defense system with great success. Attacking bridges, hardened aircraft shelters, and individual tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery, it was a stellar performer. In what became known as "tank plinking" the F-111s were credited with over 1500 verified armor kills. In over 4,000 sorties, the 84 deployed F-111s had a mission capable rate of over 85% --- approximately 8% higher than peacetime rates. One Wing Commander reported that his unit flew over 2100 sorties with no maintenance non-delivers. These platforms delivered the precision munitions on the manifolds which stopped the oil Saddam was dumping into the Gulf. Overall, the F-111 proved to be a versatile, precise, survivable platform which made significant contributions to the success of the air war.
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criticalmass, rest assured;
If Clark, with impunity, can ignore the 1990 Defence Act which makes her actions with regard to the disbanding of the RNZAF Strike Wing illegal, then subsequent administrations can also choose to ignore certain laws.
This may include the 1985 law change which rescinded the death penalty for treason during peacetime in New Zealand.
Many of us have very long memories and very little sense of humour.
She'll get hers.
The current Governor General and several other high ranking lesbian socialists are equally culpable; they will also, ultimately, be held to account.
If Clark, with impunity, can ignore the 1990 Defence Act which makes her actions with regard to the disbanding of the RNZAF Strike Wing illegal, then subsequent administrations can also choose to ignore certain laws.
This may include the 1985 law change which rescinded the death penalty for treason during peacetime in New Zealand.
Many of us have very long memories and very little sense of humour.
She'll get hers.
The current Governor General and several other high ranking lesbian socialists are equally culpable; they will also, ultimately, be held to account.
