Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates

gf0012-aust

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
old faithful said:
LOL! While were at it then, my earliest fast jet memory of note was a canberra bomber buzzing our school bus just south of port macquarie in the early 80,s, surprised the bus didnt tip! all us kids moving to one side to watch it! Man it was LOW!
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my earliest memory of a jet was in the eearly 60's when a Vulcan flew overhead at low level on its way to Woomera (I assume for nuke weapons testing)

I was only a kid, but that thing had me transfixed, it was the huge (for a kid) flying triangle and it just covered the house....

that image has never left me....
 
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Abraham Gubler

Defense Professional
Verified Defense Pro
gf0012-aust said:
my earliest memory of a jet was in the eearly 60's when a Vulcan flew overhead at low level on its way to Woomera (I assume for nuke weapons testing)

I was only a kid, but that thing had me transfixed, it was the huge (for a kid) flying triangle and it just covered the house....

that image has never left me....
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Then you'd be interested in how the RAAF nearly brought 28 Vulcans in 1956:

The Vulcan Option for the RAAF
 
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Abraham Gubler

Defense Professional
Verified Defense Pro
Marc 1 said:
Geez, wouldn't that have upset the locals!
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Its an interesting what if. The Aussie Vulcan would have been of great use during the Indonesian Confrontation and the VietNam War. But to pay for them we would have had to decommission the carrier force by 1960.
 
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weasel1962

New Member
Re:

RAAF tests JSOW on F-18F at Woomera.

PICTURES: Australian Super Hornets release first JSOW missiles

The unpowered JSOW would represent a highly cost-effective mid stand-off range option between the JDAM and JASSM. Range at 130km for release at 40,000 ft or 22km at 500ft, it was designed as a 1,000lb low cost medium range standoff weapon by virtue of standardisation. It uses the same engine as the MALD.

There is also a power JSOW-ER with a standoff range of 290km to meet MTCR requirements up to 555km which can offer a JASSM alternative.

http://www.raytheon.com/capabilitie...cuments/content/rtn_rms_ps_jsow_datasheet.pdf

Recent contract data shows a full rate AGM154C-1 costing US$380k (2009), C version: US$268k-280k (2007), A version: US$223k (2004). In contrast JASSM unit cost is ~US$1.142m (2006 lot 5 data).

The latest variant C-1 (BLK III) has a moving target strike capability and achieved IOC this year. Production transitioned from BLK I to BLK II in 2006. According to Raytheon, more than 400 combat firings of the JSOW-A have been made by 2005.

RAAF obtained its first C version last year with C-1s delivered this year. Separately Flightglobal also confirms that 14 F-18Fs should be delivered by year end.
 
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Abraham Gubler

Defense Professional
Verified Defense Pro
weasel1962 said:
Separately Flightglobal also confirms that 14 F-18Fs should be delivered by year end.
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They must have used some powerful investigative ability to make that "confirmation":

Australian Government, Department of Defence - Stephen Smith MP

20 Oct 2010 MIN4/10

More Super Hornets on the way

The Royal Australian Air Force will have more firepower with another three Super Hornet fighter jets to be delivered by the end of the year.

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare said the three additional aircraft would add to the fleet of 11 Super Hornets already here in Australia.
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foxdemon

Member
Bonza said:
It's old-hat stuff but seeing a P-40F, Spitfire and Mustang doing formation flying at the Point Cook Air Pageant recently was absolutely fantastic (most beautiful engine noise in the world), especially when they disappeared for a bit and reappeared with the mighty CAC-Avon Sabre in tow... so great to see one of those flying again. With any luck they'll get it up with a Mustang and a Hornet at Avalon next year.

And although it's probably not a big deal for some, seeing the SU-27 pull out its bag of tricks at Avalon many years ago was a hell of a thing for a young un at the time... and more recently, the B-1's appearance. Never seen one of the big bombers get up before, hell of a treat for me.

That said, I'm jealous at the thought of seeing things like the F-14 and the Raptor in the air. And I'd dearly love to see a Phantom in the air just once...
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First off I'm new here so I'll say 'hi' to everyone.

My father was in the airforce and served as navigator/weapons operator on Canberras, F4E's and the F111. He was one of the crews who flew the F111's out from the States in 1972.
I'm sure his mates and him would like to see a Phantom flying at the F111 fairwell later this year. I can't see how that would be possible though.
 
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Aussie Digger

Guest
foxdemon said:
First off I'm new here so I'll say 'hi' to everyone.

My father was in the airforce and served as navigator/weapons operator on Canberras, F4E's and the F111. He was one of the crews who flew the F111's out from the States in 1972.
I'm sure his mates and him would like to see a Phantom flying at the F111 fairwell later this year. I can't see how that would be possible though.
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I'm not sure there are any flyable Phantom's in Australia, but Point Cook museum has a pristine F-4E, that I'm hoping to see next year...
 
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Bonza

Super Moderator
Staff member
Aussie Digger said:
I'm not sure there are any flyable Phantom's in Australia, but Point Cook museum has a pristine F-4E, that I'm hoping to see next year...
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It's a beauty mate. Currently it's sitting in a new exhibit, the Strike Hanger, alongside an F-111G and a Canberra bomber. Think they're planning to place an F-111C in there as well... be a bloody cramped hanger if they do!
 
gf0012-aust

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Bonza said:
It's a beauty mate. Currently it's sitting in a new exhibit, the Strike Hanger, alongside an F-111G and a Canberra bomber. Think they're planning to place an F-111C in there as well... be a bloody cramped hanger if they do!
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do they still have that photo of the Canberra flying through the hangar?
 
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Bonza

Super Moderator
Staff member
gf0012-aust said:
do they still have that photo of the Canberra flying through the hangar?
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Bloody hell, I didn't see it but I'll be looking for it next time, sounds impressive!

They've got a few small pieces of Von Richthofen's plane out there too, which are a hell of thing to look at... :)
 
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Sasquatch972

New Member
Bonza said:
It's a beauty mate. Currently it's sitting in a new exhibit, the Strike Hanger, alongside an F-111G and a Canberra bomber. Think they're planning to place an F-111C in there as well... be a bloody cramped hanger if they do!
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i once saw an F/A-18 doing a few flybys back in the 2001 or 2002 AFL grand final here in melbourne, also randomly saw a F/A-18 come in low and rather fast over my high school a year or 2 later. also seen many F-111's doing Dump and burns for numerous activitys going on here in melbourne.

but yeah that F-4 phantom looks great at point cook, i remember seeing it in real life and was astounded at how big it was! i must go back sometime soon to see the F-111!
 
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foxdemon

Member
Aussie Digger said:
I'm not sure there are any flyable Phantom's in Australia, but Point Cook museum has a pristine F-4E, that I'm hoping to see next year...
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I wasn't aware there was a Phantom preserved in Australia. Will check it out next time I'm down that way.

There has been some talk of giving one of the F111's to Temora air muesum. Though Temora has an operating Canberra, people will be disappointed if they except Temora to operate a flying F111. Those birds are way too complex to maintain even though they are 1960's technology. Canberra's are much simpler planes.

I have also been asked by an Indonesian friend about the chances of getting one for they air museum. He thought it would be good to see one lined up with one of their old Tu16's (also museum specimens these days).
 
gf0012-aust

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
I was under the impression that an F4 was being sourced for one of the museums? I thought they had sent some people to the boneyard for a looksee
 
gf0012-aust

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
aussienscale said:
Here is a link to the pic of the Canberra Bomber flying through the hanger ? :D
http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/canberra.jpg
And no it wasn't real, smart trick photography for the day though, the placed it on stands and raised the gear, the stands were later painted out, no photoshop in them days
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I knew it wasn't real, but it certainly got me going when I first saw it.

I was hoping that someone else would get suckered as well.... :)
 
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Aussie Digger

Guest
gf0012-aust said:
I was under the impression that an F4 was being sourced for one of the museums? I thought they had sent some people to the boneyard for a looksee
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Yep, an F-4E for the still unfinished "Strike Hangar" display. They've got the F-4E already though...
 
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