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

[Aussie Digger]

Taken by yours truly (post on another name over there)

In the message I deleted, I acknowledged that, but then forgot to edit my earlier post...

You should send it to RAAF museum Point Cook. They don't have a sinngle photo of that F-4 on their website, hence why I had to use yours...

 

[Bonza]

In the message I deleted, I acknowledged that, but then forgot to edit my earlier post...

You should send it to RAAF museum Point Cook. They don't have a sinngle photo of that F-4 on their website, hence why I had to use yours...

Oh no worries matey, that's why I put em up, use away! Might just dig up the original high-res one and send it on per your advice

 

[aussienscale]

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....

Ha Ha didn't mean you specifically GF, I know you are smarter than that, was just for anyone else looking, must admit though when I first joined the Puss I was posted to Tross after cat training and they had that pic on the wall at the JS Bar and was a hot topic of conversation
You know how it is, if I make the post I will have dozens of people telling me it is fake and thinking I believe it !! Smart pic though

 

[Abraham Gubler]

We've had that F-4 for ages, 10 years or so. It came out on the Rat bringing back some Grunts from joint ex in California.

 

[phreeky]

With the RAAF recently/soon acquiring new aircraft (specifically the super hornets and the JSF) does anyone know what the plan is for the basing of these aircraft? For example are the super hornets simply going to/staying at Amberley and the JSF to all the current hornet locations?

I'm assuming the overall strategy of the location of fast jets hasn't changed, but with the different multi-purpose nature of the new aircraft and change in aircraft range you never know whether it calls for some changes.

Thanks

 

[Abraham Gubler]

Super Hornets and F-35As are all going to replace like for like in current squadrons. So all the Super Hornets will be with 82 Wing at Amberley and all the F-35As with 81 Wing at Williamtown.

There was some consideration a few years ago to move 75 Sqn from Tindal (Katherine, NT) back to Williamtown. This was because they were having very bad serviceability problems and the RAAF was just recovering from bad retention and was concerned with workforce conditions. The serviceability problem was fixed when Zed was CO with 75 moving to a unique maintenance establishment unlike the other Hornet squadrons.

Now this issue may resurface as the bean counters in Canberra are hell bent on abolishing the ADF’s Remote Locality Leave Travel (RLLT) next year so 75 Sqn could reface huge retention problems. The idea of consolidating all fighters at Amberley and Williamtown would not be to close down Tindal which would stay fully manned but to use it as a rotate in, rotate out training base. Makes perfect sense since there hasn’t been a military threat to northern Australia since 1943: no matter what some recent history, fictional strategic guidance for the ADF says.

 

[hairyman]

Now that the F-35 has been delayed again, should Australia seek to purchase some single seat Super Hornets to replace the RAAF F-18 that are in the worse condition? Particularly since the F-35s due date is now such an unknown factor.

 

[SASWanabe]

Now that the F-35 has been delayed again, should Australia seek to purchase some single seat Super Hornets to replace the RAAF F-18 that are in the worse condition? Particularly since the F-35s due date is now such an unknown factor.

Easy answer IMO,


Should they? yes.

Will They? No

 

[Abraham Gubler]

Now that the F-35 has been delayed again, should Australia seek to purchase some single seat Super Hornets to replace the RAAF F-18 that are in the worse condition? Particularly since the F-35s due date is now such an unknown factor.

This issue has been discussed in the F-35 thread.

Firstly there is no sign that the RAAF’s schedule for the F-35 has been changed. What is coming out of America is a lot of spin based on skewered leaks from the overall project that may or may not actually have delays in it which may or may not actually effect the RAAF’s deadline. Until AM Harvey says we need to push back the schedule this is all just a lot (more) hot air re the RAAF F-35.

Secondly the RAAF Hornets are all in good condition. The most advanced in fatigue life are receiving new centre barrel structures. From memory this is only 11 out of 72 airframes. So there is plenty of room for more centre barrel replacements if they have to fly longer.

New Super Hornets would be nice – and twin seat F models offer a lot more combat utility than single seaters in contemporary ops until the F-35 is available – but not strictly needed for air worthiness. There would need to be a major capability increase by other regional nations to justify the capability boost Block II Super Hornets would bring over our HUG Hornets.

 

[SASWanabe]

speaking of the Block II Super Hornets... has anyone heard anything about Boeings proposal for Block III upgrades?

 

[gf0012-aust]

Firstly there is no sign that the RAAF’s schedule for the F-35 has been changed. What is coming out of America is a lot of spin based on skewered leaks from the overall project that may or may not actually have delays in it which may or may not actually effect the RAAF’s deadline. Until AM Harvey says we need to push back the schedule this is all just a lot (more) hot air re the RAAF F-35.

AVM Harvey is having those discussions this week.

The internal briefing given last week had none of the hysteria touted on the web.

Its the usual hand wringers blowing things way way beyond reasonable debate.

These idiots need to look at any number of projects and try to understand how things work. As for those still pumping up F-22's instead of etc... give me a break. Its like watching a US version of Fawlty Towers.

 

[Abraham Gubler]

speaking of the Block II Super Hornets... has anyone heard anything about Boeings proposal for Block III upgrades?

The Block III is not an upgrade its a proposal for new sales. You can't upgrade a Block I to a Block II without a major rebuild. There is the US Navy upgrade path for the Super Hornet out to 2045 (or there abouts). The current step on that is the IRST in centerline fuel tank. There are plenty of further steps assuming they recieve USG funding. The RAAF is keyed into these upgrades and can access them with funding approval.

 

[SASWanabe]

wasnt there talks at one stage of buying a second batch of 24 Block IIs?

back before Gillard came along that is...

 

[hairyman]

wasnt there talks at one stage of buying a second batch of 24 Block IIs?

back before Gillard came along that is...

Was that in addition to the 24 we are currently getting? Whoops. 2nd Batch. Answered that myself.

 

[Abraham Gubler]

wasnt there talks at one stage of buying a second batch of 24 Block IIs?

There was a consideration four years ago for a second batch in case the Hornet airworthiness problem was much worse than expected. It turned out to be much better than expected so little need for more Super Hornets.

back before Gillard came along that is...

That has nothing to do with it. Cheap shots demean you.

 

[SASWanabe]

Sorry, Came out wrong

Meant before change of government

 

[hairyman]

With the British feeling the pinch financially and selling off defence equipment, is there anything in the RAF inventory that Australia should make an offer on?

 

[SASWanabe]

With the British feeling the pinch financially and selling off defence equipment, is there anything in the RAF inventory that Australia should make an offer on?

harriers for the canberras'? (joke, dont yell at me)

 

[Todjaeger]

With the British feeling the pinch financially and selling off defence equipment, is there anything in the RAF inventory that Australia should make an offer on?

Unlikely IMO. AFAIK, the only aircraft where there is commonality between RAF and RAAF assets is within some of the lift/transport assets, things like the CH-47 Chinook, C-130 Hercules II, and C-17 Globemasters. There might be a small number of other assets where there is commonality, but those three are the major ones IIRC. And the RAAF and RAF do not operate the exact same variants, which means some form of mod work to achieve fleet commonality.

Making this more complicated is that a number of the RAF assets are being heavily utilized, to the point where if/when the assets (like the C-130J Herc II's) get retired "early" in ~2020-2022, the aircraft are likely to be shagged. Airframe age-wise, fairly young, but with a large number of flight hours on the clock.

Making it even more unlikely IMO is that the ADF as a whole is also looking at a tight budget. Not anything like the British MoD appears to be looking at, where things are being dropped or retired early, but enough so that aside from critical capabilities, new items not already planned for are very unlikely to appear.

-Cheers

 

[icecoolben]

With the British feeling the pinch financially and selling off defence equipment, is there anything in the RAF inventory that Australia should make an offer on?

Perhaps the second Queen Elizabeth class carrier with a compliment of CATOBAR F-35 or super hornets already in service. perhaps the retired Harriers and the small aircraft carrier. Isn't RAAF too minusle compared to others in the neighbourhood like china, Japan and India.