I think the references contained within that 'piece' to the 'Eric Palmer' and 'Air Power Australia' blogs are all that are required, as to the usefulness of that...
Just a bit of light entertainment...
Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
Just a bit of light entertainment...
I like it...
One of the interesting side effects of e-readers and the digital publishing industry is that authors no longer need a publisher to pick up a book before they can be published - they can do it themselves digitally for a pittance. As a result, there are huge numbers of self-published authors selling novels on websites such as Amazon for only a dollar or two. Not surprisingly, most of the books are utter rubbish. However, I find them extremely entertaining, they're basically the print version of D-grade horror movies such as Sharknado. For me, I think it's nostalgia, is it reminds me of reading the pulp science fiction novels my father had when I was young.
Anyway, the point being there are lots of very cheap, very bad but very entertaining novels out there that deal with an invasion of Australia as their subject matter. They all try to emulate Tom Clancy, but all come up woefully short. One of my favourites is a novel called The Reckoning: The Day Australia Fell, which reads as though it was written by a 12 year old (but in a good way). There's also lots of interesting novels in the earth is invaded by aliens genre, but that's a different story.
Anyway, I like this story in The Advertiser because it reminds me of cheap self published books that are written by 12 year olds.
One of the interesting side effects of e-readers and the digital publishing industry is that authors no longer need a publisher to pick up a book before they can be published - they can do it themselves digitally for a pittance. As a result, there are huge numbers of self-published authors selling novels on websites such as Amazon for only a dollar or two. Not surprisingly, most of the books are utter rubbish. However, I find them extremely entertaining, they're basically the print version of D-grade horror movies such as Sharknado. For me, I think it's nostalgia, is it reminds me of reading the pulp science fiction novels my father had when I was young.
Anyway, the point being there are lots of very cheap, very bad but very entertaining novels out there that deal with an invasion of Australia as their subject matter. They all try to emulate Tom Clancy, but all come up woefully short. One of my favourites is a novel called The Reckoning: The Day Australia Fell, which reads as though it was written by a 12 year old (but in a good way). There's also lots of interesting novels in the earth is invaded by aliens genre, but that's a different story.
Anyway, I like this story in The Advertiser because it reminds me of cheap self published books that are written by 12 year olds.
t68
Well-Known Member
Plagiarism at its finest, saw that article in the Hearldsun a few weeks ago. Must be a money saving exercise
And was not awere we tried to turn the Kanimbla class from a LST to a LHD, besides the money we threw at them I think the conversion to an LPA was a success
Just imagine if we had actually acquired the two ships we originally flagged, the ones that were in good material condition and didn't need extensive repairs just to make them seaworthy. They could have been in service sooner, after far less expensive and time consuming upgrades (due to less repairs and refurbishment being required) and could probably also have remained in service until the LHDs entered service. Great opportunity, poorly executed.
Abbott to announce 2 new orders for C17 plus new facilities at Amberley today.
Is this the further 2 on top of last year, or will we end up with 8 in total?
Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian
Is this the further 2 on top of last year, or will we end up with 8 in total?
Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian
Interesting, the announcement for the 2 ordered has been made and the FMS was submitted for approval in Nov, so this announcement will possibly be for 2 more before the line closes ?
FMS from last year Australia – C-17 Globemaster III Aircraft | The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency
The original request was for up to four aircraft. With the current budget pressures, I didn't expect that we would take up all four, but that may be exactly what will be announced.
Wait and see.
MB
The boss has just announced that 2 x extra C-17's have been purchased
CAF says that RAAF are close to doubling the airlift capacity that we had in 2005
CAF says that RAAF are close to doubling the airlift capacity that we had in 2005
Good move as it was a now or never situation.
2 aircraft @ $700m
$300m for sustainment
$300m for base upgrades to deal with fleet expansion
$300m for more base upgrades seems a lot, given we have already upgraded the base facilities for the original 4+2.
I am sure it can be justified, but is it really necessary, when money is tight and a lot of desirable capability is out of reach?
Especially when so many decisions to transfer capability from one base to another costs so much, and leaves the old base with buildings etc that have little use. Far too much spent on rebasing, and then it almost seems, 10 years later a new team decide it must be moved again. Surely economies can be made here by using already established base facilities much more.
I wonder how much has been spent in total in last 10 years in ADF and Def Department on base upgrades, and compare that to how much spent on new equipment.
Yes, I am a parsimonious fellow!
Whilst I do trust the "experts" a fair bit, sometimes a culture develops that needs to be questioned from time to time.
2 x Extra hardened shelters - and they're big shelters + peripherals
This takes us to 10 C-17?
Does anyone one know where the base upgrades will be, Amberly? They seem to have regular time at Richmond. Amberly facilities are they at risk of flood? (Edit: Oh read the article - for Amberly - Comments raise question about C27J at Amberly and possibly staying at Richmond. - previously using KC-30 maintenance).
I wonder if it will have any impact on NZ choice.
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weegee
Active Member
So how many will this take us up too now? 8 or 10?
Also i'm still a bit confused so is this an extra 2 on top of the 2 late last year?
Don't worry question asked above. I was too slow haha
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Just the 8 I think. Boeing says it still has 5 to sell.
Australia to order 2 Long Beach-assembled Boeing C-17s
PM confirms two extra C-17s for the RAAF | Australian Aviation
John Newman
The Bunker Group
I'm pretty certain this is Nos 7 and 8.
If you go back to around October last year the then Def Min was talking about a definite extra two, eg, Nos 7 and 8, and that the possibility of Nos 9 and 10 would be considered during the preparation of the new DWP.
Since that time the DSCA website announced in November that the US Congress have given Australia approval for 'up to four C-17As'
Unless some reporter is able to ask the question (if there is a Q&A at this announcement), if the possibility of an extra two (9 and 10) still on the table, if no one can ask that question or get an answer, then we will all probably have to wait for the release of the new DWP to get the answer to that.
From a source on another forum - source seems quite authoritative in such posts. Suspect he is close to the manufacturer.
"Four are spoken for, with contracts signed and money on the table.
Four more have signed letters of intent, but no contract, and no money changing hands. Anyone an still get any of those four.
Two are totally uncommitted. "
John Newman
The Bunker Group
What makes you think that the possibility of obtaining the extra two airframes (to take the fleet to 10) is not still on the table?
I think so far, that everything has gone to plan, to the 'script' announced previously, to repeat what I said above:
*October 2014 - Then Def Min Johnston said that at least two extra C-17A's would be acquired (7 and 8) and that the Government was looking into an additional two (9 and 10), but that final decision on the 'additional' two (9 and 10) would be made as part of the Force Structure Review for the new DWP (which seemed to clearly indicate that an announcement on 9 and 10 would not be until the new DWP).
*November 2014 - The Government obtains US Congressional approval for 'up to four' C-17A's, yes of course just because something is approved doesn't necessarily mean it will actually happen, all true, but still the approval for the four is there.
* April 2015 - Today the PM and the new Def Min announce the purchase of airframes 7 and 8 and the base upgrade too.
If you think I'm reading it wrong, tell me? But as I said, it appears to all be going to plan, I really wasn't expecting to see an announcement on airframes 9 and 10 at this stage, I'm sure when the new DWP is announced we will all find out then if it's going to happen or not, that is unless before hand there is some clear announcement that those two extra are not being proceeded with or that Boeing announces that the rest of the 'white tails' have all be sold and the RAAF doesn't appear in that announcement.
Cheers,
t68
Well-Known Member
To be honest no idea hope you are right. i am just stating a preference that I hope we do get the additional airframes, heck if it was up to me I'd be rounding out the the fleet to 12 min, same as the C27J fleet no 100% sure why it's happening in the transport fleet all these odd number airframes when you compare it to the super hornet purchase in lots of 12 Squadron sizes