[simpits-chat] Website update...
Sean Galbraith
simpits-chat@simpits.org
Sat, 19 Jul 2003 00:28:12 +1200
>I would love to see a shot of that recruiting poster, I bet it looks shit
>hot. I know the folks at ASTI who are trying to buy the Kiwi A-4's and they
>are pushing real hard to make it happen. Lots of red tape.
I'll dig out the poster, and some other stuff I have.
As for ATSI, *apparently* it is a done deal, just waiting for the US State
Department to sign off on the transfer of "sensitive military equipment"
which is part of the deal NZ signed to get the cool technology in the Kahu
upgrade.
>The Tacan is a Collins ARN-118 and happens to be the tall version ( there is
>a narrow version that has the same layout of window and switches but less
>panel on top and bottom) This is the same unit that is in many US airplanes,
>and also is in my F-111s. I come accross them occasionally. I know I have
>many brand new edge lit panels for them. The knobs are the hard part to find
>though.
I figured it'd be a standard item. The knobs; Are the ones on the ARN-84
the same? If so I have a complete one, which I could use the knobs off of
for masters and cast some...
>Today I flew down to Houston for part of the day to look at the Collings
>Foundation's UH-1E Huey which I am going to do a total interior rework on
>( somehow in my spare time) They also have an F-4 Phantom that Steve Ritchie
>( famous mig killer from Nam') flies around. I am going to do some work with
>that as well I think, as well as provide ejection seat components for thier
>TA-4J. I am discussing some flight time in the TA-4J in lieu of money for
>those pieces of equipment.
Good deal! They have 3 of my fav' aircraft there.... F-4 A-4 UH-1, add
C-130 and P-3 and I'd be *real* happy :)
>How often were there A-4 crashes in NZ?
>If any were ejections successful or fatal? You are too far away for me to
>hear about them and I have always been curious. Also I am curious if the GE
>powered Kiwi A-4s ( dry F/A-18 engine) had a different or modified throttle
>quadrant?
We lost 6 A-4k's and 2 TA-4k's
2 Fatals, the rest were successful ejections. Both fatals were during
airshow rehersals.
A-4K NZ6210, 24 October 1989, Flying Officer Graham Carter, During a Kiwi Red
practice.
A-4K NZ62??, 2001, Squadron Leader Murray Neilson (CO 2Sqn), During airshow
practice.
All ejections were successfull, no ejection was initiated in either of the
2 fatalities.
**** A Brief history of the Kiwi A-4's ***
The original batch was 14, 10 A-4K's (NZ6201-10) and 4 TA-4K's (NZ6251-4) this
was supplemented in 1984 by 8 A-4G (NZ6211-18) and 2 TA-4G's (NZ6255 & 56)
lost in service:
A-4K NZ6207, 18th October 1974, engine failure near Ohakea.
TA-4K NZ6253, 25 March 1981, in the Ruahine ranges during a low level ex.
A-4K NZ6210, 24 October 1989, Flying Officer Graham Carter, During a Kiwi Red
practice.
A-4K NZ6208, 23 July 1992, Crashed on the South East Coast of the North
Island on 23 July 1992 after an engine flame out due to fuel feed problems
A-4K NZ6203, 20 June 1996, 8km North of Ohakea after an engine failure.
A-4K NZ????, February 2001, NSW Australia during an airshow rehearsal.
Squadron Leader Murray Neilson
TA-4K NZ????, 20th March 2001, 160Km off the Western Australian coast.
Highest strength was 22 when we got the G's, now down to 17 (16 if the wire
strike bird is grounded.....)
Both the A-4K and A-4G are basically A-4E/F's with specific equipment, like
the
braking parachute on the K's. Visually the you could tell the K's and G's
apart because the K had the "hump" on it's back, like the A-4E, the G did not
have the hump. With the "Project Kahu" modifications (expected to extend
operational life to 1995!!!!) the humps all went west, and all are now the
same
spec.
And now from the RAN.....
The RAN preceded the US bureau number with an aircraft designation
number, N-13 being allocated to the Skyhawk (single & two seater).
Then follows the RAN's 'side' number, prominently displayed on either
side of the nose of the a/c. The a/c's fate is then briefly described.
TA-4G N13-154647 878 Lost 28Apr80
" N13-154648 879 Lost 16May74
" N13-154911 880 NZ6255
" N13-154912 881 NZ6256
A-4G N13-154903 882 NZ6211 Jul84
" N13-154904 883 NZ6212
" N13-154905 884 NZ6213
" N13-154906 885 Lost Oct80
" N13-154907 886 Lost Sep79
" N13-154908 887 NZ6214
" N13-154909 888 Lost May79
" N13-154910 889 Lost Nov73
" N13-155051 870 Lost Jan79
" N13-155052 871 NZ6215
" N13-155055 872 Lost Jul75
" N13-155060 873 Lost Jun73
" N13-155061 874 NZ6216
" N13-155062 875 Lost Oct80
" N13-155063 876 NZ6217
" N13-155064 877 NZ6218
Enough boring stuff from me.
Sean.
All up that's not a bad attrition rate for over 30 years of service..... :)