Tinwing may be cynical but it doesnt mean he is wrong…
That aside, most drug flights are single/twin GA types, for which Su-27’s are slight overkill :rolleyes: (not to mention the crippling maintenance costs) What about L-159ALCA’s ? The Czechs have quite a large amount (48?) and must be VERY keen to do a deal. They could replace the FAM’s T-33’s as well (fleet standardization, theres a novel concept for latin american air arms). I think there is US approval issues (avionics/engine?) although that shoudnt be a problem, provided there are no “strings” attached. All very logical, BUT, if the Mexicans want the Su-27’s for more than counter narcotics/air defence ie to make a statement (to the US/Cuba?) or whatever, thats a different matter (and for that i’d be visiting sweden for all those used Gripens….)

most western camo schemes are now boring i agree…but i did like the USAF vietnam type colours

Me too. i’ve always liked USN ‘high vis’ markings from the same period (not exactley camo though)

Another favourite of mine is the former Australian Army PC-6 camo, I’d easily rank it up there with the Splinter cam of the Swedish air force!

Good call Ja. Ahhh i remember when the AAAC had a useful fixed wing capability….

Adding to the Aussie camo tour-de-force, here is a pic of the RAN A-4G in Sea camo that was used during the 80’s

Ja that has to be about the best pic of a RAN A-4 ive seen 😎

Haven’t you heard mate? RAAF Richmond was supposed to have been closed off back in the 90’s and sold off for housing developement. Guess they are finally going to do it. Though I must admit that Amberly does make more sence on a strategic point, up there in the North closer to all the action, saves money on fuel, getting to the staging area befor flying off to the mission area.

Ja i heard the story plenty of times but it has been talked about for so long i pretty much discounted it. Even the RAAF guys i spoke to werent convinced. “IF it happens it’ll be a long time in the future due to the cost of moving/local gov’t dont want it to go & lose the money to pumped into the area/going to be the new civillian freight hub” etc etc. My first question was “ok but move to where?” but with the F-111 retirement & tanker/C-17 basing decisions, it finally looks like the wheels are turning in that direction….slowly.

The Thud looks like it was a strong tough aircraft. This is the first that I have heard of the hydraulic issues. What was most to its detrement? Was that the only reason other than its almost constant sorties, or it just averages out that way?

Sled

Im with sled, the stuff ive read always said pilots liked the Thud for its ability to take punishment. I’d not heard about the hydraulic issues either, of course that doesnt mean that Thuds didnt have them….
As for the difference in losses between Thuds & A-4’s a couple of points:
F-105’s bore the brunt of the earlier missions (’65-’67) b4 effective EW countermeasures pods were introduced into service and b4 more effective USAF fighter escort tactics were designed to deal with agile, gun armed MiG-17’s. Also im sure the A-4’s superior manourverability played a part in keeping its losses to SAMS & MiG’s lower.

Im of the belief that if Labor does make it into Govnt. (and its bloody about time on a personal level) that it will make sure defence is adequatelly funded. The major areas of expertise for Kim Beazley are Foreign Policy and Defence. So we can expect good things based on our actual requirements based on what we need as opposed to what the United States would most like for us to buy. I think theres a couple of major decisions that need to be taken when it comes to our defence forces:

1)Get a usefull aircraft, of proven design, and in usefull numbers to replace the F-111 and the F-18. If thats nor possible out of one airframe then consider replacing them with 2 different types, as per what we have always done in the past (since WW2) 1 fighter, 1 bomber

2)Overturn the retarded decision to purchase 50 secondhand M1A1’s at what is pretty much full price and get a lighter, faster, more modern tank (Think Leo 2A6) and get a decent amount … 150 aint asking for too much is it?

3)Arm the ANZACS properly.. this ‘for but not with’ policy is next to useless… your not going to tell your enemy to wait a year so you can properly upgrade your warships so you can actually fight a war

4)Buy more Anzacs

5)Established a war doctrine based on beeing able to fight a stand alone war, coalition fighting is great but what if we actually get invaded one day. Commando actions are fantastic, but sometimes you need a big fat armored division to actually stop an enemy

6) Buy more helicopters, 22 Tigers and a similar number of the NH-90 just isnt going to cut it for anything more than air show displays, I think that at least 50 of the Tiger and almost 100 of the NH-90 is required in order to be a serious player.

Lets wait and see shall we

I dont disagree with some of these ideas (especially #1, your dreaming with #5 ) but as for labour making sure defence is “adequatelly funded” Give me a break! when? every time these clowns hold power they underfund the ADF to pay for social welfare policies and then it takes the other bunch 2 terms to get it back where it was before. “Bomber” Beazly may of been defence minister once (& how much longer will he opposition leader anyway) but that doesnt stop the far left of his party from putting on the pressure to divert funds (y do we use the term “party” 4 political groups? Party usually means a fun time…)

I was going to say the Greek AF C-47’s. They are ’43 or ’44 vintage but looks like the BBMF Spitfire wins. Now if the post had been “oldest serving combat jet”….

Ok I got pics yesterday from RAAF Richmond, the visitor was an RSAF C-130H, not a TNI-AU one. I don’t know where the yellow tail has gone (perhaps Mascot or maybe up north). I did see the AP-3C but only it’s tail, it looked like it was in the shed for some work on the nose.

I also saw that some of our Hotel models are now wearing a tacticle Olive drab all over (four to be exact) and concluded that these were the ones that had been deployed recently to the middle east. There was one 707 in the lo-viz markings and off in the distance in the standard hi-viz.

Something else that caught my eye was an old Echo model still there (number 67), so I guess we didn’t trade them all back as part payment for the Juliets. The Juliets were there as well and it was the first time I had actually seen them, gee those props are nice!

Anyway I hope to have the pics ready tomorrow for posting. I did see the KC-10 but they had moved it into the shed as well and I could only see it’s aft section. ANyway stay tuned.

Thanks for the info Ja. I was fixated with indonesion C-130’s and forgot that other countries in the region have Hercs AND red & white flags! Didnt notice the OD -H’s either :o.
Maybe u need to run a “carefully observe & think b4 u type” plane spotter course that i could attend….

yeah its nice to see the f-15s over here.you can always tell they are around cause they sound totally different to the tornados and harriers we usauly get over here….but i can remember not so long ago when the old a-10s and f111s use to come over,at about 500ft.do the RAAF still use the aardvark today.we dont hear about them much over here these days..

They sure do, 2 sqns still living in sunny Queensland but not for much longer im afraid. RAAF keeps talking about 2010 retirement date but i’ll be suprised if they last that long 🙁 Plenty of ppl here will miss them & it wouldnt be an airshow in oz without the pigs (as we call ’em) closing the show with the dump & burn routine