Just Planes have reported that Virgin Blue service from Sydney to Fiji wont start until September 2005.

That’s garbage mate, I heard it on the news last night here that they will be flying this september from most of the eatern seaboard!

As for the “Sydney Snub”, it’s not really a snub as such, it’s very good politics. Everyone down here knows that Sydney is the most expencive airport to fly out of. Good business practice, introduce low fares to other places from the lesser a/p’s and you’ll reduce the taxes at Sydney whilest drive up the taxes at the others, thus you achieve a middle ground nation wide!

Hey mate I was making a poor attempt at portugese, I’ll stop it now because it’s one of the few languages I don’t speak!

Sorry mate but you get the Idea!

I read about this as well in Jane’s facinating stuff.

I imagine that the ship will be much the same as HTMS Chakri Naruebet (CVL-911) which even though has a squadron of TAV-8A Matadors aboard, is still classed as an Offshore Patrol Helicopter Carrier. It’s not even 11 1/2K ton full load!

All I can say is that this is in line with the current trend of thinking that the next terrorist threat will not come by land or air but by sea! Haifa is a very nice port and could you imagine, what with the IDF/NF having it’s only major base there, how much of a mess that place would make should an oil tanker filled with oil products and explosives go up in the harbour?

I don’t know if it’s a good idea though, if you present a bigger target you get bigger weapons aimed at bringing it down, not to mention more attempts at it! Sadly I edon’t think that this is about Iran, I think the Mosad are looking at what was once the “Iron curtain and all the Arab people who are now free to help their brothers in Palistine now that their attention is off the Soviet powers!

Ole, viva la Squadrillgi da Fumca. Viva Sud del la Crux

I do now mate 😉 That’s the one that I heard is Time expired right? I hope and pray that they will restore it to keep it flying, it’s a unique a/c and deserves to be in it’s element!

Well given the the IAC doesn’t have buckets of money

2 Light Utility Military Helicopters mainly for pilot training but also
which may be configured for air ambulance, VIP transport and limited
command and control.

I’d offer the R-44 Raven II, it would fit nicely in here and being as cheap as they are you could afford to buy a few of them.

4 Utility Military Helicopters (with an option for
two (2) additional Utility Military Helicopters) mainly for
interoperability training with the Army, military manoeuvres, air
ambulance, casevac and limited air lift and troop transport for up to
eight fully equipped troops

Well again on this role price is the issue here and the best option mfor the IAC would be the AB-139, though it offers slightly more than that which is required, it is cheap enough to be considered, it would also be able to fit on LE Etheni which is an added bonus especially considering the role that the Irish navy take!

Tell me, is it a requirment in South America to Fly that low? They must be the only place in the world that allows that low a hight and in formation too!

I’d like to see more of the Huey Bomber thought, I still can’t get over that!