Super Hornet arrival

[Mick.B]

Anyone know the latest news on the arrivals and times. Not to far away.

[Andrew McLaughlin]

Still a work in progress...:rolleyes:

[Mick.B]

DO WE KNOW IF THE RHINOS DEPARTED FROM NELLIS YET. THEY WERE MEANT TO LEAVE ON THE 19TH. Gone very quite on the subject.

[Andrew Ewen]

I have been lead to believe that the aircraft will route via AKL and will be accompanied by a KC-10 ... supposedly they will arrive at AKL around 15:00 local time on Tuesday 23rd and depart again Friday 26th around 08:45 .

While normally I dislike people who post without providing a source I am afraid that for fear of getting someone into trouble I am unable to provide mine ... but hopefully someone else will confirm this

[Bob C]

They're on their way according to a report on another site. Apparently, the first group is resting in Hawaii for a few days before flying on to Auckland and then home on Friday.

Tanker support is being provided by Omega and USAF tankers and I presume four F/A18s are in the first wave. The report went on to say that two back-to-back follow on ferry flights around mid year will complete the initial complement of 12 aircraft. IOC is expected by December.

The remaining 12 will be delivered in three ferry flights during 2011.

[Andrew McLaughlin]

I have been lead to believe that the aircraft will route via AKL and will be accompanied by a KC-10 ... supposedly they will arrive at AKL around 15:00 local time on Tuesday 23rd and depart again Friday 26th around 08:45 .

...but hopefully someone else will confirm this

Correct Bob & Andrew

They departed Lemoore (not Nellis) on the 19th. They're currently in Hawaii, depart tomorrow for Pago Pago for one night, then on to AKL for three nights, before arriving AMB on Friday.

Tanker is an Omega KDC-10, and there are five Super Hornets, A44-202, 203, 204, 205 & 206.

[John C]

Can they be tracked on Flightaware?

Are they using AUSY callsigns?

[Stuart Trevena]

Hi All,

Are these "Rhinos" the same as the US Navy ones, with Folding Wings?
If so, are they able to fit inside an AN124?

If they are able to fit inside, wouldn't it be cheaper to Charter the AN124 than to Ferry them over as they are doing?

I am happy to accept any comments on this.

Stuart

[Nigel C]

Ferry flight might be seen as a good opportunity to get familiar with the aircraft systems on the way, rather than waiting until they arrive on our shores perhaps?

[Andrew McLaughlin]

Are these "Rhinos" the same as the US Navy ones, with Folding Wings?

Yes, the only difference is the addiiton of an ILS in place of the CLS, and a landing light on the nose gear.

If so, are they able to fit inside an AN124?

No, not even a classic can fit inside an Antonov with with wings folded. They had to remove the wings entirely for the classics that went to Canada for the CBR work.

The reason for the ferry flight is because it is by far the easiest and cheapest way to get the jets back - imagine the thousands of man hours involved in disassembling an aircraft to get it inside an Antonov etc and then reassembling it back at AMB, plus the cost of the Antonov, compared to the ~18 odd hours they spend in the air flying home plus the cost of an Omega tanker. The crews are all fully trained on the jet already, and they did all the acceptance testing in the US before the jets were signed for.

[AdamC]

Any chance that this has something to do with the hornets?

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/OMEGA10

[Andrew McLaughlin]

Considering Omega only have one KDC-10, I'd say it has every chance! The tanker and Supers are flying in formation together all the way, so if you can track the tanker, you can track the Supers.

[William Bradley]

Super Hornets touched down in AKL at 17:00 followed by the Omega tanker and an RAAF C-17 at 17:30

[Lee G]

Just seen on Sky News - Queensland people get a flypast of the Rhinos and a Pig on Friday.

According to the press over Gold Coast between 1245 and 1300 and arrival at Amberley at around 1330 with a couple of passes around the city.

[Tim Bodger]

They are all sitting between the domestic Jetstar / Air NZ terminal and the International Terminal at Auckland Airport after arriving Tuesday evening. Managed to see the C17 arrive that night.
Did hear on another site that they were due to depart 8.45am Fri morning NZ time.

[William Bradley]

Iv heard they will be leaving between 1200-1300 tomorow.

[Will H]

My article about the arrival as well as an update on Boeing's efforts to sell the Super Hornet to other countries here (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/03/26/339994/super-hornets-arrive-in-australia.html).

Video of the fly over at Amberley here (http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/wings-down-under/2010/03/super-hornet-fly-over-at-amberley.html).

And some photos from Peter Clark of the Super Hornets, C-17, and Omega DC-10 tanker in Auckland here (http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/wings-down-under/2010/03/super-hornets-in-new-zealand.html).

[Brandon Giacomin]

Saw them fly nice and low over Clayfield yesterday, 4 F1-11s followed by 5 FA/18 Super Hornets and a Hawk.

[Damian N]

Would have been great to see a formation of all 9 aircraft - 4 x F-111s and 5 x F/A-18s over Brisbane. I hope defence PR got pics of a 9-ship formation off the coast!

[Andrew McLaughlin]

I hope defence PR got pics of a 9-ship formation off the coast!

Nope, they didn't...:rolleyes:

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Mar/20100326a/index.htm

[Damian N]

I'm guessing then that it wasn't done due to a need to train / practice a formation with the different types beforehand?????

[Andrew McLaughlin]

No, they flew in formation ok, it's just that the RAAF photog didn't catch it for some reason?!?!?

Fortunately, 'someone' caught it for posterity's sake!

http://australianaviation.com.au/rhinos-arrive/

[Damian N]

I saw that pic Andrew - but did they do a full 9-ship formation? PS where was that pic taken from - Omega or another F-111?

[Andrew McLaughlin]

Was taken by our photog in the Omega tanker.

There were no 9-ship forms - this is as close as they got as they flew over AMB.
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p402/Magoodotcom/SUPER_HORNETS_F-111s_AMB_26MAR10_AM.jpg
They had one Pig plus three Rhinos on one side of the tanker, and one plus two on the other. The other two F-111s stayed away from the tanker.

[Damian N]

Thanks for posting Andrew! Amazing to see the difference in amount of black smoke trailing the two types.......

[Andrew McLaughlin]

40 years of engine development!

[Bob C]

Also good to see the four F111s' wings swept back at different angles - a reminder of what an innovative aircraft it was all those years ago.

[Craig Murray]

40 years of development, pffft! Those Super Bee's look nowhere near as spunkylicious as the mighty Pigs!!!

All 40 years has got us is "clinical" rather than "classic" aircraft design :D

Viva F-111!

[Damian N]

Does anyone here know if there is a difference in fuel mixture between the two types - F/A-18F and F-111 - (ie does the Pig need some additives etc) or is the difference in exhaust plume purely the result of the difference in quantity of particulate being pumped out?

[Andrew McLaughlin]

Same fuel, just different bypass ratios and much better efficiency in the later design. Same as a 707 compared to an A380.

Agree Craig - ya gotta lerv the Pig!

http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p402/Magoodotcom/F-111s_AMB_26MAR10_AMcL_small.jpg

http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p402/Magoodotcom/F-111s_AMB_26MAR10_AMcL_2_small.jpg

Looks like Defence did get some Pig/Rhino form pics after all... http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Mar/20100330a/index.htm

[Greg McDonald]

Viva F-111!

Still one of the best and meanest looking aircraft doing the rounds. I lived near Amberley for a number of years and never did get sick of the deep rumble when the pigs took to the air.

[Mike_S]

Looks like Defence did get some Pig/Rhino form pics after all... They did, but the noise in them is pretty horrific

I can't beleive they were using ISO2000 in bright sunshine :eek:

[Andrew McLaughlin]

I can't beleive they were using ISO2000 in bright sunshine :eek:

Yes, they're grainy, but how do you know they were using ISO2000? There's no metadata on these images...

[Mike_S]

how do you know they were using ISO2000?
Good guess? :D

No, as Chris said, the data is there. Even if you simply save it to your desktop, open up the image properties and it's all there

[Stephen Brown]

Andrew,

Try Opanda IEXIF. It integrates into your browser so you can just right click on a shot and view the embedded EXIF if it exists, which in the case of the RAAF pics it does...

Oh and it's free....

http://www.opanda.com/en/iexif/

ISO2000 WTF??:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[Mick Raftery]

Brisbane photo call for A44-202 on its way home this afternoon. ;)

http://i42.tinypic.com/21j156x.jpg

Mick

[Mick Raftery]

Those Super Bee's look nowhere near as spunkylicious as the mighty Pigs!!! ... "clinical" rather than "classic" aircraft design :D


Agree Craig - but unfortunately A8-132 was relegated to 'follow-the-leader' on the today's missed approaches at Brisbane. :(

http://i39.tinypic.com/34ga42p.jpg

Mick

[Sean W]

More Super Hornets to arrive in July
The next stage in Air Force’s air combat capability is about to occur. RAAF is planning to transit six more F/A-18F Super Hornets from the United States to RAAF Amberley in early July
http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Faulknertpl.cfm?CurrentId=10514

Some Pics of the First 5 - the C-17 and KDC-10 Transiting Auckland.
http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/g.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/ggghh.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/206.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/g2.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/horn.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/horn2.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/omt2.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/omt1.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/omt4.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/omt3.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/horn1.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/05.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/g-1.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/last.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/03.jpg

[Sean W]

Some More:

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/nnn.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/kdf.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/kdc1.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/kdc.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/jjj.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/ggh.jpg

[Stephen B]

Great photos, fantastic to see some nice closeups too!

Thanks for posting them!

[Sean W]

Great photos, fantastic to see some nice closeups too!

Thanks for posting them!

:) Thanks for that Stephen B

A couple of double up's

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/taildc.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/a41tail.jpg

A few more:

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/ladder.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/205.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/05-1.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/pod.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/two-1.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/a41.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/a41last.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/747.jpg

A few more double up's hopefully a little clearer than the first uploads:

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/03a.jpg

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac63/F16SRCOOL/04-1.jpg

Apparently the Omega Tanker KDC-10 was Back in NZ a week later Transiting 5 - 3 Sqn RAAF Classic Hornets into Ohakea AFB near Palmerston north, NZ for Excercise willoh 2010.

[Sean W]

Defence’s newest jets arrive



6th July 2010


IF YOU read this before 11.15am, you still have a chance of looking up into the sky over Ipswich and catching the arrival of six new F/A-18F Super Hornet jets.

The Super Hornets will arrive home at RAAF Base Amberley in two lots today following a four-day journey from Naval Air Station Lemoore in the United States

Full News Item Here:
http://www.qt.com.au/story/2010/07/06/Defence-newest-jets-arrive-hornets/