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...

[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]

Originally Posted by 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 .

...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]

Originally Posted by Stuart Trevena

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.

Originally Posted by Stuart Trevena

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.