The SAAF Forum

Hope you enjoy the photos. Need to brush up on photos of flying aircraft

USAF KC-135 based at Kadena AFB


RAF A-400M




Republic of Singapore AF F-15SG - unfortunately only on static display. Big beasts.












RAAF F/A-18












French Armed Forces CASA CN235


USAF Pacific Forces Demonstration Team F-16. The star of the show - amazing display














USAF C-17






RNZAF aircraft
2xC-130's, P3-K Orion and Boeing 757


Texan II Black Falcons aerobatic team


NH90 MUH


P-3K Orion


C-130


SH-2G(I) Seasprite


MB-339


[img]http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/w446/vlamgat16/26419f8606790b2c9d647d28eb8338d7_zpsarx2vmyn.jpg[/

TBF-1 Avenger


RCAF C-130J

And the SAAF doesn't do anything for their 90th or 95th...

Wonder if the SAAF will wake up when they turn 100

Some good pics there. I attended the show too. It was a very well run and organised event.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Great photos !!

Thanks for sharing these

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Brent Best

Stunning pics.

Vlamgat16: W O W some great pics there and really interesting shots. Thanks for sharing.

Great pics . Some nice toys there. I assume the CN235 came from one of the French Polynesian islands. I didn't know the NZ AF still operated the MB339 ?

The CASA is based in New Caledonia. The air crew are a good bunch of guys - willingly answered questions from the public..handed out pamphlets etc.

The 339 is static and is stored at Ohakea AFB. It's a really good looking aircraft and much favoured by their pilots and ground crew.

French pilot was pretty handy with that aircraft - impressive amount of hours too, ~6000 IIRC? USAF F-16 pilot had 7000 hours - what a job to have. A very powerful and nimble aircraft - the USAF commentary was so invigorating and energetic in the same way that the local commentary wasn't.

When we were driving past Bulls en route to Palmerston North on the Saturday, we saw the 757 executing some pretty cool low and slow manoeuvres over us. The RNZAF had all five of their C-130s serviceable and present at the air show.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Major Richard Smeeding - 7134 hours! He spoke to the public for after his demon on Saturday. Gave people a really excellent insight to what it's like flying the F-16...his talk was a good as his flying

Lovely photo report, thanks.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

[quote="H1017412]
the USAF commentary was so invigorating and energetic in the same way that the local commentary wasn't.
[/quote]

Ja, experienced the high level of commentary at several overseas airshow's. Beats the local drivel we're subject to in SA

and
I remember being told that one big difference between Gripen flight demos and USAF (F16, etc.) flight demos was that Gripens used for airshows were standard squadron aircraft while USAF air-show aircraft were at absolute minimum weight, including removal of unnecessary equipment (EW and even radar, maybe). Obviously they'd have to stay within mass and balance limits etc.

I have no idea if this is true or just advertising slander (some would say that's the sort of thing we'd expect from the BAE side of Gripen marketing.)

Both the demo F-16's have their radars, nomEW equipment but otherwise clean. According to the crew chief, they can have the demo aircraft combat ready in less than 80 hours! The team is very proud of the work they do and love the Falcon.

It's actually the US Navy's Blue Angels F18s that are stripped down to minimum weight.
They are old airframes that will never be used for normal operational flying, after the Blue Angels have used them they are scrapped.