iscover
Contrary to some press reports, the ex-RAN Grumman Trackers have not been sold though Hookway Aviation, the company tasked with marketing the aircraft hopes that a contract will be formalised before the end of this year. Eighteen aircraft are presently in store at RANAS Nowra (possibly the most environmentally damaging location they could have been stored at) with 15 of these being potentially flyable. At present, representatives of a foreign air arm are known to have examined the Trackers on two occasions with the intent being to eventually refurbish and convert them to turboprop power with assistance from Grumman Aerospace
Newsdesk – Military Aviation
0 comment
Skyhawks το Return το Australia:
The RNZAF is to deploy a detachment of its A-4 Skyhawk force to RANAS Nowra from July 1990. The surprise announcement provides a number of positive gains for both nations in that New Zealand is now able to actively exercise with a far greater variety of advanced technology aircraft and ships than was previously the case while Australia gains in again having a high performance strike aircraft for the fleet support role. Previously our own RAN FAA A-4Gs were used in this role while civilian hired Learjets and RAAF Macchis have largely been unable to provide a realistic fleet support capability following the withdrawal of Mirage fighters in 1986 from this role.
At around 350kts maximum at low level and with severe practical G limitations, the Macchi is simply not agile or fast enough to provide a realistic shipboard training scenario. The civilian-operated Learjets are in a similar position. The Lloyd Aviation Lears though are now primarily used in the very useful role of ship systems interface and calibration where their long endurance, low operating cost and mission flexibility are much appreciated by the RAN. This contract is just coming up for renewal. At the top end the F-18s are considered too costly to operate and valuable to ‘waste” in such a task where the fighter pilot achieves little practical skill gain. The Skyhawks will be able to perform these tasks at up to 550kts and up to 3. 5g, once more allowing realistic anti missile and hostile air strike threat training cap- ability to our surface combatants.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
