Quote:
Originally Posted by champpitbull2
Groover those pics are pretty nice. I like the pic of the CH-47, UH-60 and UH-1 taking off in the low light. The F-18 is pretty sweet too. Keep em coming, I'm betting you have a lot more pics having been in the RAAF. I was reading that your country wants to replace its F-111 fleet with the Super Hornet. I saw one this weekend and it was quite a performer. If you get the chance to see one you will be impressed. Maybe not as impressed as when an F-111 dumps fuel but it is an awesome plane to watch. Ever been to Red Flag? The Aussies seem to participate in that quite frequently.
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Thanks mate, I have many photos, but I have only had a digital camera for the last 4 years. I should organise some scanning of my many photos, though I guess the quality will be somewhat downgraded. As for the Super Hornet replacing the F-111, I guess nothing can really replace the F-111, it's a pretty unique aircraft, but then again our capability requirements have evolved over the years and the F-111 is a pretty maintenance intensive aircraft and the decision to replace the F-111 involves a range of separate capabilities. In the end, we are currently acquiring 24 F-18F models as an interim stop gap as we await purchasing of the F-35 and plan the imminent retirement of the F-111. Here's a couple of photos of a Super Hornet, taken earlier this year at the Australian International Airshow. You are absolutely correct, they are an impressive aircraft.
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As for Red Flag, I've never been, but I've heard that it's a blast.
I have visited the US and my only concern was being mistaken as being British by some lady at a McDonald's restaurant in DC.
I told her, that I thought she was Canadian.
All in all this is a very exciting time for the ADF, our current aircraft acquisitions include (but are not limited to);
22 ARH Tiger Helicopters
46 MRH 90 Helicopters
24 F/A-18F Block 2 Super Hornets
4 C-17 Globemasters
5 KC-30B Air to Air Refuellers
6 AEW&C B737 Wedgetails
3 AgustaWestland A-109E Helicopters (Navy)
x F-35 Joint Strike Fighters
x Boeing P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft
x Caribou replacement (firming as C-27J according to press reports...no inside knowledge)
x UAVs
Not to mention Air Warfare Destroyers, 2x 27000 tonne LHDs, M1 Abrams tanks, etc. This is a generational change for the ADF.