Reply With QuoteThank you. That first link looks easier to navigate (no pun intended)Originally Posted by cyrilranch
I took it,honest.Good enough mate, nice pic
Thank you. That first link looks easier to navigate (no pun intended)
Was that it passing Blackpool tower then lol!!I took it,honest.
Slightly south of that.
I don’t think your idea of leasing them are going to wash, USN/USMC are running out of airframe hours on legacy hornets at a faster rate of knots than the RAAF, until the F35 come along in serious numbers all available F/A- 18E/F will be used to cover the shortfall.
Leasing the aircraft still leaves the MOD with the cost of a line of spare’s to made available and trained tech for the aircraft, you will not just send them back to the US for servicing the aircraft unless you want continually be short of aircraft the very reason for getting the aircraft in the first place,. A bridging capability for the QE will IMHO be the smartest move if the government can waste millions propping up other countries, the 6 billion the AusGov spent for the 24 rhino’s is I believe money well spent.
Getting into rhinos now will go some way of having an operational squadron available once the carriers become available, it is well known that treasury will not fund the amount of F35 to outfit the carriers, a bridging capability will cover the shortfall plus give the carrier additional extra that at this time the F35 does not (buddy fuelling,growlerEW?)24 rhinos will also have an impact on aircraft hours into the future of block obsolesce of aircraft, by buying the aircraft over a longer time give the joint combat aircraft time to mature, even if you keep the rhinos only for 10 years once QE are operational I am sure you will be able to find a buyer for good quality used aircraft or pending the US needs they may take them.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/super-hornets-will-put-raaf-back-on-the-regional-front-foot/story-fn59niix-1225925169388
Hang on a minute 6 billion Oz bucks for 24 planes!!!!
Just approved and my first post!!
Heres a short vid of LB05 departing Portsmouth (hopefully it works)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjfj0DuFPUY&sns=em
Also would like to say thanks all for some great posts. I have been following this great thread since the beginning. I can't wait for these great ships to enter service. Fingers crossed for both ships as catobar and planes to fly of them. I can dream cant I ;0)
Welcome and nice 1st post, the sea's looking a little ruff there.
That just not the planes, that with all associated spares and spare engines, training simulators manuals, extra armaments, infrastructure in RAAF base Amberley and sending per’s to the US for training pilots and ground staff.
Oh and pre wiring 12 airframes for the G (Growler)
Thanks for posting and welcome, this confirms that it is the kestrel
Thanks for the info Thundebolt, I make that (and correct me if I'm wrong) a total package of 161 million pounds per aircraft at $1.55 to the quid. All those extras add up eh? Hope you've got full leather interior with that lol
The cost of the aircraft to the RAAF was AUD 2.9bn which is AUD 120.83m per aircraft or £77.95m at current exchange rates.
However, to get a like-for-like comparison, it's probably better to compare US flyaway costs at 2012 prices - which are as follows:
- F/A-18G * = $67m = £44.7m per aircraft (@ $1.50/£1)
- F-35B = $106.5m = £71m per aircraft
- F-35C = $87m = £58m per aircraft
Therefore, 24x F/A-18Fs are likely to cost £1.072bn for the aircraft vs £1.392bn for the same number of Dave Cs. Already you have a saving of £320m just for the airframes to equip 2x squadrons! Increase the number of aircraft to 60x (roughly 3x Frontline + 1x OCU squadrons & reserves) and the savings increase to £800m for the airframes.
Expanding on the idea of buying Super Hornets, why not get them to equip the FAA whilst the Tornado fleet is drawn down (Tonka out of service date has been given as 2021!). Then beginning in the early 2020s begin standing up Dave C squadrons with the long term aim of drawing down the Typhoon fleet (by 2030 at the latest)... Controversial, in know but I'm playing devil's advocate!
* 'F's are a similar(ish) price: $66.5m per aircraft
Can you please provide a link to where you found the breakdown of flyaway price for the Rhino’s, as all info I can come up with is the total amount like this article copied from Australian Defence Magazine.
http://www.rumourcontrol.com.au/analysis/$6B_for_Super_Hornet.pdf
Closest I came so far is this little from the 2007 budget paper,
Air combat capability — acquisition of Super HornetsThe Government will provide $6.6 billion over 13 years (including $2.6 billion over nine years from 2011-12) to acquire 24 F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, weapons and associated support, and to provide for personnel and operating costs to support the capability in service. Acquisition of the Super Hornet aircraft will help secure Australia’s air combat capability edge by introducing enhanced sensors, weapons and networking capabilities. It will ensure there is no gap in air combat capabilities with the withdrawal of the F-111 aircraft in 2010. This measure includes $58.6 million in capital funding for related infrastructure.Further information can be found in the press release of 6 March 2007 issued by the Minister for Defence.
Expense ($m) Department of Defence Related capital ($m) Department of Defence
http://www.budget.gov.au/2007-08/bp2/html/expense-06.htm
An interesting side I also found was that we are spending 3.2 billion AUD for 14 F35A, admittedly these will be LRIP aircraft not full production rate aircraft,what that gets us I don’t know and we are also spending 1.4 billion to maintain the first 4 C17 aircraft over ten years .
http://www.defence.gov.au/DefenceBlo.../1123_1129.htm
Forgot to add the extra wiring for the G, 35 million AUD
http://www.defence.gov.au/whitepaper...perHornets.pdf
Last edited by Captain Thundebolt; 04-30-2012 at 07:52 AM. Reason: forgot to add a link
Have you seen how far out they've taken the stern blocks?! Are you guys sure they aren't secretly taking them to France and building the French a new carrier at British expense, as a part of the Overseas Aid budget?!!!
It does look like they've gone quite a way out, but looking at the other ships in the area, it looks like that's where the East lane through the channel goesHave you seen how far out they've taken the stern blocks?! Are you guys sure they aren't secretly taking them to France and building the French a new carrier at British expense, as a part of the Overseas Aid budget?!!!
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