Our contributor ZK-CMM has sent in some photos taken recently at the Queensland Air Museum.
One of the aircraft there is the Piper PA25-235 Pawnee ZK-CEL c/n 25-2747.
Here are a few pics of it during its NZ career. Above shows her at Airwork in Christchurch in August of 1964.

Above, at Wanganui on 29-10-1970 whilst with the Wanganui Flying School and Air Services.
Below it was captured at Hawera on 15-07-1984 with Farmers Aviation.

Below at New Plymouth on 22-03-1985.

Below. Being delivered to New Plymouth on 04-06-1985 after ist incident on 31-05-1985 at Parihauhau.

Below are three shots taken by ZK-CMM at QAM recenty.

See the following links for many more details about the life of ZK-CEL.

http://www.qam.com.au/aircraft/pawnee/ZK-CEL.htm
and also
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=agricultural&thread=12324&page=1

This next batch of Pitts S 2's, all imported in the 1990's, have all been used for tourist flights in Queenstown and Wanaka.

The photos are from the Keith Morris collection unless otherwise noted.

ZK-FXT (c/n 2126) is a 1978 Aerotek built S 2A model that is ex N84FS. It was imported by the Ashburton Aviation Syndicate and was first registered in New Zealand on 13/2/91. It arrived with a damaged engine. Ownership transferred to the Rotorua Aero Club on 24/9/92, and it was then owned by a succession of owners in the Queenstown area: P R Clarke from 18/1/95, Over the Top Ltd from 9/9/99 and Actionflight Ltd from 12/8/04. The above photo was taken at Queenstown by Blue Bus on 10/9/05.

Ownership was transferred to Jagair Ltd of Wellington (Ray and Amy Mudgeway) on 25/8/06 and the registration ZK-FXT was cancelled on 20/11/06. It was re-registered as ZK-JAG on the same day. The above photo was taken at Queenstown on 24/2/08, where it still operates tourist flights.

ZK-PTO (c/n 2182) was a 1978 Aerotek built S 2A model that was ex VH-WEB. It was imported into New Zealand by Grant Bissett of Ashburton and was first registered in New Zealand on 6/11/92. Ownership transferred to Biplane Adventures at Wanaka in 1994 where the above photo was taken by flyernzl at the 1998 Wanaka Airshow. Tragically it was involved in a fatal accident at Wanaka on 15/12/00 killing the pilot and passenger. This was the second fatal Pitts accident at Wanaka, after ZK-ECO 15 years before. ZK-PTO was cancelled on 23/3/01.

ZK-KHM (c/n 5090) is a 1985 Christen built S 2B model that is ex N86TW. It was imported by Mitchell Aero Holdings of Pleasant Point and was first registered in New Zealand on 25/11/97. It also was then owned by a succession of owners in Queenstown: Actionflite Ltd from 17/2/04, Over the Top Ltd from 23/7/04 (briefly), then by Actionflite Ltd again from 12/8/04. On 12/6/09 it was sold to ST Trust of Christchurch (C/- Sam Stephenson) but I think it continued to operate tourist flights out of Queenstown. The above photo was taken by Blue Bus at Queenstown, on 16/8/06.

Finally it was sold to Aerostunts Ltd of Christchurch on 19/1/10 and the registration ZK-KHM was cancelled on 22/1/10 and re-registered on the same date as ZK-STX. The above photo, also by Blue Bus, was taken at Rangiora on 14/3/10. It has returned to Queenstown to operate tourist flights in association with the Wakatipu Aero Club, and a website shows that it is now operating without the Red Bull signage.

01 Desember 2011

KS-550A Mini-Sub concept for RoKN (all photos : Network54)

South Korea's Agency for Defence Development (ADD) has unveiled an innovative mini-submarine concept - known as the KSS 500A - for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN).

The 37 m-long craft is intended to form the basis for a replacement of the two surviving Dolgorae-class mini-submarines, which entered service in the early 1980s. Design work is believed to have started in 2008 and the ADD is now selecting key systems suppliers.

According to a model and accompanying data released at the Marine Week 2011 exhibition in Busan in early November, the KSS 500A has a beam of 4.5 m, surfaced displacement of 510 tons and maximum diving depth of 250 m.

Notably, there are no onboard electrical generators; all electrical power is provided instead by two banks of lithium ion batteries. While the Dolgarae-class boats require frequent snorkelling, the KSS 500A is designed to require minimal snorkelling during a typical three-week patrol.

The streamlined sail houses up to four masts for electro-optic, radar, satellite communications and electronic security measures systems, and there is a fifth - modular payload - mast for launching small unmanned aerial vehicles.

The pressure hull has four compartments: combat information centre, machinery room, special forces area and accommodation/messing. Weapons and sonars are installed in the forward section, while the integrated electric motor with coaxial flexible payload module (FPM) occupies the aft section.

Control surfaces include two bow-mounted dive planes and an X-shaped stern. A podded motor, stator and rotor propel the submarine at a cruise speed of 5-7 kt, although a sprint speed of 20 kt is possible. However, the endurance of 21 days and range of 2,000 n miles at low speeds are severely curtailed at higher speeds.

Although the boat can be operated by a crew of five, the design complement is 10 persons using a two-watch system. Up to 14 special forces personnel can also be embarked. The FPM at the stern allows the deployment of divers, swimmer delivery vehicles and unmanned underwater vehicles.

Armament comprises tubes for two heavyweight torpedoes and four lightweight torpedoes, located close to a payload interface module containing two box launchers: one for vertical-launch missiles, the other for mines. The KSS 500A is considerably larger than the Dolgorae-class boats. Built amid much secrecy, three Dolgoraes were commissioned in 1982-83 with pennant numbers 051-053. The legacy craft are about 25 m in length with a surfaced displacement of 250 tons. It is understood that five new mini-submarines are required by the RoKN, although induction timelines could not be ascertained.

(Jane's)

Media reports this morning (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6065565/Wreckage-found-of-helicopter-missing-after-blaze)
would sadly indicate Salt Air's AS350BA Squirrel ZK-IMB was the machine that crashed in the Far North last night.

Our thoughts go out to all those involved in this tragic event.

A link to a photo of ZK-IMB on its departure from Ardmore just under 12 months ago and prior to the application of decals:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6065565/Wreckage-found-of-helicopter-missing-after-blaze

And a link to Salt Air : http://www.saltair.co.nz/2011/01/new-squirrel-helicopter-for-salt-air/

Politics halts A320 sale

The United States has given a stern warning to Adria Airways not to sell its Airbus A320 to the Iranian airline Yas Air, the “Demokracija” weekly reports. The airline, which previously operated under the name, Pars Aviation Services Company, has been blacklisted by a United Nations Security Council Resolution in June 2010 where it brands the carrier as a “company involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities”. The measure was introduced to put pressure on Iran against pursuing its controversial nuclear plans. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only. Furthermore, it is believed that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard used Pars Aviation jets for training. Allegedly, the airline changed its name to bypass the Security Council Resolution.

Part of the non paper from the United States to the Slovenian government reads, “We request that you freeze any Yas Air assets and prevent or stop the transaction between Adria Airways and Yas Air. We would appreciate any information you can provide and any actions you take with regard to this matter”. The Slovenian government cordially obliged and blocked the sale of the Airbus A320 (registered S5-AAS) as Yas Air was supposed to take delivery of the jet last month at Tehran Mehrabad Airport.

Adria, which is looking to reduce its debt, has grounded the A320 in question. It has been stripped of its livery and is sitting at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, waiting for a new owner to be found.

It is not the first time this year that a former Yugoslav state has been warned of its dealings with Iran. Earlier in the year, the United States warned Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport against refuelling Iran Air jets which were flying from Western Europe to Tehran. The technical stop was introduced since oil companies at airports such as London Heathrow and Vienna refused to refuel Iran Air jets for its return voyage to Tehran. The airport, which made significant profit out of its arrangement, obliged with the request and terminated its contract with Iran Air. In June the United States issued an advisory to all airports in Europe to stop refuelling all Iran Air jets.

Piper PA23-250 Aztec ZK-FVP has been flitting around the country in recent weeks and was outside the avionics experts 30 Nov.


Schweizer 269C-1 ZK-HMC of H F T Limited taking time out from training 30 Nov.


Schweizer 269C-1 ZK-HNC also from the H F T Limited stable. 









AS350B2 Squirrel ZK-HOP of Helisika carried a brief flight 30 Nov.

 Above, Robinson R44 Clipper II ZK-HVV was receiving attention 23 Nov.

Agusta A119 Koala ZK-ITP minus identity and with a new paint job on 23 Nov.  The helicopter, once employed on medivac work out of New Plymouth as ZK-ITR, underwent an ownership change to Heliflite Pacific on 22 Nov and was cancelled from the register 30 Nov as being exported.  As at that date, the helicopter was still in the Heliflite hanger at Ardmore wearing this Westpac Rescue livery.


It was great to see something other than Cessna's doing circuit work at Ardmore 30 Nov. 
Pitts S1 ZK-MPM on the seal.  Check out http://design-plane.blogspot.com/2011/11/pitts-s-1-specials-of-new-zealand.html



Mountain Air/Fly My Sky BN2 Islander ZK-SFK departs Ardmore 30 Nov for the short (traffic permitting) hop across to Auckland Intl.

30 November 2011

RAAF BAE Hawk 127 trainer aircraft (photo : Airliners)

Australia has approved the first phase of its lead-in fighter capability assurance programme AIR 5438, establishing a study into potential mid-life upgrades for the Royal Australian Air Force BAE Hawk 127 trainer aircraft.

"The Government has provided first pass approval for Phase 1A of the Lead-In Fighter Capability Assurance Program," said minister for defence materiel Jason Clare.

"The Government has approved the funding of A$43 million ($42.7 million) for Defence to develop options and conduct risk mitigation activities prior to Government approval at second pass, which is presently scheduled for 2013-14," Clare added.

The total cost of AIR 5438 is estimated at A$100-300 million. Government approval may be given in 2013-14.

According to the AIR 5438 project overview, the programme will provide a mid-life upgrade to the Hawk to meet the training needs that are associated with the current aircraft, such as the Boeing F/A-18 A/B Hornet and F/A-18 F Super Hornet, and the future Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

"The project will investigate sustainability modifications required to address obsolescence, maintainability and reliability issues, and examine a range of capability enhancement options," the overview showed.

"The precise nature and composition of the ensuing acquisition phase will be determined by the capability definition study to be conducted," it added.

(FlightGlobal)

AMR Corporation, parent company to American Airlines, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States as it seeks to return to profitability.

AMR, which also operates American Eagle, took the decision after the failure of the latest round of cost-cutting labour negotiations and is the last of the major American carriers to seek such protection.

The decision was taken in order to “achieve a cost and debt structure that is industry competitive and thereby assure its long-term viability” of the carrier, explained a statement.

Following the lead of virtually all other major airline competitors in the United States, the Chapter 11 process will allow AMR to continue conducting normal business operations while it restructures its debt, costs and other obligations.

Normal flight services will continue, with the decision having no direct legal impact on operations outside the United States.
“We have met our challenges head on, taking all possible action to secure our long-term position,” said Thomas Horton, chairman, chief executive officer and president of AMR.

Horton earlier replaced Gerard Arpey, who yesterday informed the board of his decision to retire, at AMR.

He initially joined AMR in 1985 and held a range of senior financial positions with AMR before taking over the top position today.

Chapter 11

American has battled against bankruptcy for nearly a decade as rivals have slimmed down.

The carrier has been embroiled in negotiations with unions for all of its major work groups for five years as it sought to cut an $800 million labour-cost disadvantage to other carriers.

Pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and baggage handlers are all presently involved in disputes with the company.

The airline also has a fleet of older aircraft where are less fuel-efficient than those operated by rivals. As fuel prices have continues to rise conditions have become unsustainable for AMR.

“As we have made clear with increasing urgency in recent weeks, we must address our cost structure, including labour costs, to enable us to capitalise on our foundational strengths and secure our future,” continued Horton.

“Our very substantial cost disadvantage compared to our larger competitors, all of which restructured their costs and debt through Chapter 11, has become increasingly untenable given the accelerating impact of global economic uncertainty and resulting revenue instability, volatile and rising fuel prices, and intensifying competitive challenges.”

The Company has approximately $4.1 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments which it says will be sufficient to meet ongoing costs.
Passengers concerned over the possible impact on flights are advised to check the official website.

Source: BTN

Another photo from Allan Bowman taken at Rangitati Island today (29-11-2011) showing the Vans RV7 ZK-NRV (c/n 71414). This was registered to Alastair Kay of Dunedin on 25-01-2007 and first flew at Taieri on 01-04-2007.

New hopes for 2012

In October the Banja Luka based Sky Srpska submitted its plan to launch flights in 2012. The plans were submitted to the relevant ministry and the airline’s CEO, Zoran Injac, says Sky Srpska is now waiting to be given the green light by the entity government. If things go according to plan the airline will launch services to Vienna in 2012. “Our research shows that there is a need for flights to Vienna. Furthermore, this market should ideally be catered by two smaller jets of up seventy seats”. The proposed plan outlines that a daily flight from Banja Luka to the Austrian capital should be inaugurated and another three weekly flights to Zurich should also operate.

Sky Srpska was formed in 2007 but no aircraft have ever been neither purchased nor leased. The new plan suggests a single jet should be leased in 2012. Injac adds that a total of 2 million Euros should be invested into the airline on a yearly basis which, according to him, is not a big sum in the aviation industry. An airline based in Banja Luka could revive the city’s airport which is currently only served by B&H Airlines’ flights to Zurich.

Banja Luka Airport previously served as a hub to Air Srpska, which was formed by JAT Yugoslav Airlines. The airline was formed in the summer of 1998 so that JAT pilots and crew could continue working since their company was banned from operating flights to the rest of the continent due to international sanctions. Until 2003 the airline operated flights to Belgrade, Tivat and Zurich. However, Jat Airways ended cooperation with Air Srpska by taking back its two ATR72s provided to the airline and effectively closing it.

A recent new arrival at Rangiora is ZK-KJA, a classic from the late 1950's. This Piper PA24-180 Comanche has a relatively early c/n of 24-82 and appeared on the US register as N5076P. I can find nine US owners before it was cancelled and shipped to NZ, arriving here on 06-05-1998, for Cliff W Johnston of Havelock North. He used his initials to register it as ZK-CWJ2 on 21-01-1999 following a restoration. It was re-registered as ZK-KJA on 03-07-2007 with an ownership change the same day to Kevin Jane of Normanby. It was sold to James Turner on 25-10-2011 and I first spied it at Rangiora on the 30th.

As a useless aside: The first ZK-CJW was a Mount Cook Airlines 748 and was often referred to as Captain Williams Jallopy. Cliff Johnston has since built up a Alpi Pioneer Jay Hawk which has become ZK-CWJ3.

29 November 2011

Battlespace Communication System concept (all images : AustralianSpace)

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government has given approval for three major Defence capability projects.

This brings to 35 the number of first pass, second pass and other approvals for major projects in 2011, worth a total of around $6 billion.

The three projects are:

Combined pass approval for improved Battlespace Communications Systems, including purchase of around 11,000 new digital radios for ground forces (Project JOINT 2072 Phase 2A);

First pass approval for the lead-in fighter capability assurance program which will provide enhanced training systems to provide Air Force pilots with the capabilities they need to allow training for current and future combat aircraft (Project AIR 5438 Phase 1A); and

First pass approval for a new fixed-site Air Traffic Management and Control System which will replace existing radars and command and control systems which are reaching their life of type (Project AIR 5431 Phases 2 and 3).

These combined approvals are estimated to involve expenditure of around $500 million and when complete the projects are likely to represent a commitment to Australia’s national security by Government of up to $1.2 billion.

Battlespace Communications

The Government has provided combined first and second pass approval for Phase 2A of the Battlespace Communications System (Land) project and approved funding of around $450 million.

JOINT Project 2072 is a multi-phased project to provide an enhanced digital communications capability for the Australian Defence Force, primarily for the Army.

Phase 2A will deliver around 11,000 digital combat net radios that will replace existing analogue equipment and builds on approvals that Government provided for Phase 1 of the project in 2009.

The Phase 1 contractor, Harris Corporation, will be engaged for the provision of Phase 2A radios.

Lead-in-Fighter

The Government has provided first pass approval for Phase 1A of the Lead-In Fighter Capability Assurance Program (Project AIR 5438).

This project will upgrade Air Force’s capability to produce aircrew with the necessary skills to operate current RAAF combat aircraft, like the F/A-18 Classic and Super Hornet fleets as well as the future combat aircraft, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The Government has approved funding of $43 million for Defence to develop options and conduct risk mitigation activities prior to Government approval at second pass, presently scheduled for 2013-14.

The total cost of Project AIR 5438 is identified in the Public Defence Capability Plan as being between $100 and $300 million.

Air Traffic Management and Control System

The Government has provided first pass approval for Phases 2 and 3 of the Air Traffic Management and Control Systems project.

This project will deliver replacement surveillance radars, and tower and approach automation systems for the current systems which are approaching the end of their life of type.

A key feature of the project will be to enhance interoperability between military and civil air traffic management systems, as announced in the 2009 ‘National Aviation Policy White Paper – Flight Path to the Future’.

The Government has approved funding of $6.9 million for capability development activities, prior to second pass, which is scheduled for 2013-2014. The total cost of Project AIR 5431 Phase 2/3 is identified in the Public Defence Capability Plan as being between $300 to $500 million.

(Aus DoD)

In a recent piece on AvWeb, Paul Bertorelli takes a good look at Cessna's decision to bump the price of the Skycatcher by a cool $35K - yes, that's 35 thousand.  Okay, it's not every day we see a 31+% price hike in a retail price of anything, especially in this economy.

Yet Cessna's move should come as no surprise to anyone who knows, as Bertorelli points out, that the price of aircraft has grown faster than the rate of inflation for decades.  Thirty years or so ago, a new Cessna Skyhawk could be had for around $30,000.  Today it's 10 times that number, or more than $300,000, whereas inflation applied to that original $30K number would put the figure just north of $100,000...about three times higher.

The Sky's no limit...in greenbacks.

Meanwhile, the aviation giant has up until now done its best to keep the price close to it's original near-$100,000 level.  Most recent raise was from $112,000 to around $114,000.  

Originally announced in 2007, more than 1,000 orders were racked up in short order.  

Then came more than two years of delays - first deliveries were made last year and 150 or so Skycatchers have been delivered this year.

All along, Cessna tried mightily to hold the line on price increases even in the face of production cost increases: it of course wanted to hold onto that $75 million in orders; wholesale decimation of the Skycatcher order book would have been a heavy hit, even for Big C.

The company pressed on through at least one major tailfeather redesign to keep the program viable, and keep original placeholders on board with a gradually-climbing price that stayed close to the original ticket of just under $110,000.  

Now the scrappy Skycatcher has climbed the U.S. delivery numbers to its recent, current position of #2.  Only longtime leader board-topper Flight Design has registered more LSA in this country.  Hey, isn't that a John Cougar Mellenkamp song?: "S-L-S-A in the U-S-A!".

In this day of bait-and-switch psychology, where the bottom line justifies any financial means, I think customer service props (and recognition for savvy business acumen) go to Cessna.  Look at the price of equivalent-quality S-LSA out there: you're looking at a typical sticker-shock number of $125-150K.  Big C is only raising its product to market parity, and to help support production costs, after having worked hard at it's "holding the line" image.  Also factored in: many of the instrument options are now standard, so the price increase isn't baldly wholesale: some perks are factored in.
Still, those options are re no longer voluntary.
I wonder how deep in the red Cessna went with the delays in production, increased design and retesting costs - the company has proudly, and deservedly, boasted that it took Skycatcher through a program more rigorous than the ASTM standard, including spin testing...that's how the original design flaw was uncovered in the first place. 

Bertorelli goes on to reflect on the marketing and psychological effect of the price jump, and whether it will cause a bailout of significant numbers of remaining production number holders.  He also has some interesting insights on how Cessna has always been good at maintaining its profit margin, even if it meant raising prices and accepting the lower sales numbers that resulted.  That's how companies survive, after all

It's a good read, check it out for an insight into how big aviation business cope these days.

He concludes with a compelling question that deserves more thought and some comment: if Cessna, with it's offshore Chinese production, can't produce a relatively "low cost" S-LSA, does that put the kibosh on the notion entirely?
I have my own thoughts, viewed from a slightly different angle: look at my recent post on the Pipistrel Alpha Trainer that was just introduced around $80,000, and that's not a stripped model either.  I read an online forum thread a couple days ago in which several posters flat out decried the $80K price point.  "Impossible!" they cried.
Yet here is a lean, mean, well-oiled design/production house in Slovenia that is showing us the way of the future, perhaps.  The company just sold 200 of Alphas to India...and the production prototype is being debuted in April.
I believe the company President, Ivo Boscarol, when he says he will produce the airplane at that price: his vision all along has been that if you do things in a very targeted, innovative and efficient manner, you can produce affordable, quality aircraft that will sell, even with the Euro/Dollar exchange rate, in the $80K range in America.
Take another look at what we complain about as a "high cost" light aircraft: adjusted backwards to the before-inflation rate (1975, roughly), we're looking at $8,000!
Before we cry in our $7 microbeers, we should lament the destruction of our currency by the craziness of world economics for the last 70 or so years.  That is the real culprit. An ounce of gold still buys approximately the same goods it bought in 1950...1920...1900.  It's not that things are more expensive.  It's our currency, no longer backed by gold or silver, that's taken the hit.
Why do you think China among other national governments is buying gold like it was on fire sale?  Because it is.
Aviation companies like every other enterprise must find ever-more-efficient ways of surviving, let alone thriving, by continuing to discover how to do the impossible, even if they have to grapple with perceived realities, such as this misplaced notion that there are no cheap light aircraft.
Put another way, I'll buy an $8,000, all-composite, well-equipped, good-performing aircraft for $8K any day of the week...even if I have to find a few partners to help me out with the purchase, since my salary also buys 10% of what it did a generation ago.  But that's another, and unfolding, story.

The Hawkes Bay town of Dannevirke held its annual Christmas Parade over this last weekend, nothing spectacular about that I hear you say other than the fact local operator Outgro flew their turbine Robinson R66 ZK-HAG onto the back of their truck and participated in the procession.

ZK-HAG is unrecognisable from the accompanying photo taken soon after its arrival in the country earlier this year, the first R66 on the ZK register.

QW from www.galonghaulnews.blogspot.com photo

At Ardmore April 2011, MRC photo

Reims Cessna F406 Caravan 11 ZK-CEC2 (c/n F406-0012) is on the move. It was spotted at Taupo on 27-11-2011 by Henry McIntyre. It had just been flown in by Guy Stevenson. It has been stripped and is parked outside the Farmers Air Hangar.

It departed Taupo today (28-11-11) for Auckland, Norfolk Island and then on to Coolangatta. (Where next ?)
In its time in NZ it has flown under the ZK-CII2 , the ZK-VAA2 , ZK-XLC and finally the ZK-CEC2 registrations.
It has featured before on this blog in its Air Charter East Coast scheme. See

http://design-plane.blogspot.com/2011/06/some-pics-from-gisborne-1.html

Jat back in Dubai

Jat Airways will relaunch services to Dubai on Moday March 26, 2012 after a five month suspension. Despite a strong backlash from employees, particularly from the pilots, the route was suspended on the orders of the acting CEO despite good results achieved over the years. However, unlike before, Jat will now have direct competition from the low cost Flydubai and has given the airline a five month head start. Jat will operate services to Dubai three times per week via Larnaca in Cyprus with flight times remaining the same as in the past several years. According to inside sources, bookings for the flights are going extremely well, all of them coming from the Serbian diaspora in Australia. The route is popular with those from Australia as a Special Prorate Agreement between Jat and Emirates makes it easy for passengers to depart from four cities in Australia and two in New Zealand and transit through Dubai with a short connection time onwards to Belgrade.

Dubai is not the only new service Jat is launching next summer. It will resume seasonal flights to Dubrovnik and Ohrid in Macedonia and inaugurate flights to Pula and Split. A recent agreement between Russia and Serbia will now allow for new routes to be added between the two countries with Jat considering launching flights to St. Petersburg.

Flight details for the Belgrade - Dubai service can be found here.

28 November 2011

All eight of the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigates will be upgraded with an advanced Anti-Ship Missile Defence system, total cost is $650 million, including the funds already spent upgrading HMAS Perth. (all photos : Aus DoD)

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government has approved the upgrade of all eight of the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigates with an advanced Anti-Ship Missile Defence system.

The total project cost is in excess of $650 million, including the funds already spent upgrading HMAS Perth.

The ANZAC Class Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) project has also been removed from the Projects of Concern list.

The 2009 Defence White Paper outlined the Government’s intent to put all of the ANZAC Class ships through an ASMD upgrade program, subject to the successful outcome of at-sea trials on the first ship.


The upgrade of HMAS Perth as the lead ship for the ASMD program was successfully completed earlier this year.

Following exhaustive testing, including in theUnited States, the Chief of Navy agreed to the operational release of the system in July 2011.

Government has now approved the installation of the system on the remaining seven ships of the ANZAC class by 2017.

Minister Smith said this was the latest weapon in Navy’s arsenal and meant the Navy’s ANZAC frigates would be a lot more capable.

At the moment our ANZAC frigates can track and destroy one target at a time.


The new system is able to identify, track and guide missiles to multiple targets at the same time.
Minister Clare said the project was a great Australian success story – cutting edge technology developed right here inAustraliaby CEA Technologies.

The remaining upgrade installation and integration work will be undertaken by the ANZAC Ship Integrated Materiel Support Program Alliance, comprising SAAB Systems, BAE Systems and the Defence Materiel Organisation.

Minister Clare said that the ASMD upgrade program is a good demonstration of how the Projects of Concern process can effectively manage difficult projects and deliver successful national security outcomes for Australia.

(Aus DoD)

28 November 2011

Aladin mini UAV (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

GERMAN aviation firm EMT plans to manufacture Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones in Malaysia by June next year via a local partner.

EMT has roped in Drei Sohne Technologies (Deutschland) Sdn Bhd (DST) as its sole Asian region sales and marketing representative.

"We are planning to send the first of a 15-member technical team to Germany for training soon," DST managing director Azmi Mustapha said.

"The principal team from EMT will also be coming here later to assist us," Azmi added.
DST was established in Kuala Lumpur on December 20 last year.

It deals in the sales, servicing and marketing of EMT UAV systems for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes such as military operations, border control, search and rescue, disaster management and specialised missions.

Established in 1978, EMT has over 30 years of experience in the UAV systems industry. This ranges from research and development, manufacturing and continuous system improvements using the latest and state-of-the-art German technologies, to real reconnaissance and surveillance missions in the combat fields of Afghanistan, Macedonia, Kosovo and Pakistan in extremely harsh environments.

EMT's growing family of drones covers the range of micro drones, mini drones and larger tactical drones.

DST is identifying a suitable location for the plantwith an initial investment of RM5 million, said Azmi, who has been living and doing business in Germany for 20 years.

He currently jets between Germany and Malaysia, besides visiting other Asian countries as sole distributor of EMT.

Fancopter UAV (photo : EMT)

"I choose Malaysia as I want the country to be the first to be exposed with this technology that is now being used all around the world.

" It gives me satisfaction to put the country on the world map as one of the manufacturers of drones for the global market," he said.

DST plans to manufacture FANCOPTER, a micro aerial reconnaissance and surveillance system, and ALADIN, a mini aerial reconnaissance system, here.

"We have also received the nod from EMT for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of their drones," Azmi said.

He said the drones can be used in a variety of situations. They are not only useful for surveillance and piracy control, but also in the event of natural disasters.

"Imagine that you are facing a natural disaster such as flood or landslide. Instead of sending people over there to check out the situation, you can use drones to obtain all the data needed for further action.

"This will cut the time, cost and, at the same time, ensure the safety of rescue workers," he said.

DST had on April 26 this year done an EMT UAV presentation to the Ministry of Defence. In July, it did a presentation at the Brunei International Defence Exhibition.

Next month, DST will participate in11th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition that will run from December 6 to December 10.

(Business Times)

Two more photos from Allan Bowman taken at Rangiora on 27-11-2011 showing the brand new Rans S-6ES Coyote 11 ZK-LVE (c/n 05051662ES) as built by Les Eade at Cheviot and registered on the 23rd.
Above it is having engine runs by Paul Woodley of Woodley Aircraft Services, and below with its cowls in place.

Below is a shot of the port wing completed and awaiting to be bagged. as seen at Cheviot on 03-08-2011

A view of the office as seen on 26-11-2011.

Les currently runs the Evans VP-1 ZK-VPI which, from memory he purchased in 2002 and re-worked it with a 1834cc VW engine.

Further up the Rangitata River from the earlier Rangitata Island posts Matt Hayes was at work.
Firstly on Arch King's strip he captured the Just Aircraft Highlander ZK-MLT (c/n JA212) with its 29 inch wheels and Rotax 914 turbo engine.
Below is the Alpi Pioneer 300 Hawk ZK-MWL (c/n 211) of Michael Leefe.

Based on this strip is Arch King's Cessna U206G Stationair 6 ZK-JDV (c/n U206G-04775). This was an import via Airflite South for the Otago Aero Club, reaching Dunedin from Australia on 28-06-1994.

The above pic shows ZK-JDV on the Lake Herron Strip yesterday.

 These two aerial shots were taken in the Lake Herron area yesterday.

It went to the Wakatipu Aero Club in July of 2000 & was photographed in their scheme at Queenstown on 16-08-2006, just days before it joined the Aoraki Mount Cook Ski Planes fleet.

At some point during its recent career it was badly damaged by hail and has had much re skinning carried out.