ran faa skyhawk a4g 887 aircraft history

8/9/2019 RAN FAA Skyhawk A4G 887 Aircraft History

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The Story oSkyhawk A

1968–2in service wRAN Fleet A

and after with the RN

NZ62(converteA4K then

update) thenDRAKEN N144EM; 2

DRAKEN


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Skyhawk N13-154908 A-4G 887 Delivered to RAN 11/67: http://www.adf-serials.com.au/n13.h“Unloaded from HMAS Melbourne onto a Navy barge in Jervis Bay November 23, 1967, then byroad to Nowra. With VF805 01/06/68. With VF805 02/12/68.

One of the first, if not the first, A4G catapulted from HMAS Melbourne flown by LCDR John DaCosta on the 13 Feb 1969. During this launch the radar panel with its long body extending backinto the instrument panel (being not properly secured) came out into the pilot's lap. Unable to eject(because of the large size of the panel body – length and weight) Lcdr Da Costa skilfully flew theaircraft with its trim buttons and limited control stick movement to an emergency straight in land-ing back at NAS Nowra. Being able to survive such a drastic mishap enabled many previously un-explained USN catapault launch accidents to be solved. Thereafter the radar screen in all A4s wassecured by a very large extra fittings, especially while at sea. With VF805 29/10/69. With VF8051971-72. 27/10/71

Undercarriage lowered accidentally during pullup from an armament dive at 450 knots.Location at the Kahoolawe Weapons Range nearby the island of Hawaii. 887 recovered at NASBarbers Point (near Pearl Harbour west of Honolulu Intl airport) by arrested landing onto a foamedrunway. The pilot was SBLT John Hamilton. 887 repaired within 2 weeks to fly onboard HMASMelbourne at sea, nearby Oahu. With VF805 13/05/74. With VF805 21/10/76. With VF805 07/12/76.

Wheels up landing, landed on the tanks (with foamed runway) at Amberley QLD after losing awheel on a touch and go off HMAS Melbourne, 22/05/78. The Pilot was LEUT Barry Evans. Ex.Tasmanex '79, remained on the Melbourne for Port visit to Wellington (8-11 August) before Ex.began, probably also onboard for visit to Auckland. Onboard Melbourne for Exercise Kangaroo 3.Onboard Melbourne for Ex. Rimpac '80 (26 February - 17 March 1980) in Hawaiian waters, buddyrefueled USN T/A-4Js.

To RNZAF 07/84 as NZ6214, now A-4K. Birdstrike 10/01/92 Coromandel Peninsula while at 250ftand 420kt, recovered OK and returned 12/92. Retired by RNZAF 2001/02.”

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/n13.htmhttp://www.adf-serials.com.au/n13.htm


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List of ex- A4G s / ex-A-4K Kahus –survivors — gone DRAKEN below

-

Bu.No. then NZ then RAN numbers DRAK154904 ex NZ6212 = ex RAN A4G 883 N142E154905 ex NZ6213 = ex RAN A4G 884 N143E

154908 ex NZ6214 = ex RAN A4G 887 N144E155052 ex NZ6215 = ex RAN A4G 871 N145E155063 ex NZ6217 = ex RAN A4G 876 N146E155069 ex NZ6218 = ex RAN A4G 877 N147E

______________________________---

155061 ex NZ6216 = ex RAN A4G 874 at Omaka Museum _______________________________--

154911 ex NZ6255 = ex RAN TA4G 880 FAAM Nowra


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S t g f


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CLICKHERE for line-book page story

Extra Lugs tosecure Radar forCatapultLaunchin RAN

See NextPage for azoom view

A4Gswitchsimulator

A-4G/K Panelreconstructedby Don Simms

RNZAF museum

story aboutRadar-scopefalling into

above A4Gpilot’s lapduring 1stcatapultnext pages

A4GSwitch-

ologyhap-

hazards

extra lugsto secure

radar panelindicated by

red arrows

CLICK ?

See next pages for zoomviews


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13 Feb 1969: A4G N-13 154908 – Side No. 887Radar display detached during the very first A4G catapult launchfrom HMAS Melbourne. Cause: Design Fault for securing the radar.

During this launch the radar panel with its long body extendingback into the instrument panel (being not properly secured) cameout into the pilot's lap. Unable to eject (because of the large size ofthe panel body - length and weight) LCDR Da Costa skilfully flewthe aircraft with its trim buttons and limited control stick movementto an emergency straight in landing back at NAS Nowra. Being ableto survive such a drastic mishap enabled many previously unex-plained USN catapault launch fatal accidents to be solved. There-after the radar screen in all A4s was secured by a very large extrafittings, especially whilst at sea.

LCDR Da Costa was the CO of VC-724 at this time but took thefirst catapult after HMAS Melbourne's long refit, as he was one ofthe most experienced RAN Skyhawk pilots, having trained in theUSN with LCDR Dusty King earlier.


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LCDR JohnDa Costa 1969CO VF-805

CAPTJohnDa Costa1984LASTTA4GFlight

SAWIs‘the suit

for bupilots to learn the ‘switchology

of the Armaments selection panel

http://ontheroger.probothread/5274/future-pil

page=3&sc

http://ontheroger.proboards.com/thread/5274/future-pilot-training?page=3&scrollTo=28109http://ontheroger.proboards.com/thread/5274/future-pilot-training?page=3&scrollTo=28109http://ontheroger.proboards.com/thread/5274/future-pilot-training?page=3&scrollTo=28109http://ontheroger.proboards.com/thread/5274/future-pilot-training?page=3&scrollTo=28109


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THE BIG LUG FIX

BIG LUG F


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“Scariest cat launch I recall was John Da Costa's& the first A4 launch from Melbourne early 1969. They wcat up to full volume & let her rip. The A4 almost stood on its tail,went straight over the front end & disappeared from sight.!!!!!!!!!!

After a few seconds it slowly appeared literally bouncing off the waves & sending the spray back over the flight deck.!!!!!!! Johnslowly but painfully got it up off the floor & headed back to Nowra. Upon managing a safe trip home he taxied up to the line shack,

shut down & beckoned Ken Pryor aka ‘Uckers’, line radio man at the time to come hither. As ‘Uckers’ climbed the ladder John op-ened the canopy & handed him the Radar indicator. What had happened was the A4G pulled close to 9Gs off the cat & the indicat-or popped out of the instrument panel & landed somewhere between the joy stick & his feet. It is tribute to the man that he pilotedthe bird to safety. [The events back at Nowra were recalled later at the big Naval enquiry which ‘moi’, as the duty radmech onboardwas requested to attend with ‘caps off’.] All was forgiven however. The indicator, as were a lot of the instruments held in place bya pressure band. As a result the radar ind. became secured by lugs at the top & side.” E-mail - Peter Barnes, 11 June 20

H R d U i S d Af d


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How Radar Unit Secured Afterwards

Click left for


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Click left forA-4 take-off sound

N

OI

SE

A 4G/K


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Original A-4K(G) panel displayed a he RNZAF Ohakea Museum — pho o from Craig Brankin

A-4G/K Front Panel

SEE NEXT

PAGE


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CO Lcdr John Da Costa


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SP Lcdr Brian Dutch

AWI Leut DavidCollingridge

AEO Leut Roger Colless

LSO Leut Keith Johnson

Leut Ralph McMillan

Leut Gary Northern

Leut Ken Palmer

VF-805

No. 1 W


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OOPs No.1Wire Arresthttp://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy%20Today%205_opt.pdf

http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy%20Today%205_opt.pdfhttp://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy%20Today%205_opt.pdfhttp://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy%20Today%205_opt.pdf


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Target—No.4 wi


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An ex- Wessex Pilot talks about photo timeframe :“I was on the flight deck, I do remember I was standing next to the FD Phot & toldhim to get his camera ready when I saw the two smoke trails astern of the ship. I joined the ship in Sept 70&, as a Wessex boggie [new pilot] spent most of the time as Pedro to get some d/l experience. Regular Pedro from 11 Sept to 29 Sept.Back to the ship 26 Oct to 26 Nov for ex-"Swan Lake". So it seems the date is somewhere between 11 Sept & 26 Nov [1970] . [PEDRO = SAR HELO]Wasn't a celebration of the Nullabour Express 'cause that was 884 & 889. Most likely first time on board - 11/9 & 29/9 [1970] , only did 2 Pedros in the second period. ”Sep 1970


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From Leut Errol Kavanagh’s Log-book flight was in 887, 08 June1970 A4G 887, NWRA-CB-MELBHOB-ADEL-SYD-NWRA, 4.45 (h

ç SeeNEXTPage


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887 graphic from Jim Winchester’s book ‘Douglas A-4 Skyhawk’ : 01 Sep 2005 | ISBN-10: 1844150852 | ISBN-13: 978-1844150854


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http://i5.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/f4/4c/5NAS Nowra 1968–9

http://i5.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/f4/4c/58d9_1.JPGhttp://i5.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/f4/4c/58d9_1.JPG


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In 1968-69 the Red Mesh Engine Intake Guards (for protection against FOD) were

used during taxi to the ‘arming point’ near the threshold of the duty runway (RW 21

here), once (practice bombs) armed the inlet guard is removed before flight. FOD =

Foreign Object Damage. Practice was discontinued by about mid-1969 because

removal of the guard was itself a potential hazard for FOD damage to the engine


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Short Field Arrestor GeaLong Field Arrestor Gea

…SAVC-724 Squadron Line Book“the sixo’clock


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Syd‘D

Telegrap15 Feb

Return of the ‘Ancient Mariner’

butt-kicker”


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Station Pier, Port Melbourne

Station Pier, Melbourne, 16-20 SFeatures of original dull dovegrey/ white paint scheme (nowwith white ailerons rudder &


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Original booklet cover shown above but edited here

with white ailerons, rudder &elevator unchanged) illustratedhere. Note oil streak over roundeland the (irrelevant) ‘small capitalB’ after the Bureau Number.


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RAAF

RAAF

Photo by Wal Nelowkin1982 P


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P


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http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?q=Skyhawk+source:life&imgurl=deb92bacc95fd382

ttp: up oa .w me a.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/HMAS Melbourne %28R21%29

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?q=Skyhawk+source:life&imgurl=deb92bacc95fd382http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?q=Skyhawk+source:life&imgurl=deb92bacc95fd382http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/HMAS_Melbourne_%28R21%29_aerial_Pearl_Harbor_1958.jpeghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/HMAS_Melbourne_%28R21%29_aerial_Pearl_Harbor_1958.jpeghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/HMAS_Melbourne_%28R21%29_aerial_Pearl_Harbor_1958.jpeghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/HMAS_Melbourne_%28R21%29_aerial_Pearl_Harbor_1958.jpeg


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HMAS_Melbourne_%28R21%29 _aerial_Pearl_Harbor_1958.jpeg

http://users.qld.chariot.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/HMAS_Melbourne_%28R21%29_aerial_Pearl_Harbor_1958.jpeghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/HMAS_Melbourne_%28R21%29_aerial_Pearl_Harbor_1958.jpeghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/HMAS_Melbourne_%28R21%29_aerial_Pearl_Harbor_1958.jpeghttp://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/us_visit.htmlhttp://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/us_visit.htmlhttp://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/us_visit.html


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qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/us_visit.html

HMASMelbourne&HawaiianReceptionCommittee— PearlHarbour

NAS Barbers Point, Oahu, Hawaii – ‘Dress Rehearsal’ for VF-805 arrival late 1971… NOT!http://nanarchive.omnitecinc.com/19601969

http://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/us_visit.htmlhttp://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/us_visit.htmlhttp://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/us_visit.htmlhttp://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/us_visit.htmlhttp://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/us_visit.htmlhttp://nanarchive.omnitecinc.com/19601969.aspxhttp://nanarchive.omnitecinc.com/19601969.aspx


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USN ‘Naval Aviation NeSe tember 1969

VC-1 UH-34D Seahorse landing at NAS Barbers Point 12 July 1971

http://nanarchive.omnitecinc.com/19601969.aspx


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VC-1 A-4Es July


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http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/2259496/sn/374679257/name/A-4E+151184+and+150044+%28July+1971%29.jpg

VF-805 seniorLSO Leut Keith

h

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/2259496/sn/374679257/name/A-4E+151184+and+150044+%28July+1971%29.jpghttp://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/2259496/sn/374679257/name/A-4E+151184+and+150044+%28July+1971%29.jpg


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Johnson & COColin Pattersonbeing greetedby CO of VC-1

Cmdr Stuart E.Harrison.-

VC-1 was form-erly Fleet Com-posite Squad-

ron One how-ever over thistime new USNnaming con-ventions werebeing used withthe old shortnamesFleCompRonOnebeing used also

Cmdr Harrison had written theabove comment at the timethese photos were presented

MELBOURNE andCAG Prepare for

First RIMPAC 1971


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All cartoons byHank Caruso


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SBLT Hamilton lands SkyhawkA4G 887 on its empty drop tanks

with an arrested landing on afoamed runway at NAS BarbersPoint when VF805 disembarked

temporarily HMAS Melbourne

RAN FAA – A4G 887Wheels accidentally

lowered at 450

knots in anarmament dive atthe Kahoolawe

Weapons Range –27 Oct 1971

Click here –quote – Fa

Kaho ʻolawe is the smallest of the eight main volcanic islands in theHawaiian Islands. It is located 7 miles (11.2 km) southwest of Maui andsoutheast of L ā na ʻi and is 11 miles (18 km) long by 6 miles (9.7 km) wide,with a total area of 44.6 square miles (115.5 km2). The highest point is thecrater of Lua Makika at the summit of Pu ʻu Moaulanui, which is 1,477 feet(450 m) above sea level. The island is relatively dry (average annual rainfall


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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Haleakala_and_Kahoolawe.jpg

is less than 65 cm/26 in because the low elevation fails to generate muchorographic precipitation from the northeastern trade winds and it is locatedin the rain shadow of east Maui's 10,023 feet (3,055 m) high volcano,Haleakal ā . More than one quarter of Kaho ʻolawe has been eroded down tosaprolitic hardpan. Kaho ʻolawe has always been sparsely populated, due toa lack of freshwater. Beginning in World War II, the island was used as araining ground and bombing range by the United States military. After

decades of protests, the Navy ended live-fire training on Kaho ʻolawe in1990, and the island was transferred to the State of Hawaii in 1994.The Hawaii State Legislature established the Kaho ʻolawe IslandReserve to restore and oversee the island and its surroundingwaters. Today Kaho ʻolawe can be used only for nativeHawaiian cultural, spiritual, and subsistence purposes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahoolawe

Kaho » olawe

KaW

Ra

197tur

a

"Parkfull

artifothe

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Haleakala_and_Kahoolawe.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahoolawehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahoolawehttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Haleakala_and_Kahoolawe.jpg


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SeeNext Page


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DO NOT ad-ust your

monitor —blurredphoto ofpage

VF-805 Line Book Page 1971–2


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Repair Hangar VC-1

NAS Barbers Point

Hawaii, Southern Shore

East of Honolulu International Airport

Sblt Phil Thompson & LtJgs from VC-1

887 on jacks having U/C r

‘wheels up’ landing on empty


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NAS Barbers Point, Oahu, Hawaii 1994

áClick graphic on left – view an RNZAF TA4K wheelsup arrested landingvideo clip


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Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii ãã NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii Kahoolawe

Honolulu

USS AMe


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Nav News 08 A

USS ArizonaMemorial

Pearl Harbour, Hawaii,RIMPAC 78 April 1978


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RIMPAC 78, April 1978

USS Kitty Haw


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Length: 990 ft (300 m) waterline1,069 ft (326 m) overall USS Kitty Hawk HMAS MelLength: 213.97 m(702 ft)

I d b


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Length: 1,040 ft (317 m) waterline

1,115 ft (340 m) overall NIMITZ class

Increased bymetres (8 ft) in

Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, RIMPAC 78, April 1978

Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, RIMPAC 78, April 1978


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Oahu


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Click above for an RAN recruiting ad from the 19

See Next Page for the MAP now

NAS Barbers Point


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http://upload.wikimedia.org/

wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Hawaii-Oahu-TF.jpg

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam: The next step in partnershi“1/28/2010 - HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Contmore than 70 years of serving side-by-side with our U.S. NaPartners here at Pearl Harbor, we begin a new chapter as westand up Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Jan. 31.

Just as we operate jointly in the AORs across the globe,with Initial Operational Capability of the Joint Base we solidhis new partnership at our home base as we combine our

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Hawaii-Oahu-TF.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Hawaii-Oahu-TF.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Hawaii-Oahu-TF.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Hawaii-Oahu-TF.jpg


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PearlHarbour Honolulu

Internationalaka Hickam

AFB

NAS Barbers Point

his new partnership at our home base as we combine ourinstallation support functions into one high-performance team

The new joint base structure will directly affect more tha600 military and nearly 1,200 civilians on Hickam; most comrom the 15th Mission Support Group and selected portions he 15th Airlift Wing Staff, as they merge into the new Joint

Base organization. Currently, functional working groups, JoiBase departments and special staffs are completingimplementation plans and standard operating procedures,moving toward phased function activations on Feb. 1 andJune1, and Full Operational Capability on Oct. 1....”

http://www.15wing.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123187

http://www.15wing.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123187915http://www.15wing.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123187915


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CO LCDR D. Collingridge SP LCDR B. Daly WEO LEUT B. Rowe AEO LEUT B.T. Hamilton

LEUT K. Finan USN exchange LEUT N. French LSO LEUT P.W. Greenfield LEUT B. Evans AWI

SBLT K. Baddams SBLT C. Tomlinson SBLT M. Maher

VF-805 line book page

httpwwHMASMelbourne

http://www.drawquick.com.au/ships/pic34.htmhttp://www.drawquick.com.au/ships/pic34.htmhttp://www.drawquick.com.au/ships/pic34.htm


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dr

quicco

shippic3

h

McGol

MelbourneCartoonView

amousMalcolmFraser

PM quote

VF-805 Linebook page from mid 1970s

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NAS Barbers Point RIMPAC 78Photo via D


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VC-1 USN 7

199th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Hawaii ANG, Hickam AFB, Dec 1960 to Jan 1977. Operated Convair F-102 ‘Delta Dagger’ longer than any other unit .

Current 199thFighter Squadron

Patch as wornby the F-15 Eagle

drivers of the


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OAHU, HAWAII

drivers of the‘Kukaiumoku’


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http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/f102pics/55-3357.jpghttp://w

Met a pair whilst circling at 40,000 feet waitingfor the next recovery due arrestor gear problems.Awesome My A4G must have broken the ADIZ

I

HaHic

http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/f102pics/55-3357.jpghttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/f102pics/55-3357.jpghttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.html


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ww.millionmonkeyt

heater.com/F-102A.html

Displayed at HickamAFB, HI since 10/1978http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/f102

pics/54-1373.jpg

Convair F-102A

Delta Dagger

Awesome. My A4G must have broken the ADIZ.[Air Defence IdentificationZone - of Hawaii]

HicDec 191977. F-102

othhttp://www.

usaf_fig

http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/f102pics/54-1373.jpghttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/f102pics/54-1373.jpghttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/f102pics/54-1373.jpghttp://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_2.htmlhttp://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_2.htmlhttp://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f102_2.htmlhttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/f102pics/54-1373.jpghttp://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/F-102A.html


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HMAS Melbourne vs. USS Constellation RIMPAC 1980http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.com/topic/14224/HMAS-Melbourne-vs-USS-Constellation-in- RIMPAC-1980?page=1-

“Nobuyoshi Koremoto, an ex-skipper of JDS Amatsukaze that participated in RIMPAC 1980, wrote in the

August 2010 issue of the Ship of the World that in the 1980 exercise a flight of Australian A-4G Skyhawksfrom HMAS Melbourne playing an 'Orange' force carrier attacked USS Constellation, which was assessedto be 'heavily damaged'....”

US hosts world's largest naval exercises in Hawaii June 29, 2012 By AUDREY McAVOY Assohttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018560328_apusnavalexercises.html-

“PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — Some 25,000 sailors and other military personnel from 22 nations are converging onHawaii starting Friday to practice hunting for submarines and catching pirates in the world's largest naval

i Th U S P ifi Fl i h i h Ri f h P ifi i hi h k l i

http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.com/topic/14224/HMAS-Melbourne-vs-USS-Constellation-in-%20RIMPAC-1980?page=1http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.com/topic/14224/HMAS-Melbourne-vs-USS-Constellation-in-%20RIMPAC-1980?page=1http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.com/topic/14224/HMAS-Melbourne-vs-USS-Constellation-in-%20RIMPAC-1980?page=1http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018560328_apusnavalexercises.htmlhttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018560328_apusnavalexercises.html


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exercises. The U.S. Pacific Fleet is hosting the Rim of the Pacific exercises, which take place every two years inHawaii and surrounding waters. Countries from Japan to Tonga and Russia to Chile are sending 42 surface ships,six submarines and 200 aircraft to participate in the series of drills, which takes place over the next five weeks.Participants will train to clear mines, dispose of explosives and come to the aid of civilians in natural disasters,

among other drills. Adm. Cecil Haney, the Pacific Fleet commander, said the drills help different nations prepare foremergencies. "It provides an opportunity for naval forces of like-minded countries to work together so that asthings come up, we can more easily assemble and address things like humanitarian assistance, disaster relief,"Haney told The Associated Press during a recent interview at his Pearl Harbor headquarters.

The exercises, known as RIMPAC, date to 1971 but have expanded in recent years. Eight nations took part in2006, 10 in 2008, and 14 two years ago. This year's exercises come as the U.S. refocuses its attention on the Asia-Pacific region. In January, the Obama administration announced a new defense strategy to boost the country'spresence in Asia because of the region's economic importance and China's rise as a military power. It aims to

maintain American military pre-eminence worldwide even as the U.S. cuts spending to reduce the nation's deficit.As part of that strategy, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta earlier this month told a conference in Singapore the U.S.would assign 60 percent of its fleet to the Pacific Ocean by 2020. Currently, the Navy divides its roughly 285 shipsequally between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum Center for Strategic & International Studies, a Honolulu-based thinktank, said the drills show Panetta and the U.S. Pacific Command - which oversees all American forces in the region -are serious when they say readiness in the Pacific won't be affected by defense drawdowns. "What better way toprove that than holding the world's largest maritime exercise," Cossa said. "That's putting your money and yourships where you mouth is." One new part of the drills is the use of a cooking oil and algae biofuel blend to powersome of the U.S. vessels and aircraft. The Navy is spending $12 million to buy 425,000 gallons of biofuel for theexercises. It's part of an effort to demonstrate the Navy can use biofuels to reduce its consumption of fossil fuels.The Navy has been investing heavily in technologies for algae, sugar and other crops so that biofuels will meet halfof its fuel needs by 2020. The exercises end Aug. 3.”


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VF-805 LineBook Page – 1979

‘Miffed’ VF-805 AEOAir Engineer Officer

LSOs & theircomments on885 landing

“P.L.” = PermanentLoan (Items) suchas the A4G aircraft


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“Night

Capers”become“DayCapers”

VF-805 Line


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http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz22/furyfb11/A4G%20SKYHAWK/IMG_0001-1.jpg

November 1975 Tasmhttp://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Postwar&action=display&thread=10581

http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz22/furyfb11/A4G%20SKYHAWK/IMG_0001-1.jpghttp://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Postwar&action=display&thread=10581http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Postwar&action=display&thread=10581http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Postwar&action=display&thread=10581http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Postwar&action=display&thread=10581http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Postwar&action=display&thread=10581http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz22/furyfb11/A4G%20SKYHAWK/IMG_0001-1.jpg


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887 loses port wheelduring ‘touch & go’


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Click for ‘slow motion’ video

Leut Barry Evans in 887 —

broken wheel onboard withemergency wheels up onempty drop tank foamedrunway landing at RAAFAmberley QLD — 22 May 1978

See Next Page for

RAAF Amberleydiagram


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Subsequently LeutBarry Evans wasawarded the AFC(Air Force Cross)for “looking afterthe aircraft”(Barry's own words)


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Skyhawk A4G NATOPS Manual page gear problems 1Skyhawk T-A4F/J NATOPS Manual page gear problems ‘AFTER’ opposite page


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AFTER c.1975 Before c

natops changes

Reason 887 did not use gear at RAAF Amberley


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Click

graphicor theREAL

IDEO

*Barry

Evans

10 JUN 1974 – HMAS MELBOURNE launched a

strike of Skyhawks against Patrol Boats hiddenjust off the coast in a bunch of islands. The strikewas successful but on retuning to the ship con-ditions were so bad they were diverted to RAAFAmberley. SBLT(P) Evans flying N13-154906 (885)had a CSD* failure and while landing without

il ff h l d d

Barry anddem wheels


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150 gal drop tanksP EL X

E PA LS AE I! N

Clickgraphic

or theAUDIO

seen hereas a

civilianflying

big jets(hence‘FlgOff

moe’moustache

spoilers ran off the runway, at slow speed, dam-aging the starboard wheel**. Three of the A4GSkyhawks flew back to the ship next day. 885,after repairs followed the following day.

*The CSD is the Constant SpeedDrive which provides electricity

to run some aspects of theSkyhawk utilities such as

the spoilers.*

**It must be remembered that the A4G tyre pressures weredoubled when operating onboard. Every FIRST landingashore was that much more difficult due to this excess tyrepressure, when care was needed to NOT burst a tyre (alsospoilers needed to be armed - not used onboard either)**


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TO THE EDITORDear Ed,

The October 1995 ‘Slipstream’ had a photograph of a Sea Furylanding on HMAS Sydney with one mainwheel departing the air-craft. The incident took place in the Hervey Bay area in 1949/50and has similarities to another incident many years later.

I was the Assistant Flight Deck Of cer on HMAS Melbourne


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I was the Assistant Flight Deck Of cer on HMAS Melbournein 1979. We were conducting ying operations in the Hervey Bayarea at about 0800 one morning with Skyhawks in the pattern.

An A-4G piloted by LEUT Barry Evans lost the starboard mainwheel during a touch and go landing. The wheel continued up the

ight deck passing between the FDO (LCDR Rod Coles) and theFly 1 director. Barr y was able to get the aircraft airborne againsafely. FLYCO decided that the best option was to attempt gear retraction and if successful launch the tanker aircraft to refuel thedamaged Skyhawk for a diversion ashore. This was accomplishedand Barry smoothly landed the aircraft on its drop tanks atRA AF Amberley. Such was the sturdiness of the A-4G that it was

own out to Nowra the following day! Had the gear not retracted

we had planned to take the aircraft into the barricade.Barry was returned to the ship by Seaking and with the Wardroom bar open that night a couple of the HS-817 aircrew(Tony Haigh and one or two others) with guitar accompanimentperformed a song they had written which told the whole story.It was to the tune of the Kenny Rogers song ‘You Picked a Fine

Time to Leave Me Lucille’ but with the re worded chorus ‘YouPicked a Fine Time to Leave Me Loose Wheel!’ We had an ABCtelevision crew on board at the time lming the TV series ‘PatrolBoat’ and they were incredulous at the events. They none the lessgot a great insight into the professionalism and camaraderie ofthe Fleet Air Arm.

Regards, Owen Nicholls (LCDR RASLIPSTREAM Vol.8, No.1 April 1997

Click for song chorus

Reality was 887 was repaired &flown back direct to Nowra ‘clean’by Leut Neville French; 24th May:

“Logbook shows 22 May 79 DeckLanding then the next entry was 24 May 79Flight from Amberley to Nowra.

As I recall it I was behind Barry in thelanding pattern on the 22nd when theMishap occurred. C’ridge and I flewalongside and confirmed left main gone.Stores were jettisoned, gear raised then hetanked up and was sent to Amberley for alanding on the tanks. The next day (23rd) Iwas dispatched with a recovery team in aSeaKing to Amberley. We jacked it up, dis-carded the tanks, replaced the strut assem-bly, made an in-field repair of the flaps andnose, manufactured a couple of parts and Iflew it out to Nowra the next day (24th).

I do remember going to the RAAF OC tothank him for the use of the facilities and heasked how it was progressing — I told himit was all done and I was about to depart!”

See next two pagesor Text Seen Below

E-mailfromNevFrench


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2011

E-mailfromNevFrench2011


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2011


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Naval Fighters 49 Douglas A-4A/B Skyhawk in Navy Serviceby Steve G


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“This gear up landing on two 300 gal drops was done at NAS Roosevelt Roads, PRafter an entire wheel came off on the cat shot. [Pilot] Rocky Pratt was in our sister

squadron, VA-106. We were aboard Forrestal on the way to Vietnam. I was inVA-46, but happened to be at Rosy Rds with a bad hook snubber and was

standing beside the runway with the station's Ops Officer. The airplane flewb k h hi i f h


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back out to the ship in a few hourswith a new wh

Dave Dolla

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Roads_Naval_Station“Roosevelt Roads Naval Station is a former United States Navy base in the town of Ceiba,

Puerto Rico. The site is run today as José Aponte de la Torre Airport, a public use airport.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Roads_Naval_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Roads_Naval_Station


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RAAF Amberley, QLD

BRISBANEAn RAAF F-111 gets arrested trying to motor to Brisbane without wheels

Click above for FIRST F-111B carrier opsJuly 23 & 24, 1968 aboard USS Coral Sea

Jump Back toUSAF / RAAFAmberleyArresting Gear

Pages End

http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4813/topstories/story01.htm


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“The crew of this Royal Australian Air Force F-111 was

surprised to learn that they had lost a wheel at take-off –the tower notified the crew, who had not noticed theproblem. While the pilot flew the airplane around, burn-ing off fuel and formulating a plan (jump out over thesea? try to get it down in one piece?) instructor pilots


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Click above graphic for TV news video

http://www.ukipme.com/downloads/magazine/2008/tea_108.pdf

sea? try to get it down in one piece?), instructor pilotstried different solutions in the simulator. Finally, four

hours later, the pilot flew the approach at approximately1.5m off the ground for a few hundred meters, with thegear up and the hook dragging along the ground. crew put her down perfectly, with no injuries, and cameto a fairly quick halt.”

WHEEL OF FORTUNE

http://www.ukipme.com/downloads/magazine/2008/tea_108.pdfhttp://www.ukipme.com/downloads/magazine/2008/tea_108.pdfhttp://www.ukipme.com/downloads/magazine/2008/tea_108.pdf


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http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFI/afi_32_1043.pdf


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A2.2.6. BAK-14 and Type H Hook cable Support Systems.

A2.2.6.1. The BAK-14 hook cable support system ( Figure A2.8. ) is a bidirectional hook cable(pendant) support system used in conjunction with the BAK-12, BAK-13, or a comparable arrest-ing system to engage and safely stop a hook-equipped aircraft. It provides the means to support the

pendant at least 2 inches above the runway surface while giving ATC the means to lower the pen-dant below the surface of the runway to prevent damage to low-undercarriage aircraft, the pen-dant and the pavement below the pendant during trampling These systems can accommodate

44

Figure A2.8. BA


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dant, and the pavement below the pendant during trampling. These systems can accommodate150, 200, and 300 foot-wide runways, but you order the system to suit the specific application.The control side BAK-12 pit or protective shelter and foundation must be expanded to house thecompressed air and control systems needed to operate this supplemental system. The site and util-ity considerations for installation are in T.O. 35E8-2-8-1, Operation, Maintenance, and Installa-tion Instructions With Illustrated Parts Breakdown, Hook Cable Support System, Model BAK-14.

A2.2.6.2. The Type H hook cable support system ( Figure A2.9 .) is a bi-directional hook cablesupport system that can be used in conjunction with any type of energy-absorbing device. It pro-vides a means to raise a cable at least 2 inches above a runway surface or lower it below the run-way surface in less than 1.5 seconds. It can be supplied to accommodate runway widths of 46, 60,

and 90 meters (150, 200, and 300 feet). A radio remote control system provides ATC the means tooperate the system and to monitor its operational status. It mainly consists of Retraction Modules(from 14 to 18, depending on runway width) installed into pre-cast concrete blocks across the run-way, and connected together by metallic rods, to form a rigid loop. This loop is actuated by anelectro-hydraulic motor that is located in a concrete pit on one side of the runway. Detailed infor-mation (Description – Operation – Maintenance – IPL), are provided in AERAZUR TechnicalManual 256-722, Type H45-200 Retractable Hook Cable System . Installation drawings are avail-able from the manufacturer.


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F-111’s farewelled after 37 years of service“The retirement of the F-111 fleet marks a significant milestone in the history ofAustralian military aviation. The long range strike bombers have supported

Australia’s national security by providing a potent strategic deterrent,”Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare said.

Since their introduction in 1973, the F-111s have undergone numerous airframe,engine, weapons and avionics upgrades. The aircraft could fly at two and a half

times the speed of sound at high altitude, or at supersonic speeds at low levels,using its terrain-following capabilities to avoid detection.”


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http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Dec/20101203d/20101203raaf8494074_0005.jpg

“Six F-111’s from No. 6 Squadron flewpast in formation to signify the final flightof the F-111 aircraft. 03 December 2010”

F-111BUSS Coral S

JUMP http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0- bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a9764d04f-89e9-46a8-8243- bc1837e68bc2&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Dec/20101203d/20101203raaf8494074_0005.jpghttp://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Dec/20101203d/20101203raaf8494074_0005.jpghttp://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Dec/20101203d/20101203raaf8494074_0005.jpghttp://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-%20bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a9764d04f-89e9-46a8-8243-%20bc1837e68bc2&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDesthttp://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-%20bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a9764d04f-89e9-46a8-8243-%20bc1837e68bc2&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDesthttp://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-%20bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a9764d04f-89e9-46a8-8243-%20bc1837e68bc2&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest


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“...an incident that helped putan end to the U.S. Navy’s F-111B, a fighter version of the oldstrike bomber. It was recounted by Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly in E. T. Wooldridge (ed.),“Into the Jet Age: Conflict and Change in Naval Aviation 1945-1975, An Oral History” , Naval Institute Press, 199

Connolly recalled a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Sen. John Stennis, who asked Connollywhether he would prefer to persist with the F-111B or switch to a new fighter. “I said, ‘I’d go for the new fighter.’ “Then he saidto me, ‘How would you feel about the F-111B if new engines were put in to overcome the lack of power?’ “I said, ‘Theenough thrust in all Christendom to make that airplane a fighter.’ But Is There Enough Thrust in China? Bradley Perrett 04

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/images/media/F111B_Carrier_30_43632_1267828237_8179.jpg F-111B Trials USS Coral Sea 1968“Cat Shot: http://www.codeonemagazine.com/gallery_slideshow.html?item_id=930 In this rare photograph, one of the seven General Dynamics-Grumman F-111B test aircraft built for the US Navy iscatapulted off the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) during sea trials in 1968. The F-111B was developed to meet Secretary ofDefense Robert McNamara's call for common Air Force and Navy fighters. Although quite similar in appearance, theNavy variant had a number of differences from the land-based F-111. With a gross weight of close to 77,000 pounds,the F-111B was one of the heaviest aircraft to ever operate off a carrier. Although the F-111B program was eventuallycancelled the a ionics and fire control s stem de eloped for this aircraft that allo ed cre s to fire the er long

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/images/media/F111B_Carrier_30_43632_1267828237_8179.jpghttp://www.codeonemagazine.com/gallery_slideshow.html?item_id=930http://www.codeonemagazine.com/gallery_slideshow.html?item_id=930http://www.codeonemagazine.com/images/media/F111B_Carrier_30_43632_1267828237_8179.jpg


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cancelled, the avionics and fire control system developed for this aircraft that allowed crews to fire the very longrange AIM-54 Phoenix missile ultimately found application in the Navy's F-14 Tomcat.”


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http://thanlont.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/a-brief-history-of-f-111b-flight-test.html

A Brief History of the F-111B Flight Test Program 13 JulTommy H. Thomason http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rn5QEY6IIws/U8LjDwRWuYI/AAAAAAAAGxo/FVMS5WFXbPw/s1600/Program+Overview.jpg

http://thanlont.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/a-brief-history-of-f-111b-flight-test.htmlhttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rn5QEY6IIws/U8LjDwRWuYI/AAAAAAAAGxo/FVMS5WFXbPw/s1600/Program+Overview.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rn5QEY6IIws/U8LjDwRWuYI/AAAAAAAAGxo/FVMS5WFXbPw/s1600/Program+Overview.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rn5QEY6IIws/U8LjDwRWuYI/AAAAAAAAGxo/FVMS5WFXbPw/s1600/Program+Overview.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rn5QEY6IIws/U8LjDwRWuYI/AAAAAAAAGxo/FVMS5WFXbPw/s1600/Program+Overview.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rn5QEY6IIws/U8LjDwRWuYI/AAAAAAAAGxo/FVMS5WFXbPw/s1600/Program+Overview.jpghttp://thanlont.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/a-brief-history-of-f-111b-flight-test.html


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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/F-111B_CVA-43_approach_July1968.jpg

Click above for ‘Dump and

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/F-111B_CVA-43_approach_July1968.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/F-111B_CVA-43_approach_July1968.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/F-111B_CVA-43_approach_July1968.jpg


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http://www.micom.net/oops/Oh%20Shit.jpg‘Dump (fuel) and-Burn’ (it) Display

Two RAAF F- Canberra, A

http://www.micom.net/oops/Oh%20Shit.jpg


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Final flameout heralds the last year of the ‘Pig’Singapore Air Show » February 2, 2010 by David Donaldhttp://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singapore-air-show/2010-02-01/final-flameout-heralds-last-year-pig-

“... the highlight is the “dump and burn.” Thanks to the F-111’s un-ique design the fuel jettison pipe is located between the nozzles of

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singapore-air-show/2010-02-01/final-flameout-heralds-last-year-pighttp://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singapore-air-show/2010-02-01/final-flameout-heralds-last-year-pig


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ique design the fuel jettison pipe is located between the nozzles of

the TF30 engines, but there’s an art to creating the spectacular “dra-gon’s tail” torching effect, as Parsons explained to AIN: “The fuelcomes out of the dump-pipe as liquid, but then it mixes with the air tocreate a volatile mixture. You need to be in max afterburner or else itjust won’t light. As we approach for the pass I push the engines to

full afterburner. When they’re in full burner I call ‘Dump On,’ Fuzzyactivates the dump and the mixture ignites. We fly the pass, and atthe end call: ‘Dump Off,’ before powering back from full after-burner.

“We do two dump-and-burn passes in the show. One is the‘dragon pass’ with the wings at 72 degrees sweep. Then wedo the ‘dirty’ run, with the wings forward at 16 degrees sweep.It may look quite slow, but we’re still doing 250 knots.”

F-111 Retires From [RAAF] Service By Eric Hehs - 3 February 2011 http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=“The operational career of the F-111 came to an end on 3 December 2010 at RAAF Amberley near Brisbane, Australia, as a crew inan F-111C (serial number A8-125) of the Royal Australian Air Force touched down for the aircraft’s last landing. The RAAF hadoperated the F-111 since 1973. A8-125 was the first F-111C to land at Amberley that year.Australia ordered twenty-four of the swing-wing F-111s in November 1963, thirteen months before the aircraft was first flown.Picking the F-111 was seen by many as a bold move by the RAAF, but the Australian government viewed the aircraft as the rightsolution for its need for a long-range strike aircraft.

Delivery to the RAAF was delayed by a series of mishaps during the US Air Force’s first combat deployment with the F-111 inVietnam in 1968. It was also delayed by structural problems. The first six F-111Cs arrived at RAAF Amberley on 1 June 1973,

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=65http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=65http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=65


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making Australia the first—and, as history showed, the only—international operator to ever fly the aircraft. The US retired itsF-111s in 1996.

The Australian F-111Cs were unique to the RAAF. They had the longer wings, sturdier undercarriage, and bigger brakes of theFB-111 nuclear-capable bomber version of the aircraft ordered by the US Air Force. But the F-111C retained the inlets, engines,and avionics installed in the F-111A. The RAAF also opted for the self-protection system equipment of the later F-111Es. AirCombat Officers—weapons systems officers who sat in the right seat—had a control stick on their side of the cockpit and weretaught to land the aircraft in case of emergency.

Four F-111As were added to the RAAF fleet in 1982. These aircraft, all veterans of Vietnam operations, were modified with thelonger wingtips and heavier landing gear of the F-111Cs.

The RAAF acquired another fifteen US Air Force F-111s beginning in 1993. These aircraft, called F-111Gs, were all formerFB-111s operated by Strategic Air Command and modified in the late 1980s with digital avionics for tactical duties. The aircraftwere used by the Australians mostly for conversion training and spare parts. The F-111Gs were retired by the RAAF in 2007.The F-111—affectionately and universally known in Australia as Pig for its ability to conduct missions at night with its nose in theweeds, thanks to the terrain-following radar—was continuously updated during its service.

Four aircraft were modified for reconnaissance in the early 1980s. These versions, designated RF-111Cs, used a wet film-based camera suite with high- and low-scanning cameras and an infrared line scanner. The film cameras were later converted todigital imaging equipment.

The Pave Tack infrared and laser targeting systems were added to the aircraft in the mid-1980s, along with the capability oflaunching the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship standoff missile. In the mid-1990s, the Avionics Upgrade Program incorporated digitalflight controls, digital mission computers, multifunction displays, and a new terrain-following radar. In its last decade, the aircraft

received electronic warfare updates, including a new jamming pod. They were also modified for using night-vision goggles andfor firing the AGM-142 Popeye TV-guided standoff weapon.The last RAAF unit to operate the F-111 was 6 Squadron at Amberley. The squadron flew the aircraft for the entire 37 years the

aircraft served in the RAAF.... Associate Editor Jeff Rhodes contributed to this article. Eric Hehs is the editor of Code One.


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http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/mcmaster_02/mirageIIIOparasol.jpg

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a3.htm"A3-16 Mirage IIIO(F) Delivered 18/06/65. Served with 75 Sqn Williamtown NSW. Served with76 Sqn Williamtown NSW. Served with ARDU. Served with 77 Sqn Williamtown NSW.

Damaged on wheels up landing at Tullamarine VIC. Written Off. Pilot; Nick Ford a FLTLT orSQNLDR — with ARDU. Under restoration a t Classic Fighter Jets Museum, Parafield SA."http://www.classicjets.com/c_Mirage.html"A3-16 landed wheels up at Tullamarine Airport, Victoria, on 24 Oct 1974 and was convertedto components for disposal in 1986. The Mirage airframe has survived scrapping over theyears and was finally acquired by CJFM in 1992. It was brought to the CJFM hangar in 1996.Despite enormous difficulties in finding Mirage airframe parts, sufficient components weregathered to ensure the restoration of this beautiful aircraft. A3-16 saw service with theAircraft Research and Development Unit and is now painted in original RAAF AircraftResearch and Development Unit colours and markings."

www.adf-serials.com (forum)http://www.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/mcmaster_02/mirageIIIOparasol.jpghttp://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/mcmaster_02/mirageIIIOparasol.jpghttp://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a3.htmhttp://www.classicjets.com/c_Mirage.htmlhttp://www.classicjets.com/c_Mirage.htmlhttp://www.adf-serials.com/http://www.classicjets.com/c_Mirage.htmlhttp://www.adf-serials.com/http://www.classicjets.com/c_Mirage.htmlhttp://www.classicjets.com/c_Mirage.htmlhttp://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a3.htm


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(inadvertant) (Tullamarine) (24th)

Here is an account of a FHantom touch and go OUCH: http://www.angelfire.com/extreme/raafphantoms/RAAFF4E.htm

"Another incident involved a wheels-up touch and go, which was more embarrassing for the crewas the damage was minimal. The aircraft touched down on the 374 gallon tanks and went aroundafter the horrible noise. The crew then lowered the gear and landed normally. The damage waslimited to a new set of tanks and inboard flaps, which were replaced the next day and after a fewground checks, the aircraft was back in the air three days later. The F-4E was built like a truck."

www.adf serials.com (forum)"…the fireies later that day… they said that the pilot was sitting on the wing tip before the aircraft had even stopped, andwhen it slowed down enough he jumped and ran. One of the fire trucks had to chase after him. He was the only pilot inthe world to survive a Mirage belly landing, when any of our Mirages had undercarriage problems the pilots bailed out."

classicjets.com/

c_Mirage.html

http://www.angelfire.com/extreme/raafphantoms/RAAFF4E.htmhttp://www.adf-serials.com/http://www.classicjets.com/c_Mirage.htmlhttp://www.classicjets.com/c_Mirage.htmlhttp://www.adf-serials.com/http://www.classicjets.com/c_Mirage.htmlhttp://www.angelfire.com/extreme/raafphantoms/RAAFF4E.htm


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See next page

http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-January-28-1983.pdf

“In 1984, while on a night flight around Darwin during operation "Pitch Black", the aircraft suffered anundercarriage malfunction and was not able to make a normal approach and landing. The crew, FLGOFF

J.F.Barden and PLTOFF J.P.Conlon , who was a student pilot, ejected at 3,000 ft at a speed of 200 kts(very scary) and luckily neither man suffered any serious injury. In all, more than 40 of the RAAF's116 Mirages crashed during the operational life of the aircraft, which was from to 1963 to 1989.”

p: www.a -s erials.com/3a3.

s html

RAAMir

A3-1Recove

both Pilots esafely -

ApPhoto

U

http://www.austradesecure.com/radschool/Vol21/page7.htm

http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-January-28-1983.pdfhttp://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-January-28-1983.pdfhttp://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-January-28-1983.pdfhttp://www.adf-serials.com/3a3.shtmlhttp://www.adf-serials.com/3a3.shtmlhttp://www.adf-serials.com/3a3.shtmlhttp://www.austradesecure.com/radschool/Vol21/page7.htmhttp://www.austradesecure.com/radschool/Vol21/page7.htmhttp://www.adf-serials.com/3a3.shtml


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wo sea er rage

p: www.a gallery/

WNUNKBur105_Darwin

Uvia Wal N

“J.P. Conlon died in 1997 ina hang gliding accident nearDarwin when he was XO ofNo.75 Squadron (Hornets).”

w

http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Mirage-III-A3-105/WNUNKBuried20Mirage1_A3_105_Darwin_Apr_1984?full=1http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Mirage-III-A3-105/WNUNKBuried20Mirage1_A3_105_Darwin_Apr_1984?full=1http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Mirage-III-A3-105/WNUNKBuried20Mirage1_A3_105_Darwin_Apr_1984?full=1http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Mirage-III-A3-105/WNUNKBuried20Mirage1_A3_105_Darwin_Apr_1984?full=1http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Mirage-III-A3-105/WNUNKBuried20Mirage1_A3_105_Darwin_Apr_1984?full=1http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-April-18-1980.pdf


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A

http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-April-18-1980.pdf


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http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Navy_News-March-21-1980.pdf 11.3

http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Navy_News-March-21-1980.pdf


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Nobby pretending to be a KIWI

from No. 75 Squadron RNZAF

VC-1 TA-4 photo via Jos Herculanovia ‘skyhawkstudygroup’ e-mail-

“LTJG LUCY YOUNG”painted on the canopy side


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MELBOURNE RIMPAC List A4Gs Embarked (A4Gs Temporarily Dis-embarking NAS Barbers Point, then Re-embarking): Nov 1971; Aug1972; Ex. ‘Hula Girl’ Sep 1973; Mar 1975; Mar 1977; Jun 1978; Mar 1980

Photo & caption from ‘Slipstream’ magazine Oct 2000 Vol.11 No.4


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http

chana

chick_ _pilot

ciati

http://www.kaimanaaviation.com/sorp0603.html

“Andrea [Rice] died May 30th [2003] ,in the crash of an L-39 that she waspiloting while formation flying in pre-paration for an air show. Andrea was aUAL pilot, formerly a Captain at HAL,and an A-4 pilot based at Barber’s

Point.""30th May 2003 Private OwnershipL-39 N139RH [Belonged to the Air-shows America team] Crashed duringan airshow rehearsal at the NewJerusalem Airport near Modesto,California. Impacted the ground afterperforming several aileron rolls. Pilot, Andrea Ellen Rice, was killed. ” http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/L_39_Albatros_AERO.htm

Lucy B. Young—VC-1Skyhawk pilot 1978-80

Commercial Jet Pilot, US Air ways,B.S. Biology 1976, Purdue

“The biology degree from Purdue was thelaunching pad of a very satisfying and funcareer.”

Lucy B. Young was born in Water-bury, Connecticut on September 9, 1954

d i d i R b C ti t tt d

instructed student naval aviators in phasesof advanced strike training, and carrier quali-

ed on the USS Lexington in May 1982.Leaving active duty in July 1983, LTYoung accepted a commission in the NavalReserve and a position in Atlanta, Geor-gia as the rst female FAA Test Pilot, whereshe performed ight tests on aircraft, avion -ics and navigation equipment for FAA certi-

cation. LT Young a liated with VA-2267 inJanuary 1984 then joined VR-58, NAS Jack-

ill i D b 1984 i th C 9B

pilot time in over 40 di erent aircraft. She iscurrently ying as International First O cer

on the Airbus A-319/320/321 for USAirwaysbased at Boston Logan International Airport,and ies to destinations throughout the United States, Caribbean and Mexico.

“Pursuing a degree in biology at Pur-due turned out to be a very good choicefor someone like myself who was adventur-ous and gravitated toward the life sciencesas part of a concern for the environment. I

ld ’t it t d t d th ld

http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/chick_fighter_pilots_association.htmlhttp://www.windsofchange.net/archives/chick_fighter_pilots_association.htmlhttp://www.windsofchange.net/archives/chick_fighter_pilots_association.htmlhttp://www.windsofchange.net/archives/chick_fighter_pilots_association.htmlhttp://www.windsofchange.net/archives/chick_fighter_pilots_association.htmlhttp://www.windsofchange.net/archives/chick_fighter_pilots_association.htmlhttp://www.kaimanaaviation.com/sorp0603.htmlhttp://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/L_39_Albatros_AERO.htmhttp://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/L_39_Albatros_AERO.htmhttp://www.kaimanaaviation.com/sorp0603.htmlhttp://www.windsofchange.net/archives/chick_fighter_pilots_association.html


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and raised in Roxbury, Connecticut, attend-ing Shepaug Valley High School in Wash-ington, Connecticut. She was selected for afour year Navy ROTC scholarship to attendPurdue University from which she graduat-ed with a B.S. degree in 1976. Upon gradua-tion, she was commissioned an Ensign in theUS Navy and sent to Attack Squadron Forty-Two (VA-42) at NAS Oceana, Virginia. Select-ed for ight training in August l976, she re -ported to Pensacola, Florida in October 1976.Flying the T-28 Trojan and the T-44 King Air,

ENS Young won her wings of gold in October1977, after which she was selected for JetTransition Training.

After qualifying in the TA-4J Skyhawk,she reported to Fleet Composite SquadronOne (VC-1), NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii whereshe accumulated over 1000 hours in a vari-ety of eet support missions for Paci c eetunits and multinational exercises. LT Youngquali ed as a Section Leader, InstructorPilot and Air Combat Maneuvering Pilot whilein VC-1, then received orders to TrainingSquadron Twenty-One (VT-21), NAS Kings-ville, Texas. As a TA-4J ight instructor, she

sonville in December 1984 ying the C-9Baircraft. In November 1985 LCDR Young re -ported to VR-46, NAS Atlanta, Georgia.

In May 1986 Lucy began training as aBoeing 727 Flight Engineer with PiedmontAirlines in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. InOctober of 1987 she upgraded to First Of-

cer on the Boeing 737, ying out of Char -lotte. Promoted to Commander in July 1991,she transferred to VTU-6767 at NAS Atlan-ta in March 1992. In over six years with VR-46, CDR Young accumulated over 1600 hours

in the C-9 and quali ed as a Transport Air -craft Commander with over water/interna-tional quali cation. She is a veteran of Des -ert Shield/Storm and ew missions to SaudiArabia, Egypt, Greece and Israel during thiscon ict.

Lucy is a member of the Ninety-Nines,Women in Aviation, Association of Naval Avi-ation, and Women Military Aviators. She isan Air Safety Representative for the Air LinePilots Association, and is a retired Naval Re-serve Captain. She holds the Air TransportPilot, Flight Engineer and Certi ed Flight In -structor ratings and has over 13,000 hours of

couldn’t wait to graduate and see the worldin the Navy, but I knew I needed a solid science background for the military and any en-vironmental work afterward. Academically,the biological science degree was excellentpreparation for military aviation. The chem-istry and the biology background facilitatedthe physiological training and survival train-ing. The core courses in physics and mathwere helpful for the study of aerodynamics,high altitude ying, turboprop and turbojetfunction. The required English courses and

innumerable lab reports were invaluable inwriting evaluations as an o cer and reportsas a ight test pilot. All this training enabled me to pursue my career as a commer-cial pilot and attain the goals that I set whenleaving the military. Environmental science istill of great interest to me as well.

The skills mastered in obtaining a bio-logical science degree provide women withan excellent foundation for a multitude of

elds, military or civilian. The biology degrefrom Purdue was the launching pad of a verysatisfying and fun career.” http://www.biology.purdue.edu/people/alumni/profles/young.htm

RAN A4G 887

http://www.biology.purdue.edu/people/alumni/profiles/young.htmhttp://www.biology.purdue.edu/people/alumni/profiles/young.htm


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The code phrase “chicks in tow” used by a refuelling tanker is perhaps not politically correct today similarto the HMAS Melbourne 25th Anniversary booklet comment on the right to the main photo shown here

c c e ow

for sound

http://nanarchive.omnitecinc.com/19801989.aspxhttp://nanarchive.omnitecinc.com/19801989.aspx


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NavalAviationNewsJuly 1980

http://nanarchive.omnitecinc.com/19801989.aspx

http://nanarchive.omnitecinc.com/19801989.aspxhttp://nanarchive.omnitecinc.com/19801989.aspx


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Late in 1979 — Photo from Michae

The

Tiny

Tanke

‘Tink


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1979 — Photo seriesby Michael Sandberg


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RAAF Williamtown


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P‘Touch & Go’ (Hook Up) with Speed-brakes coming in with Full Throttleduring Overshoot (‘Crash and Dash’)


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P

Photo by


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Sblt Ray W


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Please seen next pages to view the end ofRAN FAA Sea Furies – 30th October 1962

VF-805 Squadron Linebook page


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R.I.P. RAN FAA Sea Furies


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VF-805 disbanded 30 June 1982


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L to R: Leut John Bartels; Lcdr Gary Northern CO; Major Chuck Smith USMC;Lcdr Peter Clark SP; Leut Gary Osmond; Sblt Dave Baddams; Sblt Paul Kalade

How Capt Jo n Barte s save a Qantas um o AIR LINE veteran Capt John Ba rtels is no str anger to di f cult

ying.He ew with the Skyhawks in Royal Australian Navy squad -

ron 724 until the eet was retired in 1983, and is a keen aviationphotographer.Former navy photographer Bevin Stringer yesterday said

Capt Bartels’ efforts, taking photos as he ew planes, had pro -duced amazing photos.

“He’s got the best air-to-air photos of Skyhawks I’ve everseen,” Mr Stringer said.

Yesterday, Capt Bartels a nd his co-pilot, Werni nghausBernd, had less than a minute to launch an emergency drill thatsaved all aboard Qantas Boeing VH-OJK.

At 29,000 feet that is a ll the t ime allowed t o stay consciousand alive without oxygen.

Their abil ity to respond quick ly was lear ned in regula rpractise, as part of the qualifying dri ll aircrew must pass every

25 Jul 2008

Also served in last iteration of VF-805


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few months to keep their quali cations.Breathing oxygen on the ight deck and with all controls working, they would have had l ittle tr ouble taking t he plane tothe safer altitude of 10,000 feet, where the 19 crew and 345 pas -sengers could breath without help.

Trevor Jensen, a former Qa ntas 747 check captain with8,000 hours logged on jumbos, and now chairman of the Austral -ian Aviation Safety Foundation, explained last night the proce -dures that took place on the ight deck.

Yesterday Capt John Bartels and Fi rst Of cer Bernd on hi sright, would have been enjoying a restful morning as the 747cruised on its ight from Hong Kong to Melbourne.

But a bang from the lower fuselage caused them to react asthey had many times in the training simulators.

Capt Bartels’ and Bernd’s ears blocked, a telltale sign thecockpit and passenger cabins were fast losing air pressure.

“By then they would have had their oxygen masks on, andcarrying out the emergency descent code of applying the thrustlevers and speed brake,” Capt Jensen said.

“For the next six minutes the plane would have been ondescent to 10,000 feet, a safe altitude where masks could betaken off and those on board could breathe normally and withoutassistance.

“The fuel aboard would not have been a problem.“With full hydraulics they would have been able to y nor -

mally, alert Manila of their emergency and prepare for a normallanding.

“What they did was a fairly straightforward manoeuvre.“The important message for people is this is why you should

watch the regula r in- ight sa fety brie ngs.“The crew would not have known what happened until they

got down on the ground.“All they would have known was that there was a hole some -

where in the cabin.”

“Dr Kane said the pilot CaBartels spoke to passeng

the plane landed andthem for being calm

standing ovation,

http://www.news.cheraldsun/story/0,

24079908-2862

http://www.nheraldsun/st

24079709

John Bartels

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24079908-2862,00.htmlhttp://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24079908-2862,00.htmlhttp://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24079908-2862,00.htmlhttp://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24079709-2862,00.htmlhttp://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24079709-2862,00.htmlhttp://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24079709-2862,00.htmlhttp://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24079709-2862,00.htmlhttp://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24079908-2862,00.html


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RAAF Pearce Graduation No.109 Pilot Course18 Sep ??

LEUTJohn

Bartelson

right


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Click for inflight caphone video & la

[Standing] John Bartelsin earlier times as anObserver later an A4GPilot in the RAN FAA

(*see other pagesin this same PDF)


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25th July 2008 Manila

JohnBartelswithMirandaKerr inMay2014


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SBLT Paul K


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LCDR Peter C

Photo by John Bartels


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http://www.aircraftslides.com/Auction/AuctionDetail.aspx?ID=432891

Ferried from

Nowra to Ohakeaon 20 July 1984

http://www.aircraftslides.com/Auction/AuctionDetail.aspx?ID=432891http://www.aircraftslides.com/http://www.aircraftslides.com/Auction/AuctionDetail.aspx?ID=432891


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FOR SALE — 1984


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NZ6214 was RAN A4G 887


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This group of RNZAF Skyhawk pilots took part in a 18 Skyhawk formation flypast 08 April 1987 for RNZAF 50th Anniversary


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ImPh

RNZAF 50thAnniversary Flypast 1987


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‘Kiwi Red’ “On the Road” 1991

Photo by Glen Tur


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Refuelling from VC-10

Vanguard 199Kuantan MalaysiFormer 887 now NZ6214


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No.2 Squadron RNZAF family day (at sea) low fl


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ran faa skyhawk a4g 887 aircraft history

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