Ex-a4g 871 Via Rnzaf Kahu, Now Draken in CAMO paint

[SpazSinbad]

This may be called 'disruptive camouflage' but perhaps I'm mistaken. Anyway now instead of former GREEN RNZAF KAHU paint job is....

This post has been edited by SpazSinbad on Mar 14 2021, 05:52 PM

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[SpazSinbad]

How 145EM used to look: "Draken has been working with the 57th Adversary Tactics Group at Nellis AFB, Nevada, since late 2015, with a mix of ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force A-4Ks (seen here is N145EM, formerly NZ6215; formerly A4G 871; formerly USN A-4F BuNo 155052 - photo by Joe Copalman" AirForces Monthly Magazine Nov 2020

This post has been edited by SpazSinbad on Mar 15 2021, 04:35 AM

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[Grumpy Cobra]

And reminder of what a capability we lost with the demise of RAN fixed wing, 871 seen with "half a submarine kill" during RIMPAC 1980, am guessing image was taken in Hawaii? No location provided dated March 1980. Also some zaps visible on nose gear door, also note "805" in red on the drop tank. Looks like some of the light blue grey from the 2 tone Scooter camo used under tail rudder... great to see she is still flying with Draken. If anyone knows circumstances of the sub kill, name of sub, pilot at time would be appreciated as you do not see sub kills that often on fast air - matter of fact first time I have seen it...

aircraftslides.com

[SpazSinbad]

I'll attempt to find out the story behind the TAG under the cockpit sill. Probably every RIMPAC is held off Hawaii with the A4Gs usually disembarking for a week or so at NAS Barbers Point (now gone) west of Honolulu. Meanwhile probably ASW work would be carried out and then the A4Gs rejoin for the major exercise but I can only guess. Also the A4Gs would need to get some MADDLS (FCLP) to keep deck qualified. Usually the long trip from Oz to Hawaii means that practice is needed because they don't fly probably during the fast transit to get to Hawaii in time. It always depends on factors unknown to us at moment.

There was talk about scrambling A4Gs onboard to go after a disabled sub on the surface if need arose. Probably ZUNI rockets would be a good load as they are accurate whilst dumb bombs subject to a lot more error inputs but shrapnel could further damage the sub if bombs near missed. There are lots of variables to consider such as air burst or whatever so I'll stop there.

Pity the photo is low quality. The white in the photo has a blue tinge making the paint under the rudder 'more blue' likely and perhaps it is a variant of anti corrosion paint (which can be YELLOW amongst other colours). Again I guess. Some parts of white ARE White so the bluey part demonstrates that the slide is breaking down around the tail & probably elsewhere.

This post has been edited by SpazSinbad on May 29 2021, 11:42 AM