Mysteries, Chemtrails, Aerosols :: Mysterious NZ

ruapaka · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 339

Gidday all ...

I have been rushing to get this observation to you all .... not sure whether I should be in this forum area but I couldn't find anything that would fit ...

I heard a huge drone of an aircraft ... a large dark green or grey coloured airforce looking plane swung into the lower Pelorus Valley from North direction then proceeded up the Valley - I dashed for camera and managed to get a pic - humble but proof ... (links below for images including a cropped enlargement). You can see in the original pic just how low it was flying ... I ran to get a better position so I could see where it went - no where in sight, nor could I hear it ... I am guessing it veered SW direction - toward Richmond ranges. ???? When I first saw it, the plane was semi-sideways as it was finishing its turn. I reckon (a few years back) I might have been able to hit it with a stone - it was low and close.

It is the same type of plane I reported seeing a few weeks back when in Blenheim.

I have no idea what type - I had a look - nothing found yet - not listed on RNZAF website ... have a better look later - or maybe someone will know - info4?.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44694153@N00/2311176779/sizes/o/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44694153@N00/2311176021/sizes/o/

steve clougher · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:55 pm Post Subject:

the plane looks like a Catalina, (or a relative), ruapaka, at first glance

they have a large tailplane, set high, and i believe are amphibious, (can land on water or tarmac,) and are routinely used for fire-fighting........landing on a lake or inlet repeatedly, scooping up water each time , then dumping it on a fire

any fires about ?

the Catalina has some less common, related models, but they all have high mainplanes and high tails, to clear the water

flying that low, is also compatible with firefighting operations

ruapaka · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 339

Hi Steve

Thanks for the input :-) ... I went and looked up the Catalina and it was nothing like what I saw. The photo I took is not a good one.

The only aircraft I have seen in the valley is the odd jet. Not one like the above in the 12 years I have lived here. It was very close when it past our house - if I had not chosen to get the camera I could have got a better look - details.

No markings that I could see. I am sure I saw only 1 engine on the wing and I think I saw a propeller ?? ... The nose was rounded - no point or extension. I am almost certain it was dark green (my first thought).

I have been and had a browse for look-a-likes ... Boeing had a plane very similar in shape C-17 ... the same front end and the tail angle, but it has two engines and I am sure I only saw 1. The colour of the C-17 in link below is about what I saw.

http://www.combataircraft.com/aircraft/cc17.aspx

secondfield · Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 377

At first glance it looks like a C-130 Hercules.

Maybe prudent to ring Woodburne air base in Blenheim to see if any RNZAF aircraft were in the area at the time.

Doubt it would have been a globemaster, there monsters, would've shaken the ground and caused coronary's at that altitude.

steve clougher · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:32 pm Post Subject:

Hercules or similar, has my vote now.......looks like four engines from the photo, because on prop-driven planes, usually you find the engine very near the fuselage, if there's only one, and from the photo there is an engine stuck way out on the wing, therefore there probably is another one ?

only from the photo.......if you saw one engine per wing, that is probably better data

from my experience on tuna boats, the crew in those Hercules (and Orions..? are there Orions in NZ ?) do huge long sorties, and get bored out of their trees

we had them appear like thunderbolts out of the sun, just above mast height, before turning on their radio, and quizzing us in cultivated boarding-school accents

ruapaka · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 339

Thanks heaps Steve & Secondfield for helpful responses ...

I too thought the globemaster looked too big - but the nose shape and tail end were familiar.

The engine / s ?? a sticking point, eh? The mind and the eye do not always agree. I know nothing about planes. I cannot be 100% sure about 1 engine - makes sense, Steve, about the viewable engine being one of two. As the plane passed it was tilted (turning) with its belly exposed - I was looking directly at the cockpit at first sighting - as it swept past, my line of vision could have caught sight of the outer engine on the right wing, which might explain why my mind's eye remembers only 1.

I googled C-130 and I reckon that's the one. (I thought a hercules was a helicopter. See how much I know. LOL) Thanks to you both I have learned something. :D

It was an unusual sighting for around these parts. I WILL give the base a call and ask about planes in the area - let you know the response.

Hector · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 266 Location: Wellington

I think it was a Hercules, too. Probably on a low level nav. exercise.

I don't think RNZAF Woodourne would know anything about it. If I were you I would call Base Ops at Whenuapai.

magical1 · Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Wellington

So tell me....

I am fascinated by you! bet you don't get that very often eh!! hahahaha

Honestly! you come in and out of this board like a B-2 Spirit.

I would love to know what makes you tick... are you a hater? or do you have some sort of belief in the truth that others on this board are looking for?

One minute I think I can read you the next you confuse the B jeezus out of me... your feedback would be welcome...

Deano · Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 741

magical1 · Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Wellington

Yes I was.... whoops... a reply from him would be most welcome

info4 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Posts: 165

Probably a bit late now but C130 is what it looks like to me

Classic fat fuselage, high straight wing on top of fuselage with 4 engines

And they would fly pretty low sometimes, been in them my self and yes they do do it for fun.

I guess thats why some of the pilots still stay with the air force rather than go fly commercial for the big bucks

Ya don't see too many 747's flying among the trees :D

ruapaka · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 339

Thanks everyone - I think the aircraft has been identified.

I read on the RNZAF website that the 5 Hercules were acquired in 1965 and 1969. Is this old for a plane ? - given the rate at which technologies have advanced. I read that some upgrades are currently underway and other upgrades forthcoming.

RNZAF Projects ... re C-130 .... (from website).

NZDF programmes on the current LTDP for RNZAF capabilities which are already in contract include:

life extension to the C-130H Hercules fleet, by structural upgrades and extensive modifications to communications and navigation equipment; ....

NZDF programmes on the current LTDP for RNZAF capabilities which have yet to reach contract include:

upgrade of self-protection equipment on the C-130H Hercules which provides defence against infra-red Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS); ...

excerpt from Projects - C-130 Hercules

..... Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) in NZ in 2008. SPAR have sub-contracted the remaining aircraft for modification at Safe Air Ltd, facility in Blenheim.

Maybe the C-130 I observed was on a test run - maybe the navigational upgrades need a tweak. LOL

Thanks Hector for the advice - but with Safe Air at Woodbourne base being sub-contracted for some of the Hercules modifications, they might just know about a Hercules in the area. I'll give it a go - if no luck I'll try Auckland (Whenuapai).

steve clougher · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:42 pm Post Subject:

don't ya love the mili-speak:

"defence against defence systems"

LOL

ruapaka · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 339

I have not yet made contact with either Woodbourne or Auckland bases today .... I was sort of hijacked by a friend who needed some help with a job in Blenheim.

Guess what I saw on the way into Blenheim ... you got it - the same type of plane I saw in the valley. The plane was still climbing after take-off from Woodbourne base - it flew straight up the Wairau Valley until I lost sight of it. Not the usual direction planes are seen flying around there. It all adds up ... looks like the C-130s are being evaluated/tested with regard to modifications.

I will still make the call - tomorrow if poss, otherwise first thing Monday.

PS: I also spotted a broken segment of persistent trail hanging in the Wairau valley. I watched two planes heading north leave lengthy trails that dissipated quickly and evenly. Some persistent and some normal contrails today over Blenheim.

ruapaka · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 339

I have copied a news item in today's The Marlborough Express online. Explains everything ....

Herculean task to give crew necessary training
Maike van der Heide - The Marlborough Express | Friday, 07 March 2008

The impressive view of low-flying military aircraft will continue over the next week, as the annual Skytrain exercise roars over Marlborough.

The exercise for the Royal New Zealand Air Force 40 Squadron focuses on tactical low-level flying and delivering loads on target.

Since Tuesday, one C-130 Hercules was used for the exercise, with a second Hercules expected to arrive on Sunday.

A Singaporean Hercules and French Casa were also at Base Woodbourne performing similar exercises.

Camp warrant officer for 40 Squadron, Russell Martin, said about 230 squadron members who were usually at Auckland's Whenuapai base, would be stationed at Base Woodbourne until March 14. They would complete about three flights a day during this time with the aim of giving the crew flying experience they wouldn't usually get, and giving others the skills they needed to reach their qualifications.

Mr Martin said the low-level flying was used to go below radars and stay out of sight. Tactical flying meant soaring through valleys, past hillsides and learning to perform tight turns and loops.

Dropping loads on designated drop zones was designed to teach the crews to deliver supplies such as weapons, food or aid into isolated areas from the sky, Mr Martin said.

The drop zones are set up in the hills around Blenheim with everything from wood and 40-gallon drums of water to farm bikes and army Landrovers being pushed out the back of the Hercules. An attached parachute then guides the load to its target which drops from the aircraft which moves at 350kmh.

Mr Martin said the Hercules had flown as far as Westport this week.

The RNZAF contingent is being helped by soldiers from the New Zealand Army, who put together the loads in large tents erected at Base Woodbourne.

He said the Skytrain was held in a different part of New Zealand each year so the terrain did not become familiar to participants.

The squadron members generally stay in tents to test their flexibility in different situations, he said. However, this time, squadron leaders were staying at Base Woodbourne's barracks.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/4429780a6008.html

steve clougher · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:46 pm Post Subject:

well, ruapaka, they didn't get under your radar

those squadron leaders are going to get soft !

it's a beautiful time of year to be camping

Hector · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 266 Location: Wellington

Ah-huh. Skytrain! I was the MetMan at Skytrain, Napier Airport in March 1996.
My shortest morning flight briefing was "Good, good and Nil" for visibility, ceiling and turbulence.

Riding in the jump seat of a Herc at 250 feet AGL in steep country is an experience you never forget!

It was under canvas at Napier. Excellent kitchen. I had 3 cooked meals a day and put on 5 kilos in the 14 days! Lost it again the following week.

ruapaka · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 339

I was in Blenheim today ... stopped at Woodbourne base on way home and took some images - grafted onto one image ...

There's the green C-130 I saw, plus a heap of other aircraft and land vehicles ..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44694153@N00/2320001543/sizes/o/

steve clougher · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:36 am Post Subject:

good shots, ruapaka

anyone care to have a go at identifying the three aeroplanes in the lower right pic ? the two each side of the thing with the rocket nose look identical, and have the "Vickers" look about them............. ?

secondfield · Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 377

At a breif guess the two twin engined ones could be Andovers, (or it may be the one parked by the herc...) I used to jump out of from 1000 ft while I was in the army. Broke out into a bit of a sweat seeing them.
:o

The one in the middle (cant really make out a prop) could be an old 'strikemaster' jet?. They could still use them for trainers these days (they are two seaters) . God knows why, we dont have an active strike squadron anymore.

Just a stab in the dark.

steve clougher · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:26 pm Post Subject:

good one, secondfield, 1000 ft. seems a height with a rather slender margin for error

yes, Helen has decided to equip the armed forces, with a view to supressing internal insurrection, it would seem

ruapaka · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 339

Thanks Steve - glad to be of service :-)

I was in Blenheim again today - traveled back home on 'Woodbourne Straight' around 3:00pm ..... noticed a big plane coming in for a landing at Woodbourne - same as the plane I first posted about ... sooo, a C-130 Hercules .... this one was mid-grey colour - different to those in the image.

I have seen this C-130 on two other occasions during the last couple of years - all coming in to land from NE direction.

Hector ... you appear to have fond memories of your experience of Skytrain camps. When the base and 'training camp' came into view, my first thought was Hector would probably get a kick out of that ... hope the images brought back some memories.

info4 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Posts: 165

Hector · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 266 Location: Wellington

Yes, I remember "Tent-town". There were a lot more tents in Napier; as the newspaper story says, the visitors are being put up in the barracks. The large tents near the Hercs are probably the ones being used to make up the loads for the exercise runs, as it says in the story.

All, except maybe one, of the RNZAF C130s are painted camo-grey with a flat finish. The Singapore Herc(s) are camo-green with a gloss finish, oddly enough. I suspect that the Herc in your initial photo is a Singaporean.

If you are having a lot of Hercs flying around, you will soon learn to recognise the distinctive sound they make. The Orions sound similar but different somehow; an experienced ear can tell them apart.

Mel · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Queensland

Looks like a Hercules. They are very noisy and it was flying pretty low.

A Butler · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 100 Location: Marlborough Sounds

I,m a bit slow off the mark here but we saw this plane too and I thought it looked like a Caribou similar to what we saw at the Omaka air show last year.The Aussies have them.

steve clougher · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 11:52 am Post Subject:

welcome and well done, A Butler

could be significant, the possible aussie connection