Misplaced Pages

#162837

62-654: The Canadair CP-107 Argus ( company designation CL-28 ) is a maritime patrol aircraft designed and manufactured by Canadair for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The Argus served throughout the Cold War in the RCAF's Maritime Air Command and later the Canadian Force's Maritime Air Group and Air Command . In 1949, Canadair recognized that the RCAF would soon be looking for a replacement for

124-652: A MPA variant of the Dassault Falcon 900 corporate jet instead. Japan has developed multiple purpose-designed MPAs during this period. The Shin Meiwa PS-1 flying boat was designed to meet a Japanese requirement for a new ASW platform. A modernised derivative of the PS-1, the ShinMaywa US-2 amphibian, was introduced during the early twenty-first century to succeed the PS-1. The land-based Kawasaki P-1

186-467: A brand new main gate duty centre which the RNZAF Police and RNZAF Security Forces personnel occupy, an international air movements terminal named after Sir Richard Bolt which was completed in 2014. This allows Ohakea the ability to accommodate international civilian flights if Wellington Airport was closed. No. 14 Squadron RNZAF reformed in 2015 to take up the initial pilot training role with

248-573: A height of 18 metres. The expense of the steel centring was spread across four hangars, as another two similar structures were ordered for RNZAF Base Auckland . The two Ohakea hangars were completed in 1939, at a cost of about £76,750 each. Ultimately, the Wellington bombers for which the hangars were built never arrived, as they were donated to Britain at the start of the Second World War , forming The New Zealand Squadron . However,

310-425: A large-scale submarine attack is a remote one, and many of the air forces and navies have been downsizing their fleets of patrol planes. Those still in service are still used for search-and-rescue, counter-smuggling, anti piracy , antipoaching of marine life, the enforcement of the exclusive economic zones , and enforcement of the laws of the seas . The earliest patrol aircraft carried bombs and machine guns. Between

372-772: A lowest cost design called the CL-33 which was described as a fat Lancaster. It would have been comparable to the Avro Shackleton already being operated by the RAF, but significantly lighter, and was to be powered by the same engines as were used in the CL-28, or similar radial engines. Canadair began work on the CL-28 in April 1954 and at the time it was the largest aircraft to be built in Canada. The hybrid design, initially referred to as

434-726: A major development at Ohakea, which would be home to 30 Wellington bombers on order for the RNZAF. Two large hangars (now hangars 2 and 3) were authorised to house the aircraft, to be designed by the Department of Public Works chief design engineer Charles Turner. Turner decided to build the hangars as monolithic reinforced concrete structures because structural steel could not be obtained in sufficient quantities without delays, while concrete and reinforcing steel could be delivered immediately. The same limitation forced Turner to adopt concrete doors. The arched hangars spanned 61 metres, with

496-484: A mine as a security measure. It sank 37 Axis submarines during the war. The Cold War era saw the introduction of the nuclear depth bomb , a depth charge with a nuclear warhead that raised the probability of a kill against a submarine to a near-certainty as long as detonation occurred. While anti-submarine warfare is the main role of patrol aircraft, their large payload capability has seen them fitted for various weaponry outside their nominal role. The Lockheed P-3 Orion

558-533: Is an operational base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force . Opened in 1939, it is located near Bulls , 25 km north-west of Palmerston North in the Manawatū . It is also used as an alternate airport for civilian aircraft. The base's motto is Defensio per vires ( Latin for defence through strength). An air base was originally proposed in the area in 1927, when Ohakea was selected as

620-444: The 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 3 (1.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 27 (12.%) since the 2006 census. There were 162 males and 87 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.86 males per female. Ethnicities were 219 people (86.9%) European/Pākehā, 27 (10.7%) Māori, 6 (2.4%) Pacific peoples, 12 (4.8%) Asian and 6 (2.4%) other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). Of

682-761: The Allies . In the Pacific theatre , the Catalina was gradually superseded by the longer-ranged Martin PBM Mariner flying boat. For the Axis Powers , there were the long-range Japanese Kawanishi H6K and Kawanishi H8K flying boats, and the German Blohm & Voss BV 138 diesel-engined trimotor flying boat, as well as the converted Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor airliner landplane. To finally close

SECTION 10

#1732801811163

744-659: The Avro Lancasters being used in the maritime patrol role and proposed the CL-29, a variant of the North Star , itself a variant of the Douglas C-54 Skymaster or DC-4 transport. When the RCAF issued the specification in 1952, it was for a larger and more capable aircraft, and two proposals were received. These included a Lockheed Constellation variant from Lockheed , however its low speed handling

806-502: The Bay of Biscay targeting U-boats starting out from their base. As a result of Allied successes with patrol aircraft against U-boats, the Germans introduced U- flak (submarines equipped with more antiaircraft weaponry) to escort U-boats out of base and encouraged commanders to remain on the surface and fire back at attacking craft rather than trying to escape by diving. However, U-flak

868-738: The Central Flying School RNZAF moved to Ohakea. Also in 1993 a new aviation wing of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum was opened at Ohakea. 14 Squadron and 75 Squadron disbanded in November 2001, and 42 Squadron relocated back to Ohakea in January 2002. There are currently around 1200 personnel based at Ohakea, which makes it the second largest Air Force base behind RNZAF Base Auckland . A plan to consolidate all RNZAF operations at Ohakea

930-502: The Falklands War in order for it to be able to attack any Argentine Air Force patrol planes they might encounter. Maritime patrol aircraft are typically fitted with a wide range of sensors: A modern military maritime patrol aircraft typically carries a dozen or so crew members, including relief flight crews, to effectively operate the equipment for 12 hours or more at a time. RNZAF Base Ohakea RNZAF Base Ohakea

992-689: The Lulu nuclear depth charge for ASW, but those were removed from the arsenal and scrapped decades ago. Produced in United States , Japan and Canada , the P-3 has been operated by the air forces and navies of United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, Iran, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand , Norway , Spain, and Taiwan. The Canadian version is called the CP-140 Aurora . During

1054-594: The Mediterranean , Adriatic and other coastal areas while the Germans and British fought over the North Sea. At first, blimps and zeppelins were the only aircraft capable of staying aloft for the longer ten hour patrols whilst carrying a useful payload while shorter-range patrols were mounted with landplanes such as the Sopwith 1½ Strutter . A number of specialized patrol balloons were built, particularly by

1116-804: The Mid-Atlantic gap , or "Black Gap", a space in which Axis submarines could prey on Allied shipping out of reach of MPAs, the British Royal Air Force , the Royal Canadian Air Force , and the US Army Air Forces introduced the American Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber , which had a very long range for the era. The B-24 was also used at the basis for the PB4Y-2 Privateer , a dedicated MPA variant adopted in large numbers by

1178-670: The Supermarine Stranraer , which had begun to be replaced by monoplanes just before the outbreak of war. The British in particular used obsolete bombers to supplement purpose-built aircraft for maritime patrol, such as the Vickers Wellington and Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley , while the US relegated the Douglas B-18 Bolo to the same role until better aircraft became available. Blimps were widely used by

1240-772: The United States Navy , especially in the warmer and calmer latitudes of the Caribbean Sea , the Bahamas , Bermuda , the Gulf of Mexico , Puerto Rico , Trinidad , and later the Azores . A number of special-purpose aircraft were also used in the conflict, including the American-made twin-engine Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats, and the large, four-engine British Short Sunderland flying boats of

1302-598: The carrier-based Grumman S-2 Tracker . During the 1970s, the P2V was entirely replaced by the Lockheed P-3 Orion , which remained in service into the early twenty-first century. The P-3, powered by four turboprop engines, is derived from the 1950s era Lockheed Electra airliner. In addition to their ASW and SAR capabilities, most P-3Cs have been modified to carry Harpoon and Maverick missiles for attacking surface ships. American P-3s were formerly armed with

SECTION 20

#1732801811163

1364-487: The 'Britannia Maritime Reconnaissance', or 'Britannia MR', was derived from the Bristol Britannia airliner, having the same wings, tail surfaces and landing gear except for being "Americanized" – meaning that it used the same general design, but changed from British materials, dimensions and standard parts to American ones. Due to the greater stresses from flying at low altitude for long periods of time, even

1426-806: The 1960s, in response to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new MPA, the Breguet 1150 Atlantic was developed by a French-led multinational consortium, Société d'Étude et de Construction de Breguet Atlantic (SECBAT). Operators of the type include the French Navy , the German Navy , the Italian Air Force , the Pakistan Navy , and the Royal Netherlands Navy . During

1488-592: The 1980s, an updated version, the Atlantic Nouvelle Génération or Atlantique 2 , with new equipment and avionics was introduced, which included a new radar, sonar processor, forward-looking infrared camera turret, and the ability to carry the Exocet anti-shipping missile. By 2005, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation had decided to terminate marketing efforts for the Atlantic, promoting

1550-546: The Argus was a mainstay for the RCAF. A large amount of equipment was carried, including: search radar, sonobuoys, electronic counter measures (ECM), explosive echo ranging (EER) and magnetic anomaly detector (MAD). Up to 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of weapons could be carried in the bomb bays, including torpedoes and depth charges. A flight crew of 15 consisting of three pilots, three navigators (Observer Long range), two flight engineers and six radio officers (observer rad) until

1612-552: The Atlantic to reduce the warning available to surfaced U-boats , while US Navy aircraft transitioned from an upper light blue-gray and lower white to an all-over dark blue due to the increasing threat of Japanese forces at night-time. In the decades following the Second World War, the MPA missions were partially taken over by aircraft derived from civilian airliners. These had range and performance factors better than most of

1674-644: The Australian Government declined to build masts, the New Zealand Government declined likewise. In 1935 the Labour government committed to an expansion of the military air service at the expense of the navy, seeing this as a way of reducing the total defence vote. At the end of 1935, the government accepted an air service expansion plan developed by RAF Wing Commander Ralph Cochrane . The plan called for several new bases, with

1736-802: The British, including the SS class airship of which 158 were built including subtypes. As the conflict continued, numerous aircraft were developed specifically for the role, including small flying boats such as the FBA Type C , as well as large floatplanes such as the Short 184 , or flying boats such as the Felixstowe F.3 . Developments of the Felixstowe served with the Royal Air Force until

1798-812: The Canadian military record of slightly over 31 hours for the longest flight by an unrefuelled aircraft, while covering a distance of 4,570 mi (7,350 km) from RNZAF Base Ohakea in New Zealand to Naval Air Station Barbers Point in Hawaii , before continuing across the rest of Pacific and most of Canada. Due to unexpectedly strong headwinds that greatly increased fuel consumption, they chose to land in RCAF Station North Bay where they had less than an hour of fuel remaining, after an additional 20 hours of flying. The 31 hour record flight broke

1860-727: The MPA is an important asset. To perform ASW operations, MPAs typically carry air-deployable sonar buoys as well as torpedoes and are usually capable of extended flight at low altitudes. The first aircraft that would now be identified as maritime patrol aircraft were flown by the Royal Naval Air Service and the French Aéronautique Maritime during the First World War , primarily on anti-submarine patrols. France, Italy and Austria-Hungary used large numbers of smaller patrol aircraft for

1922-610: The Manawatū Blokart Club based in nearby Sanson hosted the Blokarting 2022 World Championships. The 5 day event saw two days at the Sanson blokart track and three days held on the airfield tarmac at Ohakea. The Ohakea Airfield was used as a temporary motor racing circuit, predominantly in the 1950s. A 5.6-kilometre track hosted the inaugural New Zealand Grand Prix in 1950 , while a shorter 3.5-kilometre circuit hosted

Canadair CP-107 Argus - Misplaced Pages Continue

1984-791: The P-3C, which later became the sole ASW type operated by the service. The Soviet Union developed the Ilyushin Il-38 from a civilian airliner. Similarly, the Royal Canadian Air Force derived the Canadair CP-107 Argus from a British airliner, the Bristol Britannia . The Argus was superseded by the CP-140 Aurora, derived from the Lockheed Electra. Since the end of the Cold War , the threat of

2046-441: The US Navy, which saw service late on in the Pacific theatre. During the conflict, there were several developments in air-to-surface-vessel radar and sonobuoys , which enhanced the ability of aircraft to find and destroy submarines, especially at night and in poor weather. Another area of advancement was the adoption of increasingly effective camouflage schemes, which led to the widespread adoption of white paint schemes in

2108-404: The airport's strategic location between the two airports (359 km (223 mi) from Auckland and 435 km (270 mi) from Christchurch). Ohakea has the facilities to process a significant number of passengers since the completion of a new terminal in 2014. On 29 January 2017, an Emirates Airbus A380 was diverted to RNZAF Base Ohakea due to a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 blocking

2170-439: The components taken from the Britannia needed substantial reinforcement, and to meet these demands, extensive use of a locally developed metal to metal bonding was used. The Argus represented the first large scale use of titanium in the structure, as well as structural plastic, which was used to electrically insulate the top of the fin for the sensors mounted there. The fuselage was completely redesigned by Canadair, going from

2232-458: The early 1960s when the crew included both commissioned officers (tactical navigator/radio navigator) and non commissioned officers (observers), the number of which was dependent on the mission. Four crew bunks and a galley were provided to extend the efficiency of the crew on long patrols (average 18 hrs). The CL-28 had an endurance of approximately 26½ hours with full armament. An Argus flown by 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron on 1-2 October 1959 held

2294-408: The government cancelled the plan due to cost considerations. In December 2020, construction commenced on the new hangar, taxiways, and aircraft aprons for the four new P-8 Poseidon aircraft that were due to arrive in 2022. This will see No. 5 Squadron RNZAF consolidate all personnel and new aircraft to Ohakea from RNZAF Base Whenuapai . The first of the new aircraft arrived in December 2022, with

2356-548: The hangars have been in continuous use since their construction, and (re-roofed in steel) remain in use today. During the Second World War, Ohakea was the RNZAF's main training base for operational conversion to fighters, observers/navigators for medium bombers and air gunners. After the war, No. 14 Squadron RNZAF , No. 42 Squadron RNZAF and No. 75 Squadron RNZAF were re-formed at Ohakea, and No.1 Repair Depot relocated from RNZAF Base Te Rapa in Hamilton, New Zealand . In August 1966 No. 1 Flying Training School RNZAF at Wigram

2418-416: The late 1940s, the RAF introduced the Avro Shackleton  – a specialised MPA derivative of the Avro Lancaster bomber – in anticipation of a rapid expansion of the Soviet Navy 's submarine force. An improved model of the Shackleton, the MR 3 , was introduced, featuring various structural improvements, along with homing torpedoes and Mk 101 Lulu nuclear depth bombs . During

2480-430: The late 1960s, a jet-powered replacement in the form of the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod , a derivation of the De Havilland Comet airliner, begun to be introduced. During the 2000s, an improved model, the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 , was in development, but was cancelled and eventually substituted for by the Boeing P-8 Poseidon . The U.S. Navy flew a mixture of MPAs, including the land-based Lockheed P2V Neptune (P2V) and

2542-426: The main runway at Auckland International Airport because of a landing gear malfunction. The Emirates A380 was refuelled by RNZAF fuel tankers and departed for Auckland. This was the first time an A380 has landed at Ohakea. Ohakea has been the subject of a feasibility study into mixed-use military and civilian freight capability, which has included lengthening the main runway to accommodate the Boeing 747 . In 2022

Canadair CP-107 Argus - Misplaced Pages Continue

2604-408: The mid 20s, and with the US Navy as the Curtiss F5L and Naval Aircraft Factory PN whose developments saw service until 1938. During the war, Dornier did considerable pioneering work in all aluminium aircraft structures while working for Luftschiffbau Zeppelin and built four large patrol flying boats, the last of which, the Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.IV , influenced development elsewhere resulting in

2666-460: The most suitable site for a mooring mast for airships of the British Imperial Airship service . It was proposed to build one mast for a demonstration flight, with the potential for expansion to a full airship base with three masts, airship sheds and hydrogen production . However, there was no point in going ahead with the development of the site without a commitment from the Australian Government to build masts to provide bases in that country. When

2728-455: The new T-6C Texan II, resulting in disbandment of the Pilot Training Squadron. In August 2017 the Republic of Singapore Air Force based its F-16D fighters at Ohakea as a feasibility study for establishment there of a training base for its F-15 fighters. The deployment gave the RSAF opportunity to fly in more open airspace and take advantage of the unique New Zealand flying conditions and mountainous terrain not available in Singapore. However

2790-400: The operational evaluation. In July 1960, a CP-107 Argus visited Eglin AFB , Florida for hot weather testing. The Argus replaced the last of the Avro Lancasters as well as the Lockheed Neptunes that had been bought as an interim measure pending the arrival of the Argus in the maritime reconnaissance or patrol role. One of the most effective anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft of its day,

2852-425: The pressure cabin used in the Britannia to an unpressurised one with two 18 ft (5.5 m) long bomb bays fore and aft of the wings. The engines were also changed from the Bristol Proteus turboprop engines to Wright R-3350 turbo-compound piston radial engines , which had lower fuel consumption necessary for extended missions at low level. At the design stage the Napier Nomad , another turbo compound engine

2914-429: The previous distance record, set by another Argus from the same squadron, of 4,210 miles (6,780 km). The principal difference between the Mk.1 and Mk.2 was in the different navigation, communication and tactical electronic equipment fitted internally. Externally, the Mk II had a smaller redesigned nose radome and additional ECM antenna above the fuselage. The Argus flew its last service mission on 24 July 1981, and

2976-408: The remaining three aircraft scheduled for May 2023. Personnel Strength: around 1200 Ohakea is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 6.06 km (2.34 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 380 as of June 2024, with a population density of 63 people per km . It is part of the large Ohakea-Sanson statistical area. The population of Ohakea was 252 in

3038-476: The replacement of wooden hulls with metal ones, such as on the Short Singapore . The success of long range patrol aircraft led to the development of fighters specifically designed to intercept them, such as the Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 . Many of the Second World War patrol airplanes were converted from either bombers or airliners , such as the Lockheed Hudson which started out as the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra , as well as older biplane designs such as

3100-400: The small escort carriers of WWII became available to cover the deep oceans, and the land air bases in the Azores became available in mid-1943 from Portugal . As technology progressed the bombs and depth charges were supplemented with Acoustic torpedoes that could detect, follow and then explode against an enemy submarine. The US Navy began fielding the Mark 24 mine in 1943, labelled as

3162-439: The so-called "GIUK Gap" of the North Atlantic that extends from Greenland to Iceland, to the Faroe Islands , to Scotland in the United Kingdom . Air bases for NATO patrol planes have also been located in these areas: U.S. Navy and Canadian aircraft based in Greenland, Iceland, and Newfoundland; British aircraft based in Scotland and Northern Ireland ; and Norwegian, Dutch, and German aircraft based in their home countries. During

SECTION 50

#1732801811163

3224-401: The total population, 39 people (15.5%) were under 15 years old, 138 (54.8%) were 15–29, 69 (27.4%) were 30–64, and 3 (1.2%) were over 65. Ohakea functions as an alternate airport for heavy civilian aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 , if they are unable to land at Auckland or Christchurch . This is mainly due to Ohakea's runway 09/27 being the third-longest in New Zealand and

3286-437: The wars the British experimented with equipping their patrol aircraft with the COW 37 mm gun . During World War II, depth charges that could be set to detonate at specific depths, and later when in proximity with large metal objects replaced anti-submarine bombs that detonated on contact. Patrol aircraft also carried defensive armament which was necessary when patrolling areas close to enemy territory such as Allied operations in

3348-494: The wartime bombers. The latest jet-powered bombers of the 1950s did not have the endurance needed for long, overwater patrolling, and they did not have the low loitering speeds necessary for antisubmarine operations. The main threat to NATO maritime supremacy throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and the 1980s was Soviet Navy and Warsaw Pact submarines. These were countered by the NATO fleets, the NATO patrol planes mentioned above, and by sophisticated underwater listening systems. These span

3410-399: Was abandoned in March 2009 as part of a change of policy on the part of the incoming National Government who chose to retain two operational air bases, Ohakea and Whenuapai, for use by the RNZAF. In 2012 following the arrival of NH-90 and A-109 helicopters a new multi-purpose hangar was built to accommodate the 3 Squadron helicopter fleet. Another significant infrastructure has included

3472-405: Was also considered, although the Nomad was later cancelled. Seven aircraft were used for the development program, with each one specializing in specific systems or problem. Argus 20710 tested controls and stability, 20711 equipment and environment, 20712 did cold weather testing, 20713 structural tests and demonstrating RCAF requirements, while 20714 was used for weapons testing, and 20715 completed

3534-400: Was deemed inadequate by the RCAF, while Bristol proposed a variant of their Britannia airliner but concerns were raised over its floating controls, where they were controlled via servo tabs rather than direct linkages. The RCAF preferred the Bristol proposal, but it would be developed in Canada. Canadair presented two proposals, the CL-28 also based on the Britannia, which was accepted, and

3596-410: Was fitted with underwing pylons that could carry a variety of common American weapons, including the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile, the air-to-ground AGM-65 Maverick , as many as ten of the CBU-100 Cluster Bomb , rocket pods, sea mines, and the standard issue Mark 80 general purpose bombs. The Royal Air Force 's Hawker Siddeley Nimrod was fitted with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles in 1982 during

3658-410: Was introduced during the 2010s by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) as a replacement for the aging P-3C Orion . Both the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy met their early postwar MPA needs via a stretched-fuselage modification of the Avro Lincoln bomber. However, the type was soon supplemented and eventually replaced by new aircraft, such as the P2V and later

3720-409: Was renamed Pilot Training Squadron (PTS). After the war, Ohakea was the RNZAF's strike base, with Nos 14 and 75 Squadrons resident. A long-time resident, No 42 Squadron relocated to Whenuapai in 1984 to allow the relocation of 2 Squadron RNZAF to HMAS Albatross , Nowra , Australia in 1991. In 1993, RNZAF flying training previously carried out at Wigram by the Pilot Training Squadron RNZAF and

3782-476: Was replaced by the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora . Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft General characteristics Performance Armament (Maximum load of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg)) Avionics Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Maritime patrol aircraft Among other maritime surveillance resources, such as satellites , ships, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters ,

SECTION 60

#1732801811163

3844-412: Was short-lived, as opposing pilots adapted their tactics. Equipping submarines with radar warning receivers and the snorkel made them harder to find. To counter the German long-range patrol aircraft that targeted merchant convoys, the Royal Navy introduced the " CAM ship ", which was a merchant vessel equipped with a lone fighter plane which could be launched once to engage the enemy planes. Later,

#162837