New plane for N.Z. unlikely

Press, 1 November 1977, Page 12

New plane for N.Z. unlikely

Aviation Reporter Although Australia’s extended economic zone will be guarded by so histicated new surveillance aircraft, New Zealand may have to be content with modifications to present aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force recently took delivery of the first of eight Lockheed Orion P-3C Update Ils. This is a formidably improved version of the aircraft which have been used by the Royal New Zealand Air Foce for more than a decade. The nevz Orion incorporates the latest developments in sensors, avionics, and surveillance equipment. Among its equipment is a computer, Omega navigations system, infra-red detection

gear, and sonar-buoy system. According to a defence spokesman in Wellington, however, the R.N.Z.AJF. is looking at an “electronics package” developed by the United States Navy'. This would incorporate many features of the new aircraft, including the Omega system, computer, and inertial navigation system.

These “packages” would be fitted to the R.N.ZAF’s five P-3B Orions. Some features of these would be better suited to New Zealand conditions than those in the new Australian Orions, the spokesman said. New Zealand’s Orions are essentially antisubmarine aircraft, although they are used for fisheries patrolling and search and rescue work. They would be more than adequate if the new

“packages” were fitted, the defence spokesman said. Although the airframes were getting old, they could satisfactorily cover the distances involved. He was aware of no plan for immediate replacement. “They are perfectly good aircraft.” In spite of the planned expansion of New Zealand’s economic zone to 200 nautical miles next April — making it the fourth biggest zone in the world — additions to the Orion squadron are not yet planned.

It would be some time after full implementation of the zone before a qualified decision could be made about whether more aircraft were needed. The Director of Operations in the Ministry of Defence (Colonel R. I. Thorpe) has been reported as saying that New Zealand’s Orions are already flying their maximum number of hours per year. At least two years of intensive maintenance

would be required before extra hours of flying time could be provided. But, if necessary, the Orions could be supplemented by the R.N.Z.A.F.’s newly-ac-quired Andovers. Both Hawker Siddeley, and the German aircraft, firm, Fokker, have produced marine reconnaissance versions of their twin-engine turbo-prop aircraft, and have publicised them in New Zealand. Lockheed expects its new aircraft to be attractive to many countries which are increasing their economic zones. More than 450 Orions have been delivered since the model was introduced in 1962, and production is scheduled until the mid1980s. A P-3C Orion of the type ordered by the R.A.A.F. holds several world records for turboprop aircraft, including the speed record of 806 km/h, and four rate-of-climb records.