Anyone want to buy back some Australian history?

[[wtf]trauma]

Who wants to chip in and buy back the aircraft carrier that Australia leased during the 50's :)

As the auction states, would be great for an off shore hotel, casino, etc.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...&category=26432 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2450501898&category=26432)

to right back with all the reason

[[WTF]Cyclonus]

ok, that's cool.

[_WTF_Striker]

only $6 million ?


As the auction states, would be great for an off shore hotel, casino, etc.

F*** that, lets go invade North Korea instead :-P

[_WTF_Raiden]

Australia should buy it back...I think it would be a good idea for us to have an Aircraft carrier or 2...

[onslaught]

i dont think it could be re-fitted to launch our aircraft anymore.. even the naval version of the JSF would require more space, even using arrestor hooks.

[onslaught]

6 mil is cheap tho...

[EpharGy]

it could be used as a chopper carrier or harrier carrier, ie the Pommy carriers.

also the cost to run non-nuclear powered carriers would make it very un economical to use.

[[wtf]trauma]

If Australia was goign to purchase an aircraft carrier it would probably be the small ones that Britian are building for their Navy JSF's. Can operate arund 40 JSF's and a couple of choppers.

http://frenchnavy.free.fr/ships/aircraft-c...ier/cvf/cvf.htm (http://frenchnavy.free.fr/ships/aircraft-carrier/cvf/cvf.htm)

Look pretty sweet as well, little on te costly side...

[_WTF_Striker]

Well, Pommy carriers are only used to protect other friendly ships from air or submarine threats on long journeys. Only Americans use their ships as offensive weapons, beacuse they are the only country in the world that can afford such massive costs. For example American aircraft carriers are not just expensive to buy/produce(~US$1 billion) but even also very expensive to run(~US$150 million/year).

There is no great need for an aircraft carrier for the Australian navy, because navy's task is mainly defence of Australian waters against enemy surface fleets and submarines and our land based F-18 and PC-3 Orions are more than capable of doing that way before they reach our shores.

We would only need an aircraft carrier if we want invade other countries, but then again we dont really have a fleet capable of doing that anyway.

I am very impressed with the new British carriers, they look great. ;)

[[wtf]trauma]

True, but with Australia's increasing involvement in peace keeping operations in the south pacific islands, etc. A carrier might be useful as an off shore base of operations.

That website says 2.2 billion pounds for those new carriers, ouch.

Im not seriously saying Australia needs a Carrier, but I wouldnt complain if we did.... appeals to my warmongering.

[[WTF]hakenspit]

Striker - There is no great need for an aircraft carrier for the Australian navy, because navy's task is mainly defence of Australian waters against enemy surface fleets and submarines and our land based F-18 and PC-3 Orions are more than capable of doing that way before they reach our shores.


Errr right our good old f-18 that fall outta the sky for no reason...maybe our 2nd hand scout choppers or our geriatric f-111's? aus could do with aircraft carrier prob is we couldn't afford the craft we would need to buy to launch off it.

[[wtf]trauma]

F-111 are going to be phased out completely within the next couple of years. F/A-18's are going fairly well and will be upgraded to Super Hornet or near super hornet standard soon.

The JSF replacements should start arriving 2012ish but may get delayed a year or two.

If we did have a carrier, at least the F/A-18's are compatible :) they still have their arrestor hooks installed. Carrier operations reduce the life span of a jet quite a bit though.

BTW - Since when do F/A-18's drop out of the sky for no reason? certianly a problem with the F-111 early in their life during the early 70's but has never been a problem for the Hornet, in fact they are very reliable. The F-16 on the other hand isn't called the 'lawn dart' for nothing.

[[wtf]trauma]

If it wasn't for the stupid business deals surrounding the Aus Tiger helicopter we would have a fair amount of them by now as well. Based on the Euro Tiger it was meant to be built under licence by Australian companies.

One of the companies went under and the contract said it had to be that particular company that makes the parts. Apparently its all sorted now and back on track.

http://www.bigirishgit.com/Features/AIR87s...iger_review.htm (http://www.bigirishgit.com/Features/AIR87s/tiger_review.htm)

[onslaught]

True our hornets are being updraded to the e model super hornet, and yes we do have arrestor hooks installed, but I dont think our fleet has folding wings (operating since the C upgrade) for carrier stowage, its just a bit of a throwback to our early deliveries.