Aussie C-17 Gets tagged at Whenuapai

[Timmo]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/column/story.cfm...jectid=10531019

I fly from the aero club out at Whenuapai and recently had to get a new ID card due to 'increased security measures'. So now instead of driving through the front security gate and flashing my WASC card at the dis-interested security guard, I flash my RNZAF Security card at the dis-interested security gaurd I'm guessing these little sh*ts just climb over/under/through the rather basic fence (i.e. normal farm fence, its not a proper cyclone fence) that surrounds the base to get on site.

[creator2003]

Cool i bet the ozzys love the look of that ,the tagger doesnt really understand how much that will cost us to remove off a multi million dollar plane "dickheads" hope they at least have cameras there or can we all just walk upto a airforce plane slice it /tag it/drill some rivets out paint it some more plant a bomb take some gauges for our sims ,why not start it up and go for a fly ?
any aircraft should be locked down there should always be tough security at a site like this ,this is shame on all NZers, i cant believe a govt could put us in this kind of diplomatic bungle ..

[Timmo]

I know....annoying isn't it.

This is an AIRFORCE base, and it has the same 'security' fence as a Whakatane airport (i.e. a farm fence). I do find it a bit bemusing to have a 'security post' at the front gate of the base while the rest of the base isn't even fenced properly. 'Hmm Im going to try and infiltrate the Airforce base....Ill set a decoy at the front gate, gas the guards and then sneak in using night vision goggles and a ghille suit........oh no, wait, how about I just climb over this little fence and walk right in?'

[SUBS17]

LMAO at least the tyres are still on there could have been worse they could have pinched it especially if it was a FSX player.

[Chairman]

QUOTE (Timmo @ Sep 8 2008, 10:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know....annoying isn't it.

This is an AIRFORCE base, and it has the same 'security' fence as a Whakatane airport (i.e. a farm fence). I do find it a bit bemusing to have a 'security post' at the front gate of the base while the rest of the base isn't even fenced properly. 'Hmm Im going to try and infiltrate the Airforce base....Ill set a decoy at the front gate, gas the guards and then sneak in using night vision goggles and a ghille suit........oh no, wait, how about I just climb over this little fence and walk right in?'

10 years or so back we used to live on Herald Island which is by one corner of the base. Some of the local kids went to Whenuapai School which is by the diagonally opposite corner of the base. They used to come home most days by lifting their bikes over the fence then riding across the base, straight across one of the runways. It used to cut their trip time by about a half if they didn't get spotted, or by quite a lot more if they ended up with an airforce ute chasing them

With hindsight, considering that they did this most days but were only spotted about half the time, and that a bunch of airforce policemen in utes very seldom managed to intercept a bunch of primary school kids on bmx's in a open field, you have to conclude that the AFP had unofficially decided that the most practical way to deal with the situation was simply to make sure the kids didn't have a chance to get up to anything on their way through and got off the base as soon as possible ...

But yes the fencing is a joke. I spent last weekend buzzing around Mystery Creek with Rally NZ and every time we went past Hamilton Airport I used to marvel at the kilometres of high security fence around the entire perimeter. It's the same at Palmerston North where we make an annual pilgrimage for the Stockcar Teams meeting, even on the furthest corners of the airport there's a huge fence. Still, it makes watching planes from the side of the road at Whenuapai a lot nicer

Cheers
Gary

[PiperDriver]

I wonder how much it will cost to repair the damage....

[deaneb]

I worked at Whenuapai for 10 years and have been in the RNZAF for over 22. The issue over perimeter security often arises, but I guess it comes down to cost vs risk. Additionally our bases are compact and don't separate residential and recreational facilities, from the operational areas, so separating the security levels to allow access is not easy. Over the years there have been very few incidents of security breaches (that I'm aware of), most if not all have been relatively minor. Security is often beefed up when circumstances dictate i.e. CHOGM etc, but you can never tell. If you want real security then razor wire topped fences would be the way to go, as well as tougher gate security making it very hard for visitors to come and go. Of course the Whenuapai aviation sports club etc would have to go as well !!
If the dorklanders ever sort stop arguing and whenuapai goes to joint civil and military useage then the fences will come !!

Deane

[hamstickZKFLT]

I suppose decent fences are a good idea (at the least) when there's millions of dollars worth of planes and gear in there. But still I find it a shame that NZ needs that sort of thing.

[Naki]

How embarrassing for NZ that this happened and that the security is so slack at a military base. Ironically if it was parked at a major civilain airfield this probably wouldnt of happened as the security is so tight. I understand that they are putting up bigger fences so hopefully this wont happen again.

[Yak52aholic]

Same thing at Woodbourne, but as far as I could see important things (like the Skyhawks) were behind high prison-like fences.

[jastheace]

i would have thought that the Oz AF would have had security everywhere, just like the US does, very suprising that the security wasn't heightened to the point that they had a couple of guys standing near the a/c

[Peppermint]

I guess it just goes to show how stupid a lot of people are these days, can't trust many people either. I seriously hope whoever done this, gets caught and slapped with the bill for the damage, and slapped with a crim record. Seems harsh, but you've got to draw the line and let people know when things have gone too far. When things like this happen, often they don't get caught and the rest of the country gets a bad name just because of the actions of some prick(s).

Looking closely at the picture, there's swastikas on there....straight away that makes me think it was done by some teenagers or someone who's incredibly stupid (They'd have to be stupid to tag anything in the first place though...not sure what that makes them then!).

[SUBS17]

QUOTE (PiperDriver @ Sep 13 2008, 01:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wonder how much it will cost to repair the damage....

It'll wash off don't worry about and even if it doesn't just chuck on a coat of paint.
At least this ain't as bad as Air Force 1 being tagged.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP0iSJQLfJ4

Or did he?

[h290master]

would've been interesting to see the base commander's reaction to a $218 million USD aircraft essentially brand new get tagged on