Topics

46

Irish Air Shows / Trim Vintage & Classic Car Show 20-7-08

« on: July 20, 2008, 12:49:27 am »

I just read over on the Trim Vintage & Classic Car Show website that an Air Corps helicopter (AW139?) and Garda helicopter are to appear at tomorrow's (Sunday, 20-7-08) show. It also states that an 'Air Corps flypast' will take place at the show (doesnt specific what aircraft will take part in the 'flypast').

I'm planning on attending the show, so I'll report on aircraft attendence ...and maybe have pics of same.

Silver. 

47

Irish Aviation History / Fouga '216' and AIII '202' off to new homes!

« on: June 29, 2008, 05:41:32 pm »

I read in the current 'Flying In Ireland' that Fouga '216' (formerly on loan to Cork University but "abandonded" at Cork airport) has been renovated and will go on display at Collins Barracks Museum in place of the viking ship (which is currently sailing home to Denmark). There is a photo of 216 on the rear of an Army DROPS truck awaiting delivery to the museum.

Good to see '216' back in tip top shape and on display to the public!

The magazine also mentions that Alouette III '202' is being donated to the Ulster Aviation Society/Museum.   

48

Irish Air Corps / PC-9's - close air support?

« on: February 20, 2008, 09:01:26 pm »

This may have been discussed here before but...

Would the IAC PC-9's be suitable for CAS missions abroad in support of Irish peacekeeping missions?
Thats bearing in mind of course that if the AC got additional PC-9's for such missions, such aircraft would be kitted suitably kitted-out....i.e. chaff flares, extra armoured-protection, etc.

Interestingly, I read today in the current AFM that the Chad Air Force recently used their PC-9's for bombing missions against rebel forces. Apparently this has led to a row (presumably between Pilatus and the Chadian govt) because the PC-9's were supplied on the basis that they would be used for training purposes only.

49

Foreign Air Forces / Air Shows (Read Only) / RNZAF seeks advanced trainer aircraft

« on: December 17, 2007, 10:06:51 pm »

I briefly read an article in the current AFM that New Zealand is currently starting the process to obtain an advanced trainer aircraft to replace the current 5 x King Air aircraft in use.

There was apparently some talk of taking their Aermacchi MB339 jets out of storage for this role, but this will not now happen as the MB339's "..would not fulfill the role(s) required..".

Whatever aircraft chosed will be entirely operated by the RNZAF (rather than leased private aircraft) and pilots training on such an aircraft will advance to the RNZAF C-130's.

What are their options?
Would the PC-9M be an option for such a role, or would a twin engined aircraft be the only option?

50

Irish Air Corps / Air Corps Museum -

« on: September 18, 2007, 07:58:14 pm »

I was just looking through an old edition of 'Flypast' magazine and read a piece about the (then) imminent arrival of a replica flying boat to Foynes Flying Boat Museum.

The article stated that this was "..thanks to a €500,000 grant from the Irish Government...".

While I'm not for a second suggesting that the Flying Boat Museum didn't deserve this ...it got me thinking how the Air Corps Museum could finally be properly established (and open to the public!) if it too got such a grant!  

There are certaintly enough aircraft now in the museum collection (including the newly-arrived Avro 'C7 '> ) to establish a museum and garner the interest of both the Irish public and foreign visitors alike. (An added bonus to such a museum could be a viewing platform at the rear of the museum to observe current AC aircraft in action).

.....not to mention a Fouga, Vampire, or Alouette 'gate guardian' ...or even all three 'guardians' around the car park area!

But will it ever happen?



RNZAF Vampire gate guardian at Ohakea, and Replica Spitfire gate guardian at Christchurch Airport, NZ.

51

Foreign Air Forces / Air Shows (Read Only) / Jersey International Air Display '07

« on: August 27, 2007, 12:04:52 am »

Is anybody here attending the Jersey International Air Display on Sept 13th '07?

As it happens I will be in Jersey for a few days and will take in this show as part of my trip.

Looks to have an excellent line up!

http://www.jerseyairdisplay.org.uk

52

Air Corps News / Irish Mail on Sunday 26-8-07

« on: August 26, 2007, 09:36:20 pm »

Article in Irish Mail on Sunday 26-8-07 Page 18.

Title: "Thats plane crazy!"
Subtitle: "The pride of the Air Corps... left standing in a hijack"
By: Ken Foxe, Security Correspondent

Summary: The article (accompanied by a photo of PC-9M '260' and an Airbus A321) basically points out the lack of intercept aircraft within the AC fleet. It states that the PC-9's are only capable of 579km/h compared to the A321's 946-1,004km/h.
Tha article states that Labour's Joe Costello sent an independent analysis to the defence minister which compared th e lack of intercept aircraft to that of the gardai having slower cars than criminals.

Security analyst Declan Power stated that the AC "had been offered fighter aircraft by a Czech manufacturer". He said "This would have given us interception capability with rogue airliners but the department did not consider that this would be cost-effective"

(It doesn't stated whether he was referring to the L39's or L159's. As we all know here, the PC-9's are almost as fast and more advanced than the L39's!)

The govts reply in the article basically states there will be no change, mostly citing the cost factor of purchasing and operating jet aircraft when we have no imminent fear of attack.

53

Irish Air Corps / Future of Alouettes?

« on: August 17, 2007, 09:06:30 pm »

I believe the AIII's are to be retired next month.
(Just saw one flying over my place an hour ago actually ... it will be a sight and sound that will be missed in our skies!)

Anyhow, I read over on IMO that only '212' (the one in the museum) is to be retained for preservation?!?  

Would it not be a fitting tribute - to all the years of service to the Air Corps AND to the country - to keep another AIII as an airworthy example to be part of an 'Historic Flight' to go along with the (soon-to-arrive??) Avro Cadet ?!

They can't be worth that much in monetary terms anyway, so retaining an airworthy example would'nt make much of a dent in the finances of the DoD. (I read that the Swiss have been trying to sell some of their AIII for ages without success)

54

Air Corps News / Air Corps save 'lost' yacht

« on: June 12, 2007, 07:46:42 pm »

(Anybody got a link to the recent saving of an english couple whose yacht was adrift for nearly two weeks, and whom were located by the Air Corps c.500 miles north of the Azores)

55

Irish Air Corps / Smoke Pods for the PC-9M's?

« on: November 18, 2006, 01:46:06 pm »

I was reading a thread over on boards.ie about the AC. In it a poster said that the AC is to recieve "rather expensive smoke pods from Pilatus as part of the deal for training Mexican pilots on the PC-9's".

Is this the case ?  

56

Air Corps News / PC-9M pics and article

« on: November 11, 2006, 07:11:09 pm »

The current edition of An Cosantoir has an excellent 3-page feature article on the PC-9M's, including new (excellent) pics of two of them flying alongside P31 L.E. Eithne.

57

Air Corps News / First AC AW139's due in Ireland on 21/11/06

« on: November 05, 2006, 01:42:09 pm »

Today's Sunday Independent has an article on the imminent arrival of the first two AW139's, due in Ireland on the 21st of this month.

Anybody got a link to the article?

Silver.

58

Irish Air Corps / IAC Vampires

« on: October 14, 2006, 07:36:58 pm »

Does anybody here know when the last IAC Vampire flight was, officially or unofficially?

I ask this as I recall seeing, what I now know to be a Vampire, flying over the Newbridge/Kilcullen area in the early '80's.

(I knew nothing of the AC back then!'>)

I'm wondering if it was an IAC Vampire or a visiting aircraft?

Cheers,
Silver.

59

Air Corps News / Air Forces Monthly

« on: September 24, 2006, 08:33:57 pm »

The current edition of 'Air Forces Monthly' features a lenghty article and photo about the IAC AW139's.

Silver.

60

Irish Air Corps / Fighter Jets for the Air Corps -

« on: August 13, 2006, 12:31:56 am »

It would seem the issue of fighter jets - or lack of same - is once again raising it head in the Irish media due to the recent terrorist threat foiled in the UK.

An article over on IMO quotes O' Dea as saying (words to the this effect) "...jets would cost us €65m each..."

There is also an excellent article by journalist Michael Mulqueen which is very informative (and with little jargon) ....for the general public to understand that 8 x PC-9M's are just not good enough for our air defence needs.