Messages

16

Irish Air Corps / What next aircraft?

« on: August 03, 2007, 09:15:35 am »

Certainely agree with Old Redeye on most points. Basic tactical transport is the next step for the Corps. The C-295 would be an ideal first step, commonality with the CN-235 and gives a capability up to a certain level without going to the expense and complexity of something like the Herc or A400 etc. Learn to walk before you run. However, the Cessnas do need replacement. They are 35 years old and the fleet is depleted.

17

Irish Air Corps / What should the Major Air Corps Roles Be?

« on: August 03, 2007, 01:59:53 am »

ST

I really must ask what is your own first hand experience of the Air Corps? On what do you base you assertions that the Air Corps need to get their house in order? I have read in this and other threads how you like to critisize under utilisation of aircraft etc. Could you please inform us of the figures on which you base this. Just because an AIII turns up at Croagh Patrick instead of a shiny new helicopter doesnt say anything. SAR is no longer a primary tasking of the Air Corps. It is in fact a rather naieve view.Has it struck you that maybe there are no qualified winchmen/operators on the new helis yet? Things like pilot training and crew training for the PRIMARY taskings take precedent, especially while there are AIII qualified crew available. You can be damn sure that when the AIII finally go in September that there will be no gap in the back up service the Air Corps provide in the SAR role. Just by making the AIII available, the Air Corps ensured that the Coast Guard S-61 in Sligo was available for normal callouts.
PC-9's under utilised?? Says who?? They dont just train ab-initio pilots you know. Many aspects of MILITARY flying are practiced and honed on these aircraft. Without this, these skills would be lost and if we ever needed them who would teach us?? They maintain a basic minimum military standard. Cheaply and efficiently. The very reason they were purchased. If you can do it more cost effectively you're a bloody genius.
Have you visited Baldonnel in the past 4 years? Anyone who has will tell you great inroads that have and continue to be made into improving availibility and maximising flight hours. For example the flying day now starts earlier. And before you jump on that one, when the AW139's are sufficiently "worked up" , night training with the army will be high on the agenda. Back off a little there, give the boys a chance. Rome wasn't built in a day.

18

Irish Air Corps / Strange jet from Carnmore

« on: June 17, 2007, 12:06:20 am »

I think there is a new airline flying from Galway and Waterford this summer operating BAe 146's.

19

Irish Air Corps / All Eight PC9'S

« on: May 10, 2007, 04:09:23 pm »

Excellent news. Are they preparing for a fly-past for an upcoming event or is it another photo op? Seems strange if it's just the latter.

20

Irish Air Corps / All Eight PC9'S

« on: May 09, 2007, 11:54:58 am »

Great pictures...

21

Irish Air Corps / AW.139 276 on the move.

« on: May 07, 2007, 10:15:11 pm »

Ahhh the Aran Islands!!! '>

22

Irish Air Corps / B-17 rumour

« on: May 05, 2007, 02:10:52 pm »

cheers for digging that up Tony..is there anything you don't have a pic of??!!!!

23

Irish Air Corps / B-17 rumour

« on: May 03, 2007, 05:30:26 pm »

"Neutral" Ireland was less neutral than you might think. Aircrew and aircraft were whenever possible returned to their rightful employers/owners.

24

Irish Air Corps / AW 139 Wolfhound?

« on: May 02, 2007, 07:32:04 pm »

Wolfhound is a fantastic name and Im sure the marketing people at Agusta would approve!

25

Irish Air Corps / B-17 rumour

« on: May 02, 2007, 07:29:01 pm »

Plenty of downed allied aircraft were salvaged during WWII and some were put into service. B17's did make forced landings here but none were ever recovered and put into IAC service. Usable parts from these aircraft including engines found their way north of the border. The only american type ever salvaged here that was put into service was a Lockheed Hudson, which found it's way to Aer Lingus after the war.

26

Irish Air Corps / Irish Air Corps AW139 air to air piccies

« on: April 19, 2007, 09:52:50 pm »

Pym...

My plume's bigger than your plume!!! About 60 feet bigger. Nothing IR surpressor kit wouldn't fix. The 139 would need a good deal o modification for overseas use. It's not beyonds the bounds of possibility though.

27

Irish Air Corps / Irish Air Corps AW139 air to air piccies

« on: April 19, 2007, 11:33:52 am »

Fully agree Redeye. Th kit being worn is more akin to civilian heli ops.
On an aside, unless the militarised AW149's ever see service here we will never see the AW139 on an overseas deployment.They are basically a civilian heli with Sincgars and GPMG attached.No armour, no crew protection.Only a big step up in training capability for the boys on the ground. The fourth pic down is proof of that. Heat seeking SAM anyone?

28

Irish Air Corps / Cessna Replacement - Type or Role?

« on: April 14, 2007, 01:07:57 pm »

I think what is evident from this discussion is that in order to maintain and improve certain roles carried out by the current fleet, there is not a single type available to carry out all effectively? I would like to see Caravans or to a lessor extent Turbo Porters bought because they have more potential in providing a basic internal transport facility. I agree the noise factor for low level surveillance ops would be a drawback. But would they have to operate at low level? From an economic point of view the Twin Star is in league of it's own But does it provide any real military capability? Is it flexible enough? I am looking forward to reading the tender when it's finally published.

29

Irish Air Corps / Cessna Replacement - Type or Role?

« on: April 14, 2007, 12:58:40 pm »

VMC speed is very impressive. Ill admit that, but as we both know  add weight critical V speeds increase.

Nothing like a good discussion.

[Quote]

30

Irish Air Corps / Cessna Replacement - Type or Role?

« on: April 14, 2007, 02:56:58 am »

Don't get me wrong ST the Twin Star is a lovely GA aircaft and I would love to own one.That is a case of Diamond lust we both share!
 I do have some questions. Those range figures you quoted were at the economy 50% power setting I take it. Can this aircraft operate at 50% power at or near MAUW? And if so what is the cruise speed? To be honest the more I look at this aircraft the more I see the merits of it being operated by the GASU or the Customs Service. I think it's equipment fit of Sat Video down link, LIDAR, SLAR, with the possible exception of FLIR, is overkill for the Cessna replacement.The Cessna's succeeded in part due to their simplicity and ruggedness. The DA42 MPP is ultimately a surveillance aircraft, with the Cessna being a support utility aircraft. As a Cessna replacement the C208 offers role expansion, whereas the DA42MPP offers role reduction. It is a very role specialised aircraft. The Cessna replacement needs to be a work horse. The 4:2, Twin Star:Utility Aircraft ratio you advocate is interesting. Are you suggesting that the Air Corps Cessna's spend 70% of their flight time on clandestine surveillance ops??!
Suggest if you took this info to the Guards/Customs/Dept of Justice you might yet earn yourself that commission from Diamond you're working so hard for here!(Disclaimer: I am in no way suggesting that you have any vested interest blah blah blah)
Th figure of Eur 30 mil is, you are correct off the top of my head.I did however use the figures you provided earlier which roughly equate to 10 mil for the aircraft and I added 200% for training and support to simply guarantee I wasn't under estimating. I dont write the cheques so don't fret old boy..we could actually get them for less!

Quote

For you to just willy nilly throw out a sum of €30mil to be subtracted from the DF budget 'just because its there' is the kind of thinking that has the country where it is today.

I'd say the country is better off than it ever was.Why thank you.