Topics

61

Irish Air Corps / HEMS/Air Ambulance on the way?

« on: July 08, 2006, 07:35:47 pm »

I was talking to some EMT's during the week and noticed a newsletter about 'Munster Air Ambulance Service Trust' (MAAST)  on their office noticeboard.

Apparently, there are plans to have a HEMS/AA service in place for the Munster region a.s.a.p, with fundraising well underway.

MAAST are selling various items to raise funds, incl MAAST fight suit patches (pic of EC135 on patch).

They don't seem to have a website yet, but more info can be read about MAAST (and several other AA trusts!) here -

http://www.irishambulance.net/ambulance/archive/index.php/t-372.html

or email : munsterairambulance@yahoo.ie

62

Irish Air Corps / Alouette III -

« on: June 04, 2006, 11:35:28 pm »

When are the Alouette's due to be withdrwan from active service (or is there no specific date as yet) ?

And are there any plans to retain one/several for the museum and/or outdoor display?

(..or better still as an 'Historic Flight' display aircraft?!)

63

Irish Air Corps / AIII's & 172 formation today?

« on: April 02, 2006, 03:51:58 pm »

Did anybody else see the 3 x 172 and 2 x AIII formation flying over The Curragh this morning for about an hour ?

Practice for an upcoming ceremonial event ?

64

Irish Air Corps / Marchetti's and new aviation museum

« on: March 26, 2006, 11:21:33 pm »

I notice from the current edition of 'Flying In Ireland' that apparently there are no plans to retain a Marchetti for the Air Corps Museum collection ?

Also mentioned in the magazine is the plan to establish an aviation museum in Weston Aerodrome - This is news to me!
(The piece includes a photo of a Catalina flying boat destined for this new museum).

65

Irish Aviation History / Flying Boat on Shannon again ?

« on: February 04, 2006, 04:13:12 pm »

According to the March '06 edition of FlyPast magazine, there are plans underway to aquire a "full-scale model of the giant four-engined Flying Boat" (this summer) and locate it alongside the Foynes Flying Boat Museum in a "specially prepared 'pool' " on the river Shannon.

The government has given a €500,000 grant to the project.

There are also plans to rebuild the flying boat control tower which has "breath-taking views of the Shannon".


Here's hoping that it all happens soon!  

66

Irish Air Corps / Austrian PC-7's

« on: December 18, 2005, 01:28:12 am »

I came across a piece about how the Austrian Air Force use armed PC-7's for air policing operations.

Interesting that we are not the only european country to use armed turboprops for security operations !

67

Irish Air Corps / RNZAF online games

« on: December 04, 2005, 12:52:44 am »

Just came across this tonight .......

http://www.bringiton.co.nz/pages.php?main=extras&sub1=games

68

Irish Air Corps / Should Maritime Patrol go civie ?

« on: November 27, 2005, 02:29:59 pm »

Should aerial fisheries protection operations be handed over to the Department of Marine ?

I watched an old 'Prime Time' programme on Saturday (which I taped c.1999) about the Naval Service and Air Corps.
It included a piece about the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency which is a civilian operation paid for by the Scottish Parliament.

Now while the Scottish operation has both aircraft and boats to carry out patrols and boardings, is there a good case for the AC to end maritime patrols and use the CASA's for troop transport, humanitarian ops, etc. ?
....or sell the CASA's and purchase a couple of CN 295's?


While most of us didn't like to see the end of AC SAR ops, it has allowed the helis fleet to concentrate on more purely military tasks.

The same could happen with the CASA's (or replacements) if maritime ops were 'civilianized'?!

69

Irish Air Corps / Transport Aircraft

« on: November 20, 2005, 02:50:22 pm »

(N.B. I'm being 'devils advocate' here ........)

Would a transport aircraft (e.g. C130) provide value for money for the Air Corps/country ?

Yes, it could be used for humanitarian aid, troop transport, etc.,

However, would it spend a large amunt of it's time simply parked on the ramp in Baldonnel ?  


(An article in todays Sunday Indo about our lack of such an aircraft quotes a politician as saying that such an AC transport aircraft "would spend 360 days of the year on the ground")

70

Irish Air Corps / Isle of Man Aviation Museum

« on: November 01, 2005, 08:19:21 pm »

I've just spent a most enjoyable 5 days in the Isle of Man.

While there I paid a visit to the 'Aviation & Military Museum'.
It has a great collection of aviation and military memorabilia (though no actual aircraft at present) related to 'Manx' aircraft and military personnel.

For example,
Did you know that during WWII ......

- The Manx Anti-Aircraft gunner regiment (using Bofor AA guns) scored more downed aircraft (hits?) than any other such regiment in the British Army?!

- Many allied and luftwaffe aircraft crashed around the isle during WWII.

- The RAF had two training bases on the island, plus several more bases to use if required.

And RAF Hawks (on training ops) are regular visitors to the island.

Interestingly, the museum collection also includes several Aer Lingus scale models - recording the many aircraft which have visited the Isle of Man's Ronaldsway Airport over the years.

Link - www.iomguide.com/aviationmilitarymuseum.php

Well worth a visit if you ever find youself on that lovely Isle !

Silver.

71

Air Corps News / Leinster Leader

« on: October 26, 2005, 10:02:39 pm »

This weeks Leinster Leader newspaper has a large article/feature about AC pilot Lt.David Brown .....incl some interesting info about his daily ops!

(Sorry, haven't time to post more info now)

Silver.

72

Air Corps News / Air Forces Monthly

« on: October 24, 2005, 09:11:46 pm »

The current edition of Air Forces Monthly carries a pic of the new Air Corps EC-135, complete with German test registration.

The article states that Eurocopter recently stated that the AC had "taken delivery" of it's first EC-135 which is not the case to date.

Delivery is expected in late October '05.

73

Irish Air Corps / Squadron patch pics -

« on: October 06, 2005, 08:35:35 pm »

Has anybody else noticed how articles that appear in magazines about the Air Corps never include pics of the various Squadron patches (e.g. like my LSS patch on the left < )  ?

Articles about the RAF, USAF, etc. often include pics of the relevant squadon patch and really add to the look and authenticity of the article.

Perhaps we will see AC patch pics in a future issue of An Coasantoir, AFM, ........ ?


Incidentially, a poster of all the AC patches would be a promotion tool for the AC.  
Surely An Cosantoir could organise such a pull-out poster for it's readers ?!

74

Irish Air Corps / PC-9M flying late tonight ?

« on: August 02, 2005, 10:47:34 pm »

About 7pm tonight I heard a PC-9M fly over my house - at cruising speed - which I thought was a little unusual (never previously heard/seen one about after c.5pm).

Any ideas folks ?    
Returning from a cross-country training sortie perhaps ?

75

Irish Air Corps / Harrier Jet for sale

« on: July 03, 2005, 04:15:16 pm »

Anybody notice the Harrier Jet for sale in the Buy & Sell .......

'Harrier Jump Jet '87. 300 hrs flight time, ex soviet union jet, new tyres, slight bullet damage to left wing, pfc, owner upgrading to black bird. 085-XXXXXXX Limerick.'

(The ad includes an actual mobile number which I'm not going to post here.)

I'm guessing there is somebody in Limerick really annoyed with the phone calls they're recieving ?!

I don't know who is more stupid, the person who placed the ad or the person who allowed it to be printed !!  '>