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Irish Air Corps / Cessna Replacement - Type or Role?
« on: April 13, 2007, 03:04:01 pm »
The reason it's a crap trainer is and this is not just my opinion, that it develops a much lower skill level than other twins that are available. But that is neither here nor there because we are not discussing training aircraft.
On the point of non-directional beacons, I would put it that all forms of radio navigation(with the exception of ILS/MLS) will be superseded by satellite based navigation. GPS approaches are already in place in the United States for the last few years and is being trialled in the UK at the moment for widespread introduction. The only issue holding it back at the moment is that the system is ultimately controlled by the US military, who shut it down in the aftermath of 9/11. This will be overcome by the European controlled Galileo system in development/deployment. The point being that any aircraft can be easily fitted with a GPS system.NDB's are more numerous than any other navigational aid in this country and as such will be around for a couple of decades yet.
Single engine VFR IS allowed inside controlled airspace under an SVFR clearance. It cannot be conducted outside controlled airspace.This law is pretty much unique to Ireland.Single engine VFR is allowed outside controlloed airspace once the operator holds a night rating on his/her licence in most other countries.Multi engine aircraft can leave the control zone here, but only if they switch to IFR operations. The exceptions being military aircraft. You only re-iterated a point I made earlier.
As regards the Diamonds engines, can you point out to me where in my previous postings did I advocate the use of avgas powered aircraft over Jet A1 guzzlers?The Caravan is powered by the PT-6A...which uses what fuel??
The disesl engine is great development for GA but in terms of the Air Corps would just add another engine type for Air Corps engineers to worry about. In terms of GA these engines will not for the mid to long term supersede standard piston engine aircraft. There is a weight penalty and as such they are not yet suited to powering aircraft in the lighter end of the market, which is it's biggest growth area.Larger airfields no longer stock AVGAS to merely discourage GA from interrupting their day.
As regards your simplified mass and balance calculations, your calculations are slightly inaccurate in that the Irish military use a specific comms package that would also need to be fitted to the aircraft. And on that point, have you seen a twin star instrument panel? Where would it go?
I agree that the target towing duties should be passed to the PC-9, thats pretty much a no brainer.
However, I do think that the Diamond represents a reduction in possible roles and would require the introduction of an additional aircraft type to fulfill the roles it cannot do. From a support point of view, introducing two types to replace one is simply unacceptable and wont happen. The ideal Cessna replacement will be able to do all the roles the current aircraft do and more. We're not a poor country so looking for the poor man's option, which is what the Twin Star is, is simply not acceptable.No amount of Diamond sales pitch will change that.
30 million for six aircraft and a support package and 30 years of service is value for money in my books any day.
On the point of non-directional beacons, I would put it that all forms of radio navigation(with the exception of ILS/MLS) will be superseded by satellite based navigation. GPS approaches are already in place in the United States for the last few years and is being trialled in the UK at the moment for widespread introduction. The only issue holding it back at the moment is that the system is ultimately controlled by the US military, who shut it down in the aftermath of 9/11. This will be overcome by the European controlled Galileo system in development/deployment. The point being that any aircraft can be easily fitted with a GPS system.NDB's are more numerous than any other navigational aid in this country and as such will be around for a couple of decades yet.
Single engine VFR IS allowed inside controlled airspace under an SVFR clearance. It cannot be conducted outside controlled airspace.This law is pretty much unique to Ireland.Single engine VFR is allowed outside controlloed airspace once the operator holds a night rating on his/her licence in most other countries.Multi engine aircraft can leave the control zone here, but only if they switch to IFR operations. The exceptions being military aircraft. You only re-iterated a point I made earlier.
As regards the Diamonds engines, can you point out to me where in my previous postings did I advocate the use of avgas powered aircraft over Jet A1 guzzlers?The Caravan is powered by the PT-6A...which uses what fuel??
The disesl engine is great development for GA but in terms of the Air Corps would just add another engine type for Air Corps engineers to worry about. In terms of GA these engines will not for the mid to long term supersede standard piston engine aircraft. There is a weight penalty and as such they are not yet suited to powering aircraft in the lighter end of the market, which is it's biggest growth area.Larger airfields no longer stock AVGAS to merely discourage GA from interrupting their day.
As regards your simplified mass and balance calculations, your calculations are slightly inaccurate in that the Irish military use a specific comms package that would also need to be fitted to the aircraft. And on that point, have you seen a twin star instrument panel? Where would it go?
I agree that the target towing duties should be passed to the PC-9, thats pretty much a no brainer.
However, I do think that the Diamond represents a reduction in possible roles and would require the introduction of an additional aircraft type to fulfill the roles it cannot do. From a support point of view, introducing two types to replace one is simply unacceptable and wont happen. The ideal Cessna replacement will be able to do all the roles the current aircraft do and more. We're not a poor country so looking for the poor man's option, which is what the Twin Star is, is simply not acceptable.No amount of Diamond sales pitch will change that.
30 million for six aircraft and a support package and 30 years of service is value for money in my books any day.