Messages

811

Irish Air Corps / Found "184"

« on: February 10, 2004, 09:34:54 pm »

John,
Percival was the original name of the company who produced the Percival P56 Provost, the company was renamed Hunting and then again renamed BAC, its a bit like the DeHavilland DH125 becoming the Hawker Siddeley 125 and ending up as the BAe 125.
Best regards
Tony K

812

Irish Air Corps / spitfire T9 question

« on: February 10, 2004, 09:26:54 pm »

Liam,
Spitfire 162 served with the Fighter Sqn. for short periods( about 3 months each time) in1957, 1958 and 1959. It never carried the Fighter Sqn badge and it never carried the flying training badge either, none of them did. The lettering on the fuselage side of 162 (port side ) is  HOOD RELEASE ON TOP. On the door (seen when closed) is OPEN also repeated on the rear cockpit door. The lettering forward of the rear cockpit is HOOD RELEASE OTHER SIDE. This lettering was normally in red and was stencilled on. Sometimes it carried the name of the NCO I/C on the panel immediately to the rear of the first door flap but would change as personnel moved on.If you want to send me drafts I will look at them for you and make ( if any ) suggestions........It will cost you..... a finished copy! OK?
Tony Kearns

813

Irish Air Corps / Why no NATO

« on: January 24, 2004, 11:30:39 am »

John,
Being interested in the more historical aspects of the Air Corps,the position of the internees was that all Germans were interned because if they landed in Ireland they HAD to be on an operational mission. The position for the British was different and here again Mac Carron gets it wrong, there are many cases when RAF personnel were interned even though they were on training flights e.g. the Fairey Battle at Waterford the Polish pilot was interned, the Miles Master in Co. Louth, the Blenheim at Clontarf and so on(slightly different it was an unauthorised flight). The position of F/Lt West was that he was running a conversion course on the Miles Master and Hurricane just like they did in Turkey or Portugal, neutrals who operated some British types. The Irish Government was anxious to release all the internees after a certain period but the British were opposed to this for some time as they were anxious that no U boat personnel(who were in short supply) were released, but as it happened there were none interned until March 1945. They Irish had to feed and guard the internees at a cost. How I wonder could the Germans have got to Germany of France. The Irish Government continued to adopt a pragmatic approach, there was little else that we could do.
Best regards,
Tony K

814

Irish Air Corps / Channel 4 Program last Monday

« on: January 23, 2004, 01:31:54 pm »

Hi John,
The Spitfire is normally based at Duxford, but often positions to wherever it is flying at a display. This is the reason why it is never at Duxford when I visit or else they hate me and hear that I am visiting! The flying scenes were all at Duxford.The Tiger Moth flying was at Headcorn???
Take care.
Tony

815

Irish Air Corps / Channel 4 Program last Monday

« on: January 15, 2004, 09:13:35 pm »

I saw the program.It was great to hear the roar of the Merlin.
The Spitfire was G-LFIX ex ML407 in the RAF and 162 in the Air Corps. It was a Mark IX converted to two seat Mk9T.I was surprised that Caroline Grace did not mention it also served in the IAC.
Tony K

816

Irish Air Corps / Small European Air Arms

« on: October 27, 2003, 09:17:56 am »

Fouga,
Vampire 198 was the ex RAF aircraft. It never flew in IAC service and was never intended to. The Vampires were serial numbers 185,186 and 187 delivered in formation from Hatfield 20 July 1956. Numbers 191 was delivered on 18 January 1961 and192 and 193 were delivered 16 March 1961. 198 was delivered by sea/road transport 30 August 1963. A bit of history for your good self.
Tony K

817

Irish Air Corps / Small European Air Arms

« on: October 25, 2003, 09:25:04 pm »

I was at Baldonnel for many Easter Parade fly pasts. I have never seen six Vampires flying together. The most was four, but what a sight ( and sound). The most that I have seen on the ramp was five. This was the standby aircraft in the event of one snagging. I dont believe that the six ever flew together. The Landsverk was a Swedish vehicle.
Tony K

818

Irish Air Corps / Learjet 45 -

« on: December 22, 2003, 08:04:51 pm »

Hi all,
Learjet 258 at Baldonnel on Friday just after arriving on the ramp. Sorry I could not post it on Friday as I was requested not to put it on the web. It looks very nice.
Tony K

819

Irish Air Corps / Visiting A/C

« on: September 26, 2003, 11:39:05 pm »

Apparently it was to record the last flight by six ship formation
Tony K

820

Irish Air Corps / Fouga 215

« on: January 01, 2004, 08:30:54 pm »

Yep,it's being worked on.
Tony K

821

Irish Air Corps / New Air Corps book launched

« on: November 28, 2003, 09:22:17 am »

Hi FF,
The ISBN is 0-9546669-0-9
Tony K

822

Irish Air Corps / New Air Corps book launched

« on: November 26, 2003, 09:33:40 pm »

Hi all,
I have just come from the launch (by the Minister for Defence)of the new book on the Air Corps titled "The Irish Air Corps celebrates 100 years of flight". This is a wonderful collection of black and white and colour photographs from the first to the latest. There is no text as such only photo captions. There is a section with rank markings and Air Corps insignia (unit badges wings etc.) ending with nine pages of drawings by Joe Maxwell. It is well worth having and should be in the shops shortly. Well done to all involved.
Tony K

823

Irish Air Corps / GOC, The Air Corps

« on: October 05, 2003, 06:43:59 pm »

As a matter of interest, the Vampire used as the gate guard was 198, this was the former XE977 ex RAF and used by the Air Corps for technical training. It never flew in the Air Corps. It was a credit to all involved in its restoration and such a pity to see it and especially the Avro XIX in their present state of neglect. A lot of dedicated work went into the Avro XIX.
Tony K

824

Irish Air Corps / Tony Kearns

« on: January 05, 2004, 08:41:56 pm »

Bell

825

Irish Air Corps / Tony Kearns

« on: January 05, 2004, 08:37:13 pm »

Hi, Someone asked some time ago about the Heersflieger UH-1D at Baldonnel at the time of the Bremen ceremony on 11/12 April 2003. It was 73+04 c/n8424 from Heeresfliegerstaffel 30 based at Niederstetten, Stuttgart.Included with pictures of it are King Air 240 "Fitz" and Socata TBM-700 N7ooGE which accompanied 240 on its trip. All photo taken between 06.00 and 08.30 on the 12th
Tony K