Messages

1

Irish Air Corps / Britten Norman Defender trial with the IAC (Maritime Patrol)

« on: August 05, 2017, 07:16:26 pm »

Here is a small article on a planned demonstration carried out by Aer Arann on behalf of Britten Norman back in 1977. It looks like they planned to show the BN Maritime Patrol Defender to the IAC. Is there any other info or even photos of this demo?

http://archive.advertiser.ie/pages/preview.php?ref=4494&ext=jpg&k=&search=aer+arann+aer+corps&offset=0&order_by=field51&sort=ASC&archive=0

BM.

2

Shameless Promotion / Re: New Book: Fouga Magister- An Irish Perspective

« on: September 08, 2012, 12:23:17 am »

I was fortunate to be invited to Casement Aerodrome yesterday for the launch of this book. I picked up a copy of this book and given today's poor weather here in Galway and having a day off work, I decided to get stuck into this volume. As with the previous Max Decals book covering the history of the Irish Air Corps, this is well-researched and beautifully illustrated, this time by Radu Brinzan. The history of the design of Fouga Magister is covered as is the attack on Irish troops on UN duty in the Congo by a Katangan Fouga (a particularly interesting chapter). As always, the selection process of any aircraft for service with any air arm is a fascinating topic to read about. The other aircraft considered for purchase are covered and there are even colour side-views of two aircraft (in speculative Irish schemes) that were considered for Irish service. The Fouga in Irish Air Corps service from start to finish is covered with the chapter on the Silver Swallows display team being of particular interest. Another chapter captures the technical details of the Fouga and the book is illustrated with many photos and numerous colour side-views of the Fouga including those from Katanga, Austria as well as Ireland. A set of 1/50th scale drawings in colour are included along with a full set of 1/72 and 1/48th scale drawings. Overall, another fine book from Max Decals and one that I really enjoyed reading.  Hopefully, this isn't the last book from Joe Maxwell on the Irish Air Corps and its aircraft.

BM.

3

Air Corps News / Air Corps involvement in HEMS service.

« on: May 23, 2012, 08:19:31 pm »

Here is a pilot project that has just kicked off using an Air Corps EC135 in the EMS role. It seems the ground ambulance will attend the scene first and if the patient is in a critical condition, will call in the air ambulance and meet somewhere along the route towards the hospital.
 
"http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0521/media-3293486.html"]Six One News: Aero-medical helicopter to serve western seaboard - RT News Player
 
"http://galwayindependent.com/stories/item/2381/2012-21/Cautious-welcome-for-air-ambulance-service"]Cautious welcome for air ambulance service - News - Galway Independent

"http://www.waypointmagazine.com/story373"]Pilot aeromedical service for Ireland | Waypoint AirMed and Rescue Magazine
 
It's a step in the right direction and hopefully will lead to a proper air ambulance service here.
 
BM.
 
P.S. At about 15:20 today, an IAC EC135 went into University Hospital in Galway. Maybe that's the first "shout" for this new service.

4

Aviation News / RAF Bell Griffin HAR2 in Weston.

« on: March 15, 2012, 03:51:29 pm »

Two interesting visitors were spotted on the ramp at Weston Airport today. It's not often you see the RAF in Weston! I'm open to correction on this but maybe this is the first visit to Weston of an operational foreign military aircraft? ZJ703 is the Griffin in question. The two crews were enjoying a cup of tea together when I went into the restaurant to get that last photo. The Aer Corps often hosted the RAF, Royal Navy and Belgian Air Force on SAR exchange visits so it's good to see the tradition continuing.

 











Apologies for the less-than-stellar photography.

Blue Monday .

5

Irish Air Corps / Re: AW139 ops suspended

« on: August 31, 2011, 01:29:21 pm »

It looks like they should have kept the Alouettes after all. Isn't A195 in good condition at Baldonnel? Maybe they can wheel her out and fire her up. She will gladly carry the slack while the AW139s get sorted out.

Seriously though, it will be interesting to see how the tail rotor issue is solved. Will they have to redesign the tail rotor altogether or just improve the manufacturing process? And when they do solve the problems, will they replace the tail rotors free-of-charge to operators (as car manufacturers usually do when they find defects in their products) or will they charge all operators for the new replacement blades? Thankfully, none of the IAC AW139s have suffered any serious incidents as a result of these problems and all the crews are OK.

BM.
 

6

Irish Air Corps / Re: Military Ceremonial for the Royal Visit.

« on: May 17, 2011, 09:36:15 pm »

I could be wrong, but I think the events in the city centre today saw the GASU flying all three aircraft together at once in support of the one operation. It made for a great, unintended, display.

BM. 

7

Scale Aircraft Modelling / GASU EC135 in 1/72.

« on: March 11, 2011, 04:58:27 pm »

It looks like the GASU EC135 is now quite a bit easier to build, thanks to this new kit from Revell;

http://www.scale-rotors.com/news-reviews/revell/eurocopter-ec-145-police-gendarmerie-04653

This kit includes an extra sprue that contains the "High-Skids" fitted to the GASU EC135. The only obstacle now is to scratch-build the "tub" under the fuselage. 

BM 

8

Irish Aviation History / Re: The Pink Panther and the I.A.C.

« on: January 25, 2011, 12:21:53 am »

You are welcome BM, maybe if and or when you build a model of the Alouette with the panther on it you will show it to us![/quote]

Tony, I have an Alouette kit in the pipeline but it won't feature a Pink Panther. I plan to build it as A212 on its last life saving mission on Croagh Patrick in July 2007.



I hope to get it back on my work bench and finish it soon. Thanks.

BM.

9

Irish Aviation History / Re: The Pink Panther and the I.A.C.

« on: January 21, 2011, 12:54:28 am »

Thanks for that latest update, Tony. It is great to see the original artwork from that far back.

BM.

10

Irish Aviation History / Re: The Pink Panther and the I.A.C.

« on: January 18, 2011, 05:58:08 pm »

I heard the story that when the RAF visited us with a Whirlwind on one of the first SAR exchanges in the late sixties they plastered the hangar and aircraft with stickers depicting Mickey Mouse in dayglo silhouette. In retaliation the Air Corps heli crews 'adopted' overnight the Pink Panther and returned the favour by sticking quite a few on the RAF aircraft!! The aim is to put them in inaccessible spots so that you inadvertently advertise the opposition - not sure who won that years' competition!!!

[/quote]

Thanks for that Frank. It looks like that finally explains the connection between the Helicopter Wing and the Pink Panther. It'd be interesting to hear how the Pink Fella came to be chosen above other cartoon characters but I guess we'll never know that for sure. It's a very interesting little story. Thanks for sharing that. Let's hope there is a plentiful supply of Pink Panther stencils at Baldonnel for any future visitors!

Machlooper, thanks for that photo. Do you have more showing A196 prior to that respray?

BM

11

Irish Aviation History / Re: The Pink Panther and the I.A.C.

« on: January 11, 2011, 09:32:24 pm »

Machlooper, thanks for that little nugget of information. That's the first I heard that the entire airframe was getting a modified paint scheme. We are slowly building up a picture of "what might have been".

Does anyone know if any drawings would have been created showing the intended paint scheme or was it going to be an "ad-hoc" effort that would have progressed until it looked "right", even if it was an unofficial scheme?

(Again, I am not trying to stir things up in any way, this is simply a topic that is, I believe, of genuine interest to Air Corps fans. I am pretty sure that in many years to come, this scheme will generate much debate and interest. So now is a good time to record this little part of the Alouette III's history.)

Thanks.
BM.

12

Irish Aviation History / Re: The Pink Panther and the I.A.C.

« on: January 09, 2011, 10:28:33 pm »

I know the modified paintwork on A196 didn't meet with official approval at the time, hence its quick re-spray but are the people responsible (and I have to say I support their efforts in modifying that tailboom) still being sought by the authorities? If this is still a hot topic at Baldonnel then maybe we should let it lie for another while. Thanks.

BM

13

Irish Aviation History / Re: The Pink Panther and the I.A.C.

« on: January 09, 2011, 02:56:28 pm »

FiSe, is there any chance you can describe fully the contents of the images that you have? The only photo I have of A196 shows the tailboom partially covered with plastic sheeting, so it is difficult to see exactly how the finished article might have looked. I know the tricolour on the tailboom was painted over, but was the roundel on the rear fuselage also painted over? Was the roundel moved further forward? Was the artwork only on the tailboom or did it extend onto the rear fuselage? Do you know if any text was going to be added to the artwork and what it was? Was the artwork completed fully before it was removed or was it only partially done? Thanks for any extra information you can share.

BM.

14

Irish Aviation History / Re: The Pink Panther and the I.A.C.

« on: January 04, 2011, 09:16:53 pm »

Tony, thanks for your input on this. As you say, hopefully P242 will be along with the full story. I know it will be interesting. I really wish the green light was given for that retirement scheme on A196. It would have been spectacular and a fitting send-off for these great machines. Thanks.

BM.

15

Irish Aviation History / The Pink Panther and the I.A.C.

« on: January 04, 2011, 03:29:46 pm »

Cartoon-based artwork seems to be a recurring theme when it comes to Irish Air Corps aircraft. The Fairey Battle, SIAI Marchetti and Cessnas all carried artwork based on well-known cartoon characters. The character most associated with the I.A.C. is the Pink Panther. It seems the Pink Panther was adopted by the helicopter crews and stickers and artwork appeared in various forms on the Alouette III and also on Gazelle 241 for the final years of its service. Can anyone detail the history of the connection between the I.A.C. helicopter crews and the Pink Panther? Who was responsible for its adoption as the unofficial mascot of the helicopter squadron and when did it first appear in Baldonnel?

I have heard two stories about how the association started.

The first story claims that Aerospatiale released some promotional literature in 1963 or thereabouts and it featured The Pink Panther. This literature made its way to Baldonnel and because of this, The Pink Panther character was adopted as the unofficial mascot of the helicopter unit within the Irish Air Corps from that time onwards.

The second story states that the arrival of the Alouette III at Baldonnel coincided with the release of the first Pink Panther film and such was the film's popularity that the helicopter crews decided to adopt the pink cat as the unit's mascot.

I don't know which of these stories are true but I'd love to know the full story. Maybe it's a combination of the two. The connection between the I.A.C. Alouette III and its crews and The Pink Panther was obviously quite strong though. After all, A196 nearly flew at Baldonnel on the  21st of September 2007 with a giant Pink Panther figure adorning the length of its tailboom! But that's another story. Hopefully the Pink Panther will reappear on the AW139 or EC135 at some point in the future. Thanks.

BM.