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Topics - pym

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1
Irish Air Corps / 9 to 5 weekday Air Corps
« on: May 09, 2011, 02:09:15 am »
Spotted two helicopters in close formation just a few minutes ago - just before 2AM, I guess it's the Secret Squirrels on the way to the Curragh or perhaps just NVG formation training - either way, nice surprise as I stood on the door step having a cigarette!  :blues:

Thought I was losing it when I saw a strange shape approaching my direction  ;D

Front Heli had main lights off for obvious reasons, but Heli 2 was fully lit.

2
Irish Air Corps / Heli formation
« on: April 20, 2011, 03:31:30 pm »
An unusual formation today - Garda EC-135 & an AW-139, close formation near Naas, probably a photoshoot.

The 139 really needs to pitch back an enormous amount at slow speeds

3
Irish Air Corps / Weapons Training
« on: April 08, 2011, 04:43:03 pm »
Haven't seen this published - but it generally is, so not threading on OPSEC -

Just saw a formation of 3 PC-9's fly overhead, first two seemed to have gunpods on - anyone know if they're doing weapons training, or was this a photoshoot?

4
Irish Air Corps / Bal Departure 7am? Foreign visitor?
« on: October 24, 2010, 07:37:43 am »
Just wondering if anyone would be able to let me know if there was a jet departure from Bal this morning - was just standing outside and saw a rather spritely climb out reminiscent of a fast jet. Could only see the lights. Headed west, at least initially.

Cheers

5
Irish Air Corps / Flight Global archive
« on: February 23, 2010, 10:39:20 am »
Hi folks, some of you may be interested to note that an archive of Flight International editions is available on-line.

There are a number of articles which are of interest to the IAC, such as this from 1973:

Quote
Irish Air Corps expansion
The Macchi MB.326 equipped for light ground-attack has been selected to replace the Irish Air Corps' six Vampire Trainers, which have no offensive role. Provision for the first replacement is written into the current Defence Estimates. Next year's Estimates, now in draft form, are understood to include provision of helicopter troop-lift capacity to improve the Irish Army's ability to patrol the border effectively. At least one Westland Commando'—the tactical variant of the Sea King—or Aerospatiale Super Frelon is likely to be bought in the first instance. Last week Defence Minister Mr Paddy Donegan promised a "big shopping list" in the next Estimates and this will include new equipment to support two new regular Army battalions to be raised for border duties, which in turn will be reflected in expansion of the Irish Air Corps....

To search the archive just go to:
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/index.html

6
Irish Air Corps / Fast jet in Bal?
« on: April 29, 2008, 03:03:08 pm »
I'm almost 100% certain a small swept wing aircraft just flew past there, too fast for me to grab the binoculars though so I couldn't get a positive ID.

Maybe my eyesight is going and it was the Lear

Direction East -> West, near Naas

Am I imagining things or is a trip to specsavers on the cards

7
Irish Air Corps / Reg question
« on: March 06, 2008, 03:54:33 pm »
The two EC135's are 270 & 271

The four (delivered) AW-139's are 274, 275, 276, 277

Is this correct?

Is the gap in numbers filled by something else, or is it optimistically or otherwise set aside for two additional EC135's?

Cheers

8
Irish Air Corps / Night time activity
« on: January 28, 2008, 10:14:32 pm »
I haven't heard the air corps this active - at this time, ever.

The last few weeks they've been very busy up until around 22:30-23:00 - presumably doing IFR training.

They're doing their best to shake off the 9-5 image, by my count there's at least 4 PC-9's up simultaneously tonight and like I say, this has been going on for about 2 or 3 weeks.

Interesting stuff.

9
Irish Air Corps / IAC Vampires
« on: January 06, 2008, 04:39:37 pm »
Hi all, just wondering if any of you would know the differences between the DH Vampire T.11 and T.55, both of which feature in the historic section of the Air Corps gallery on this site.

All I've been able to turn up is that the T.55 was an export version.

I'm guessing it may have featured a more powerful Goblin engine or some different avionics?

Thanks

10
Irish Air Corps / Alouette 3
« on: July 19, 2007, 12:56:56 pm »
It's becoming an increasing rarity to hear the Alouette overhead these days. Are all 7 still being kept in regular maintenance or have the numbers been reduced?

Obviously pilot & ground crew training on the 135's & 139's is taking its toll.

11
Irish Air Corps / The Sound Barrier
« on: July 12, 2007, 07:48:53 pm »
Just under 60 years ago, Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the  Bell X-1 for the first time.

Cue a lighthearted question:

Has any Air Corps pilot broken the speed of sound?

Whether by being a passenger on Concorde, placing a Fouga Magister in a death defying dive or in the backseat of an RAF jet... has it happened?

12
Irish Air Corps / Photoshoot?
« on: April 04, 2007, 04:28:09 pm »
Just got to witness 2 AW-139's led by an EC-135, low and slow, twice! Beautiful sight. The Agusta's really are a damn side more imposing a heli compared to the Dauphin. Hope they have a longer and far more successful career.

They have an awkward looking flight profile though, nose always pointed up quite a bit  'pilot_grin'

13
Irish Air Corps / nonsense?
« on: February 20, 2007, 04:52:31 am »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJMjmG5ycaE

bull, or did this happen?

14
Irish Air Corps / PT6
« on: November 24, 2006, 03:06:14 pm »

Just thinking today that with the introduction of the AW139 into service, the Air Corps are eventually going to have at least 22 PT-6 engines on the books, and possibly 26 if the Agusta options are ordered, not to mention PC-6's, CN-295's or anything else.

This compares to only 6 a few years ago.

Does this translate into easier training for maintenance crews and better economics, or are the PT6 variants so different that they may as well be completely different engines?

Also, something which may be of interest:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=204240&page=9

Long and detailed topic on the AW139. On that particular page the choice of engine on the Heli is under serious discussion. Interesting stuff - it would appear there's no danger of these birds being underpowered, but that comes at a cost.

Huge amount of details elsewhere in the same topic, discussing everything from exhaust fractures, to wind screen breakages. All part of the early days of a new helicopter.




15
Aviation Videos / Insane low flight videos
« on: October 17, 2006, 07:17:01 pm »
Here's a few of my (shortish) favorites from youtube.... all thankfully without a cheesey soundtrack:

Low level Alpha jets (keep an eye out for the third jet....)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7DM_RXm6Z0

Insane low Greek phantoms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PF8A11AWTY

Eurofighter near crash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSXRPH9PVjM

Thunderbird Crash, somehow this guy survived
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=481K61tdSVc  (a great pic of him punching out is here: http://www.rapp.org/archives/2004/01/thunderbird_crash/

A321 crosswind landing attempt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv2N1h368Zk

And, the great Spitfire making a rediculously low pass.... forcing a tv presented to curse his head off ...  'pilot_grin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CIyMtR7BOc

Ahh crap.... ok here's one with a needless soundtrack.... featuring the phantom... again flying insanely low, but with great skill... look at the people run 'pilot_grin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApM_f-jBlP0




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