1
Irish Air Shows / Patrouille Suisse for Bray
« on: January 20, 2015, 10:03:41 pm »
Bray have the Patrouille Suisse for their air show. Great coup for them, well done.
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2
Aviation Videos / Sky Watch - RAF in action 1974
« on: January 25, 2013, 06:48:08 pm »
Fabulous program giving an insight into the 1970's RAF. Lots of classic aircraft, Phantoms, Jaguars, Buccaneers, Vulcans and Lightnings. I had forgotten how impressive those lightnings were and how they could just stand on their tails and go into orbit as can be seen a few minutes into the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=2VflzHApZ28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=2VflzHApZ28
3
Aviation Waffle / Hobbit in flight safety video
« on: November 02, 2012, 06:53:16 pm »
Air New Zealand have released a 4 minute air safety video to celebrate the upcoming premier of the first of the Hobbit Trilogy to be released in December. Also heard that they are to give one of their aircraft a special Hobbit paint job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCbPFHu3OOc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCbPFHu3OOc
4
Aviation Waffle / 2013 last chance to see a flying Vulcan
« on: October 13, 2012, 06:56:56 pm »
The only flying Vulcan bomber in the world will be permanently grounded after the 2013 display season. Inevitable I suppose, but sad all the same.
"Chief Executive writes on the future of Vulcan XH558
You're probably aware that the Vulcan has a finite safe flying life and that XH558 is already beyond the hours flown by any other aircraft of her type. At the end of the 2013 flying season, she will need a challenging modification to both her wings to strengthen a section that would otherwise be at the end of its safe life.
I know that XH558's supporters would do their utmost to fund this work, which is estimated at around £200,000 (in addition to the normal Winter Service costs), but for a number of reasons that are explained later in our End of Flight leaflet, I have decided not to ask you to take this risk at this time.
Whilst it may be theoretically possible to continue flying for two or three more years, the factors that control whether XH558 can continue flying are such that even if the wing modification was completed successfully, it is quite possible that she would have to stop flying early in 2014. We will carry on exploring ways to ensure that we can continue flying for longer, but the position today is that we cannot see how spending £200,000 of supporters' funds on a short-lived airframe upgrade could be justified.
Few will be able to deny that returning XH558 to flight and operating her at air displays for six years in front of millions of adoring spectators will be seen as a huge achievement.
It is therefore with particular sadness that I have to tell you that we are planning for next year to be XH558's final flying year, and so, consequently, 2013 may well be your last opportunity to see a Vulcan fly.
Critically, there now exists a large question mark over our ability to reach the 2013 season. Once again, we need to raise enough money to get through the winter service period, with £400,000 being needed ahead of Christmas over and above the income that we can currently see. Our projections show that a further £300,000 is needed to then reach the new airshow season when XH558 is able to start earning her keep!
This might sound daunting to many of our newer followers, but it is no different from the funding challenges that we have overcome in previous years through the great generosity of XH558's supporters, with donations coming from every part of the world. There is certainly huge love and affection for XH558. It would be almost criminal not to do our best to ensure XH558 is able to fly to the limit of her airworthy life.
Please remember that we have an annual operating budget that we have managed to keep down to £2million despite escalating costs. With no government or RAF backing, we have to rely on funding from public appeals, some core corporate sponsorship and our own commercial trading of official merchandise.
The end of flying is of course a most significant milestone in XH558's history, yet it need not be the end of the story.
There is so much more we can still achieve. We have prepared several documents to help you understand some of the options and possibilities.
Firstly, let's look at this year and what we need to do over the next few months.
Here is how you can get involved to help too.
If you wish to refer just to the time-line: it is detailed here.
We hope to have answered some of your questions in our special 'End of Flight' leaflet.
If you are also on our postal mailing list, hard copies of these two documents will be coming to your doormat very shortly.
We will be giving out more details over the coming weeks for our online readers and also a contact point, should you wish to have your own personal hard copies. Full details on requesting some will be given just as soon as they are available."
"Chief Executive writes on the future of Vulcan XH558
You're probably aware that the Vulcan has a finite safe flying life and that XH558 is already beyond the hours flown by any other aircraft of her type. At the end of the 2013 flying season, she will need a challenging modification to both her wings to strengthen a section that would otherwise be at the end of its safe life.
I know that XH558's supporters would do their utmost to fund this work, which is estimated at around £200,000 (in addition to the normal Winter Service costs), but for a number of reasons that are explained later in our End of Flight leaflet, I have decided not to ask you to take this risk at this time.
Whilst it may be theoretically possible to continue flying for two or three more years, the factors that control whether XH558 can continue flying are such that even if the wing modification was completed successfully, it is quite possible that she would have to stop flying early in 2014. We will carry on exploring ways to ensure that we can continue flying for longer, but the position today is that we cannot see how spending £200,000 of supporters' funds on a short-lived airframe upgrade could be justified.
Few will be able to deny that returning XH558 to flight and operating her at air displays for six years in front of millions of adoring spectators will be seen as a huge achievement.
It is therefore with particular sadness that I have to tell you that we are planning for next year to be XH558's final flying year, and so, consequently, 2013 may well be your last opportunity to see a Vulcan fly.
Critically, there now exists a large question mark over our ability to reach the 2013 season. Once again, we need to raise enough money to get through the winter service period, with £400,000 being needed ahead of Christmas over and above the income that we can currently see. Our projections show that a further £300,000 is needed to then reach the new airshow season when XH558 is able to start earning her keep!
This might sound daunting to many of our newer followers, but it is no different from the funding challenges that we have overcome in previous years through the great generosity of XH558's supporters, with donations coming from every part of the world. There is certainly huge love and affection for XH558. It would be almost criminal not to do our best to ensure XH558 is able to fly to the limit of her airworthy life.
Please remember that we have an annual operating budget that we have managed to keep down to £2million despite escalating costs. With no government or RAF backing, we have to rely on funding from public appeals, some core corporate sponsorship and our own commercial trading of official merchandise.
The end of flying is of course a most significant milestone in XH558's history, yet it need not be the end of the story.
There is so much more we can still achieve. We have prepared several documents to help you understand some of the options and possibilities.
Firstly, let's look at this year and what we need to do over the next few months.
Here is how you can get involved to help too.
If you wish to refer just to the time-line: it is detailed here.
We hope to have answered some of your questions in our special 'End of Flight' leaflet.
If you are also on our postal mailing list, hard copies of these two documents will be coming to your doormat very shortly.
We will be giving out more details over the coming weeks for our online readers and also a contact point, should you wish to have your own personal hard copies. Full details on requesting some will be given just as soon as they are available."
5
Aviation Photography / Can anyone explain these pictures?
« on: October 05, 2012, 10:16:01 pm »
Just wondering if anyone could explain what the weird "smoke tail" is around the helcopter. These are two of a few pictures I took yesterday of Rescue 116 (EI-CXS) coming into Galway hospital. The strange trail showed up on about four consecutive pictures but not on any of the others. I didn't notice it when I was taking the pictures. Not seen anything like that before. I understand that the pictures are rubbish and wouldn't post them if it wasn't for the oddity surrounding it.
6
Irish Air Shows / Galway Airport Family Day
« on: July 06, 2011, 07:56:04 pm »
Just thought I'd let people living in the west know that Galway Airport are holding their first Family Day this coming Sunday 10/07/11. More info here
http://www.galwayairport.com/about/GALWAY_AIRPORT_FAMILY_DAY_/56
Bit of short notice but I only found out about it today !!
http://www.galwayairport.com/about/GALWAY_AIRPORT_FAMILY_DAY_/56
Bit of short notice but I only found out about it today !!
7
Irish Air Corps / CASA C253 declares Mayday
« on: April 28, 2010, 11:15:25 am »
Charlie 253 declared a Mayday 70 miles off the west coast at 10.30 this morning and was trying to head for Shannon. She eventually landed safely at Kerry airport shortly before 11.00. Believe there must have been a fire of some description as Rescue 115 was asked to stand by in case any crew needed hospital for smoke inhalation. Rescue 115 has now been stood down. Thank god everyone got back safely.
8
Aviation News / Aer Arran / Aer Lingus @ Galway
« on: March 10, 2010, 04:27:31 pm »
Had a quick visit to Galway airport this morning to catch the first of the Aer Arran ATR 72's to be painted in in the new Aer Lingus regional Livery. We just arrived and it was just coming in from Shannon were it got the paint job and made its first fair paying flight out to Manchester. This aircraft is to be based in Cork and a further two are to get their paint jobs and be based in Dublin. The Aer Lingus Regional services operated by Aer Arran aircraft and crew are to begin on March 28th. The sun was very low in the sky which made picture taking very difficult hence the poor second and third pics.
9
Aviation Videos / RIAT 2010
« on: December 19, 2009, 08:36:55 pm »
The first confirmed participants for next years RIAT have been announced. Two Romanian MIG-21's (one in the flying display) and supported by one of their C-27 Spatans. Nice start 
10
Irish Air Shows / Tramore Airshow...??
« on: March 26, 2009, 09:03:12 am »
Seems there is to be an air show in Tramore this year on 23/08/09. Team Guinot are down for it on there listings thats how I found out about it. Apparently being run by the team that organised Bray.
http://www.munster-express.ie/community-notes/tramore/tramore-air-show-decision-by-june/
http://www.munster-express.ie/community-notes/tramore/tramore-air-show-decision-by-june/
11
UK Air Shows / RIAT 2009
« on: November 08, 2008, 01:53:40 pm »
Well it looks like it will be going ahead again and at Fairford, thank god! This was posted on their site yesterday and things look pretty promising. 
"AIR TATTOO PLANNING ON TRACK
The planning is well underway for next year’s Royal International Air Tattoo which will take place at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on the 18 & 19 July. We are currently looking at a number of initiatives that we hope will minimise the risk of a repeat of this summer, when severe flooding led to the event being cancelled for the first time in its 38-year history.
Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said plans for 2009 were on track and the feedback he has received following his team’s recent visit to more than 30 embassies in London gave cause for cautious optimism regarding the range of aircraft that could be expected to take part in July.
“The support we have received from the public, our sponsors, the Royal Air Force, the US Air Force and other international air arms has been overwhelming and I have been left in no doubt that the event continues to mean as much to each of them as it does to us and our parent charity.
Traditionally, we all get pretty excited during the build up to each airshow but I think the excitement and anticipation for next summer’s airshow will be something special.
Next summer’s airshow will mark the 60th Anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), showcasing aircraft that represent the wide variety of tasks performed by the Alliance.
Maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft from around the world are also being invited to take part in Sea Search 09, the Air Tattoo’s operational theme.
Special Earlybird tickets for next summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo will go on sale in early December. The full range of ticket prices for next summer’s Airshow will be announced at the same time. Earlybird tickets will be available to purchase until February 28, 2009."
Can't wait will booking accomadation in the next week or two.
"AIR TATTOO PLANNING ON TRACK
The planning is well underway for next year’s Royal International Air Tattoo which will take place at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on the 18 & 19 July. We are currently looking at a number of initiatives that we hope will minimise the risk of a repeat of this summer, when severe flooding led to the event being cancelled for the first time in its 38-year history.
Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said plans for 2009 were on track and the feedback he has received following his team’s recent visit to more than 30 embassies in London gave cause for cautious optimism regarding the range of aircraft that could be expected to take part in July.
“The support we have received from the public, our sponsors, the Royal Air Force, the US Air Force and other international air arms has been overwhelming and I have been left in no doubt that the event continues to mean as much to each of them as it does to us and our parent charity.
Traditionally, we all get pretty excited during the build up to each airshow but I think the excitement and anticipation for next summer’s airshow will be something special.
Next summer’s airshow will mark the 60th Anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), showcasing aircraft that represent the wide variety of tasks performed by the Alliance.
Maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft from around the world are also being invited to take part in Sea Search 09, the Air Tattoo’s operational theme.
Special Earlybird tickets for next summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo will go on sale in early December. The full range of ticket prices for next summer’s Airshow will be announced at the same time. Earlybird tickets will be available to purchase until February 28, 2009."
Can't wait will booking accomadation in the next week or two.
12
Aviation Photography / Today at EICM 14/05
« on: May 14, 2008, 07:19:57 pm »
Up at Carnmore today for a couple hours. Very quiet and mostly the usual suspects. However, a couple here that I haven't seen before.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u52/vulcan57_photos/Aircraft/Civil/Fixed%20Wing/0070.jpg[/img]]
And this one seems to be a long way from home. Registered to a company in Wilmington, DE USA.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u52/vulcan57_photos/Aircraft/Civil/Fixed%20Wing/0072.jpg[/img]]
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u52/vulcan57_photos/Aircraft/Civil/Fixed%20Wing/0071.jpg[/img]]
Thanks for looking.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u52/vulcan57_photos/Aircraft/Civil/Fixed%20Wing/0070.jpg[/img]]
And this one seems to be a long way from home. Registered to a company in Wilmington, DE USA.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u52/vulcan57_photos/Aircraft/Civil/Fixed%20Wing/0072.jpg[/img]]
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u52/vulcan57_photos/Aircraft/Civil/Fixed%20Wing/0071.jpg[/img]]
Thanks for looking.
13
Irish Air Corps / Coast Guard Helicopter Replacement
« on: April 29, 2008, 02:36:47 pm »
I was looking through a book today to discover, to my surprise that the Sikorsky S61’s will be 50 years old next year. Just wondering what people’s thoughts on what a good replacement would be? I think that the Coast Guard could maybe split the helicopter types depending on the location. On the west and south coast they could probably do with a helicopter with a decent range to avoid the use of RAF Seakings on long range rescues, where as on the east coast the range may not be as important.
I was thinking of maybe one of these for the west and south coast.
Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar Range 656 NM Capacity 21 + 2 crew
NH Industries NH 90 Range 650 NM Capacity 14-20 + 2 crew
Sikorsky S92 Range 475 NM Capacity 20 + 2 crew
EH Industries EH 101 Merlin Radius 350 NM Capacity 30(+)+ 3 crew
Maybe for the east coast .
Eurocopter EC 155 Range 448 NM Capacity 12 + 2 crew
Sikorsky SH60 Seahawk Range 319 NM Capacity 14 + 2 crew
Westland Lynx Radius 269 NM Capacity 12 + 2 crew
AW 139 Radius 307 NM Capacity 12-15 + 2 crew
Or something special for the west coast.
Sikorsky SH-53E Super Stallion Range 1,120 NM Capacity 55 + 3 crew
Be interesting to see others opinions. Nothing against the sturdy old S61N but aint gonna last for ever.
I was thinking of maybe one of these for the west and south coast.
Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar Range 656 NM Capacity 21 + 2 crew
NH Industries NH 90 Range 650 NM Capacity 14-20 + 2 crew
Sikorsky S92 Range 475 NM Capacity 20 + 2 crew
EH Industries EH 101 Merlin Radius 350 NM Capacity 30(+)+ 3 crew
Maybe for the east coast .
Eurocopter EC 155 Range 448 NM Capacity 12 + 2 crew
Sikorsky SH60 Seahawk Range 319 NM Capacity 14 + 2 crew
Westland Lynx Radius 269 NM Capacity 12 + 2 crew
AW 139 Radius 307 NM Capacity 12-15 + 2 crew
Or something special for the west coast.
Sikorsky SH-53E Super Stallion Range 1,120 NM Capacity 55 + 3 crew
Be interesting to see others opinions. Nothing against the sturdy old S61N but aint gonna last for ever.
14
Aviation Videos / Videos of Vulcan ZH558's 3rd test flight
« on: April 18, 2008, 03:09:39 pm »
Here are a couple of video clips of the Vulcan's 3rd and latest flight test. The throaty roar of those 4 Rolls Royce Olympus engines at full throttle puts the hair standing on the back of your neck! Just hope everything goes smoothly and we will see her at air shows during the summer.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oIpboLqm5x4&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VgicX2MGxbQ&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-5O1IcjytE4
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oIpboLqm5x4&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VgicX2MGxbQ&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-5O1IcjytE4
15
Aviation Photography / GCE in Galway 04/04
« on: April 06, 2008, 10:24:23 pm »
Caught GCE leaving Galway hospital on Friday. Thought it was half decent so said I would post it, especially as it is so quiet on here. Hope you like.
