Messages

1

Shameless Promotion / Re: Special talks on the Fouga Magister

« on: July 08, 2013, 11:58:07 pm »

Really enjoyed the presentation, well done to all involved. The only problem was that it wasn't long enough! John Mulvanny gave a great description on how the Silver Swallows put together their routine, found myself standing at 216 afterwards trying to figure out the slot positions Have to agree with him, it'd be great to see a new Silver Swallows in the future.

2

Irish Air Corps / Re: Irish Air Corps seeks EC135 simulator access

« on: October 28, 2012, 01:02:30 am »

I must be working too hard these days... I missed the 2 year bit Think your theory sounds spot on Frank.

Not sure of costs, but always thought a heli sim would be a useful piece of kit anyway for them to have, especially with the 135 as your first heli.

Any new news on how the pranged one is going?

3

Irish Air Corps / Irish Air Corps seeks EC135 simulator access

« on: October 27, 2012, 11:33:20 am »

Irish Air Corps seeks EC135 simulator access

Flight International - http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/irish-air-corps-seeks-ec135-simulator-access-378105/
26 Oct 2012

The Irish Air Corps is seeking to place a two-year contract covering the provision of simulator-based training services in support of its Eurocopter EC135 fleet.

Potential contractors are required to provide 92h of simulator access per year for students accompanied by Air Corps instructors, according to a contract solicitation notice dated 19 October.

The selected company should also have "the capacity to deliver a NVG [night vision goggle] certified simulator or NVG simulation in the environment suitable to Irish Air Corps requirements", the document says.

Bidders have until 23 November to express interest in the requirement, a potential value for which has not been disclosed.

Flown from the service's Baldonnel air base near Dublin, two EC135s are used for rotary-wing pilot training tasks and other activities, such as utility transport. Flightglobal's Ascend Online Fleets database records the aircraft as having been delivered during 2005.

The Irish Air Corps also flies six AgustaWestland AW139 utility helicopters, fielded between 2006 and 2008.

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Interesting, always wondered if part of the heli conversion course involved use of a sim. Have they ever used a sim for the 135 or 139 training? Would seem like a useful piece of kit especially for the early stages.

4

Aviation Waffle / Re: Seasons Greetings

« on: December 27, 2010, 12:12:23 pm »

Happy Christmas to all on the board, in the Air Corps and Defence Forces, and best of luck for 2011!

5

Irish Air Corps / Re: Air Corps CASA makes emergency landing in Kerry

« on: October 22, 2010, 11:21:31 pm »

Well done to all, thems definitely the days you earn your money 

6

Irish Air Corps / AW139 - FLIR & Exercises?

« on: April 02, 2010, 02:43:25 pm »

Hi all

A question or two for those in the know:

1) Does the FLIR ball used for the 139 have a laser ranger, or is it just a plain old FLIR?

2) Have the bugs which appeared when the 139s were initially taken into service been overcome?

3) Do the AC have any plans to deploy a 139 or 2 abroad for exercises? Or alternately, any plans for neighbouring countries to bring some helis here for exercise?

Thanks for any info

7

Aviation Waffle / Re: Seasons Greetings 2009

« on: December 22, 2009, 10:29:55 am »

Happy Christmas one and all, and best of luck for 2010! 

8

Irish Air Corps / Re: Air Corps PC-9 has crashed in Connemara

« on: October 13, 2009, 03:53:33 pm »

My thoughts and prayers with the deceased and their families.

Rest In Peace.

9

Irish Air Corps / Re: Dauphin at sea onboard LE Eithne - 34 photos

« on: October 03, 2009, 06:57:18 pm »

Great set of pictures, thanks for sharing them. Who knows, with the new ships (hopefully), we should see something similar in the future.

10

Irish Air Corps / Re: PC-9's going into storage?

« on: July 04, 2009, 11:04:55 pm »

Good to hear things aren't slowing up, what with the recession thing and all  Keep up the good work to all.

There are other missions being carried out with PC9's in the past few months which are normally in the domain of other units. Can't say anymore about this.

There is no sign of a display team on a regular basis. Our pilots are busy with training programs, sim attacks on Army and Navy, flying other aircraft. But when they do get together, they do put together a very good display.

Good to hear that the PC-9s are being put to other uses and developing new capabilities for them. A new Silver Swallows, sure when the next boom comes along, I'm sure a few quid will be found for them 

11

Irish Air Corps / Re: DFHS AS350 at Bal?

« on: April 21, 2009, 11:46:08 pm »

That's her alright, thanks for clearing that up. Sorry Thurian, not sure what the high winger out at Bal might be.

12

Irish Air Corps / DFHS AS350 at Bal?

« on: April 21, 2009, 10:51:53 am »

Have seen what looks like a UK DHFS AS350 flying over south Dublin for the last 2 days. Are they over in Bal for a bit of flying these days?

13

Irish Air Corps / Re: What next aircraft?

« on: January 03, 2009, 10:36:32 pm »

Jets would be nice but don`t see the budget stretching to it-and if the truth be told are they really needed?
The only purpose I can see for them is as a recruitment tool and to please the airshow crowds.

Better to stick to tried and tested aircraft that have proved their worth and suitability-we can all dream of jets!

Trying to keep away from the dreaming, did a bit too much of that as a kid... Where I'm coming from though is do the AC see this as a potential future for them, even though anything they've said in recent years would not seem to indicate such. A light jet like the AMX or similar won't stop much, but could be a useful point defender, and would definitely be a massive step in air -ground, -sea and recce.

So, sorry to read into things too much GTTC, but by "A better light strike aircraft than a PC-9? Possibly....", does the "Possibly...." mean some planner type in Bal is thinking, maybe towards something more substantial?

Okay, by the above I think I've lost all credibility here so I'll be off

14

Irish Air Corps / Re: What next aircraft?

« on: January 02, 2009, 11:18:02 pm »

Evenin

Interesting points in this one, although it's kind of the never ending roundabout re: fighters. Back to a few points from GTTC

Forget fighters.It will never, ever happen.A better light strike aircraft than a PC-9? Possibly....Personally, I think the AMX would be a good choice.

Do the AC have a requirement for a plane like the AMX - now or in the future? It would be good to see something like this, but would T/FA 50 not be a better option for a training / light combat role? (Maybe an L-159 or MB 346 either, although trying to keep out of the warmed over jet trainer mentality, and what they can and can't do compared to a fighter.)

In the meantime, nothing less than a C-130 for strategic airlift.Don't waste your breath on anything smaller as the cost/benefit are simply not worth it. A Casa 295 is far too small for STRATEGIC airlift and is scarcely a real tactical transporter.

Suppose the C-130 is a possibility if it could be sold as a multi-role transport for military / civil relief etc as has been said before. A pair of half decent second hand ones might even be affordable to buy and operate...

..........sell the King Air, as it is so old and high-houred as to be essentially worth only the value of it's engines. Buy two C90s for multi-engine training, air ambulance and MATS back-up and a King Air 350 for short-range MATS.Sell the GIV and put the money towards a GV or similar.

Would it not be better to better just to buy a new King Air 200 and the FNPTII sim for ME training and MATS? Wonder what'll happen about a GIV replacement now the economy's on a downer - the Airbus or 737 is probably off the cards (for now anyways)?

And all that's before extra helis... We can't afford massive kit, but the money could definitely be found to put in place something a bit more substantial. And the public wouldn't go ape, provided that they don't go looking for F-16s or Gripens. Snap out of it, enough of that Waltering...

15

Irish Air Corps / Re: AW 139 questions

« on: September 17, 2008, 11:54:26 pm »

No probs, thanks for the update. Apologies if the questioning was getting a bit persistent 

There were a few posts about some Engineers Ireland (Irish Institute of Engineers) articles a while back

http://www.worldairpics.com/forum/index.php?topic=848.0
http://www.worldairpics.com/forum/index.php?topic=1489.msg14165

which I think mentioned that the 135s were to be fitted for FLIRs. 'fraid the links to those articles are gone from the Engineers Ireland website, pity they were pretty good.

Keep up the good work

Viper