Finner Dauphin no more

[Frank (Admin)]

Hi Guys,

Yesterday (Monday 14th July 2003) was the last day of Dauphin operations at Air Station Finner Camp and I was fortunate enough to be present at the small ceremony commemorating this event.  

I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all of the last Air Corps Station Finner air, ground & fire crews for being so helpful and accommodating, I really appreciate it.

SAR operations with the North West have now been handed over from the Dauphin based at Finner to the S-61N based at Sligo Airport.

I took some nice pictures of the Dauphin with all the crews, along with pictures & video of the Dauphin's departure.  

These pictures are very nice indeed so watch this space!

I'm currently on camp with the RDF and I am again next week so I won't get a chance to post most of the pics for a few weeks but I'll try and post one or two of the best before I go on the second camp.


Regards,

Frank

[Lude]

pinch of salt,bloody bucket-full VMAX!
I saw the dauphin in carrickfinn yesterday,doing its usual training runs,I found that a bit surprising,maybe it was doing its final tour of the region,it did land though.
Theres another dauphin about as well,PDG helicopters,a very early example,its got skids!Its doing the Tory Island runs.

[IAS]

Does anyone know why they decided to base the S-61 at Sligo and not Finner?

Surely, as Finner is a military base, it would be cheaper to use it, also, I seem to remember that the Fire Fighting/Crash Rescue facilities at Finner were upgraded about a year ago, is this just another waste of money or is Sligo a temporary base?


IAS

[alpha foxtrot 07]

yea FF likes to talk through her a******e
so you may need a salt mine break can't wait to see the pics frank

[Imshi-Yallah]

Was Finner mentioned for sale?

[Lude]

Its very sad to see the dauphin go,the helicopter crews have done trojan work up here for years and it has always been much appreciated by everyone,especially as regards search and rescue ops and air ambulance duties.
Can't wait to see the photos Frank!
As regards air ambulance in the north west now,what exactly is the siuation?The dauphin was able to use the helipad at Letterkenny General for example,but I can't see an S-61 being able to land there now.Will Air ambulance duties be restricted because of the S-61's size??

[Vmax]

The hanger at Finner is not big enough for the S-61,so that is certainly one of the reasons.As for the helipad at Letterkenny, its well able to accomadate the 61. In fact I would say its one of the better pads in the country.
Hope this is of some help. '>

[FiannaFail]

It seems, from my information, that SAR will be handed over nearly completely to the Irish Coastguard Service in the next few years. Don't despair however as the relacement M/L helis (likely to be purchased on a long term lease) will be using Finner etc for military purposes. Having said that its always sad to see an end of an era and the Dauphin based in Bundoran played a huge role in the SAR history for the North West and indeed  the country.  The number of times it had to cross the boarder into the 6 Counties and show "the Flag" was impressive - something that wouldn't have been aloud to happen a number of years ago without the loyalists screeming blue murder!!
So long Dauphin!!
FF '>

[Vmax]

FF
what do you mean by nearly completely!!The coastguard already run three of the four SAR bases,and the S-61N in sligo is a civie aircraft leased to either the DOD or DOM and maintained by civie engineers. If that's not nearly completely, I don't know what is. '> :'>

[John K]

Hey VMax, don't get drawn into a slagging match with FF, she makes out she knows what she's talking about but it's already been proven she's full of hot air!
You don't ride a Yamaha do you?

[Vmax]

John K,
I have just read some of FF previous posts and will take your advice.FF threads are to be taken with a pinch of salt i think.