Messages

1

Irish Air Corps / Re: Base Aerienne Baldonnell

« on: April 08, 2010, 05:35:51 pm »

Wha.......??

Sorry Tony, trying some humour.

On a serious note though......what's the point in having the usual trot out of the 'jets' debate when we have them on a regular basis at the don with the added bonus that we don't have to pay for them (yeah yeah yeah I know the whole debate about air defence, hijacks etc).

From the point of view of a simple enthusiast it's nice to see jets again. Miss the sight of the fougas! This from someone who regularly has to swerve to avoid the median on the A55 going past RAF Valley scanning the skies for activity. Favourite moment was being buzzed by a Hawk flying low level through a vally in Snowdonia whilst I was on the way to watch Munster win the HC in Cardiff!

My office wasn't always facing the Don so maybe it was always this way but there does seem to be a hell of a lot more visits by our French cousins these days. Been this way for about a year now, hence the new base name!! Last summer it almost seemed a weekly event.

Anyway apologies again for the cryptic sense of humour! Here's to seeing jets in Irish skies for many more years to come.

2

Irish Air Corps / Base Aerienne Baldonnell

« on: April 08, 2010, 09:51:06 am »

Morning All!

Without giving too much away, is the tower learning French? And are recruits going to be learning 'les marseillais' soon. What do you think of the new airfield name??

I think it's a great idea, nothing like the sound and sight of Alpha's in the morning.

I am assuming NavEx and though I didn't see it mentioned here previously I assume the St Patrick's Day visit was just a happy coincidence

3

Irish Air Corps / Re: Fast Jet In Bal today???

« on: June 24, 2009, 06:32:43 pm »

Hi Whiskey,

I saw a French Air Force Alpha jet landing in Bal yesterday afternoon. There have been quite a few in and out over the last couple of months along with some FAF transalls. I assume it was the Alpha leaving again this morning that was spotted. They usually depart between 9am and 10am the day after arrival.

Heard a lot of noise around 10 but was in a meeting and they would have looked at me strangely had I dived over to the window as I usually do!!!

Regards,

CB

4

Irish Air Corps / Re: Bi-planes at the Don

« on: September 20, 2008, 04:56:52 pm »

Thanks for that Tony. Great to see them.

As a bizarre coincidence my Dad was an extra in the Blue Max. In one scene he led a party of Germans caputring a pilot who had crash landed (George Pepard I think)!!

5

Irish Air Corps / Bi-planes at the Don

« on: September 20, 2008, 11:23:19 am »

Not sure if it's a secret but noticed 2 bi-planes land on Thursday before lunch about 15mins apart. Bus came out to meet them and lot's of activity around them. Didn't see them leave but they were gone from their parking spot a couple of hours later.

Damn binoculars lens are smashed and didn't notice until I tried to get a closer look!!!

Anyone know what was going on? Both seemed to come from Weston direction.

6

Irish Air Corps / Re: Tucanos at Baldonnel

« on: June 23, 2008, 12:04:34 am »

Hi Tony and all,

Did you see the 4 Tucano's that were in the Don about 4 weeks ago? Saw them break and come in to land from my office window. I was surprised that no-one mentioned them on the board. They were black with yellow stripes along the side. Only moved in so camera not to hand!

Good to see the board coming to life again. It's been very quiet here this year.

Regards,

CB

7

Irish Air Corps / Salthill Air Show 2006

« on: June 25, 2006, 09:50:39 pm »

Well... how was it? I had commitments in Limerick and couldn't make it up to Salthill. Got as far as Shannon and was rewarded with the reds in arrow formation overflying r24 with smoke and then breaking both left and right to land! I'm sure the full display was as good as ever.  

8

Irish Air Corps / Salthill Air Show 2006

« on: June 24, 2006, 02:44:22 pm »

Excellent Nothing like bald birds screaming!!!

9

Irish Air Corps / Salthill Air Show 2006

« on: June 23, 2006, 06:34:15 pm »

aw come on Guiness, don't be like that!! We love fast jets! How about a cryptic clue?

10

Irish Air Corps / Easter Rising Parade & Flypast information

« on: April 12, 2006, 08:53:36 pm »

You are correct Head, the second formation flying today comprised 3x172 2xAIII and 2xEC135. It was great to see both formations in the air, the 172 formation was to the south of the airfield as the GIV formation flew along the main runway from the West. Wonder what the other 2 formations Frank mentioned will be? Both Casa's maybe alone for one but what about the other?

11

Irish Air Corps / AIII's & 172 formation today?

« on: April 05, 2006, 04:13:03 pm »

Hi All,

The formation was out again today over the Don except this time they also flew in formation with a 135. In ten years working beside the Don it's the first fixed wing/rotary formation I have seen.

12

Irish Air Shows / Mach 1 website

« on: April 05, 2006, 10:04:26 am »

Any body?

13

Irish Air Shows / Mach 1 website

« on: April 01, 2006, 12:31:11 pm »

I see the new Mach 1 website is up and running, very impressive! Is that your handy work Frank?

They mention that 'Mach1 2006 presents the biggest ever airshow to be staged in Ireland'.  That's a very big claim to be making considering some of the shows we have seen in the Don and Salthill. Anybody know anything about other possible acts?

14

Irish Air Shows / Salthill.....Well?

« on: June 26, 2005, 06:57:07 pm »

Well, how was it? Details please for those who had to work on the east coast!

RTE news website report quote: 'The RAF's Red Arrows were one of the main highlights but high speed aerial displays by US and Irish airforce jets also proved strong attractions.'- didn't know the US airforce were participating?! and I haven't heard the GIV or the learjet referred to as 'Irish airforce jets' before or were they actually RAF jets masquerading as Irish jets in the RTE pressroom?