Messages

1

Irish Air Corps / Airbus A380 Shannon Visit

« on: November 14, 2006, 05:55:45 am »

I have a photo of it touching down at Shannon from Dublin Airport Staff Magazine which have a article on it, so will post it when i get a chance.

Best Regards

BMax.

2

Air Corps News / First AC AW139's due in Ireland on 21/11/06

« on: November 05, 2006, 05:34:30 pm »

Excellent news looking forward to seeing them touch down at EIME.

3

Irish Air Corps / C-295 (again...yawn)

« on: October 22, 2006, 10:42:45 pm »

Sousa I Agree with your idea with and they idea od 737-700 QCA would provide the entire DF with a great true multi-role aircraft that the Boeing 737 would offer the IAC.

But i feel there is a need for a true capable ramp aircraft even poorly for the likes ARW Quick Deployment or transporting for examle Mowag engine or like back out where the 737 wouldnt be able to access.

I know Redeye has mentioned this idea before and probly in context of overseas operational forces it best practice to have a ramp capable aircraft (I dont mean anything bigger then 235) for light recce vechices of the likes F-350 (Or Previous LandRover Defenders) in service with the ARW which were transported by Air to Liberia i was informed and not by sea so it would have one visable role within the DF already aswell as increased aircraft more capable of Parachute/Paratrooping Training Operations which the DF have stated that our keane to promote within the Army.

I most repeating what i have commented on before but it would be great to see the likes of the Boeing 737BBJ/QCA alongside a CN235 (Tactical Aircraft) and would give great service to the DF.

Here a nice link with a great site with lots of info on the CN235 which could also carry over to the 295 for comparison

http://www.aviation.blm.gov/docs/CN235Report.pdf

4

Irish Air Corps / C-295 (again...yawn)

« on: October 19, 2006, 10:07:05 pm »

Have been watching the way this threads been developing and have to agree with most sentiments that have been stated in favour of the 295. For a long time i have been adament of promoting the C27J for the IAC but after doing more research into the C295 capability and speaking to freinds of mine in the Don they our adement that the 295 will next big purchase of a significant nature to IAC.

There is rumours afoot (As Always In The Don) That if more Casa's our to be purchased for Maritime Air Patrols. That they will purchase the 295 fitted wth FITS system (Which the 235s our being upgraded too)

In the More Tactical Role i would rate the 295 as a great solutions to the DF needs, a while back i posted a good link on IMO to a website bout the capability of CASA 235 (which the 295 shares similiar internal demensions) and its ability to hold the likes of the URO Vamtac "On Trial With The Army" /Landrover Defender/Nissan Patrol and i would personally i take a guess and say the ARW Ford F-350 (SORV) would also fit inside the 295.

It would give the DF a great overseas transport capability especially for initial overseas for deploying the likes of specilist Recconaisance Teams/Rapid Reaction Teams that would be goin into a potential dangerous area ahead of a Mechanised Company/Battalion moving into there (AO) with kind of availible airlift support for there more light mobile vechicles and support equipment and could also easily support supplies to overseas deployed forces with the likes of more traditional Ammo,Food,Comms resupply etc.. and also have a enlarged Medevac roles along with the Learjet 45 capability of Air Ambulance giving greater supports to overseas troops.

5

Irish Air Corps / For all you Ryder Cup fans...

« on: September 22, 2006, 04:25:35 pm »

Theres alot of rumours cerculating about these smoke pods possibly being used or aquired has any body heard anything bout this?

6

Irish Air Corps / Cessna Replacement

« on: August 26, 2006, 03:22:24 pm »

Could the PC-12 also not be considered for this replacement especially in context to replacing the Cessnas Inland waterways/geograpical survey role aswell as replacing the kingair in a MATS role etc oir could spilt buy ever happen with like or Two PC-6/Two PC-12s covering the whole cessna/beechcraft replacment or would this be totally unlikely?

7

Irish Air Corps / Fighter Jets for the Air Corps -

« on: August 17, 2006, 01:50:53 pm »

Realistically if the IAC were to consider purchasing such aircraft it would have to be Multimode as one of the first consideration so it could preform value for the small IAC Bugdet.

The IAC have several options availible to them such as

-SAAB Gripen JAS39 (Between 50-70 million eur for early batch to new model aircraft)

-KAI/Lockheed Martin F/A T-50 (Supersonc Around 35 million eur to purchase)

-Aermacchi M346 (Like mentioned earlier price is around 28-35 million eur per unit)

Other aircraft that could fit into this catorgory could incude many different F16 Fighting Falcon Variants/Blocks and possible the EADS Mako ALFA if it ever comes into production, any of these of aircraft could give the basis for training,operational and policing needs to provide the IAC and Irish State with a multi role fighter/jet squadron comprising realistically 8-12 aircraft squadron.

8

Irish Air Corps / Fighter Jets for the Air Corps -

« on: August 14, 2006, 06:57:13 pm »

Yes its true there has been tons of webspace devoted to this debate but as silver said least a interesting one.

Personnally i would think that a token force of bewteen 5-6 SAAB JAS-39 Gripens would give the DF a great assets both operationally and for training purposes. Would it possible for the IAC to get the best of bout worlds and get second hand block/batch one or two Gripens???

I would say that would give the IAC a quantrum leap and great defined role for years to come and i would say it would give a great boost also in Corps Morale as they have another more defined job aswell as new Helis,Cessna/Kingair Replacements and MATS,MAPS TATS (C27J Possible) and possible Air Policing role would make them feel more of key parthner in the DF then just more then a spare part in the DF!

9

Irish Air Corps / Air Corps receive first AW139

« on: August 14, 2006, 06:43:38 pm »

Its was quoted in the indo article about "the new AW139 that has capabaility to be armed with Two x FN GPMG Machine Gunsaswell as other weapons"

Does anybody what other types of weapons the aircraft are able/wired to carry?

Are refering like of 12.7mm HMG Gun Pods or rocket pods etc??

10

Irish Air Corps / Fighter Jets for the Air Corps -

« on: August 13, 2006, 07:29:18 am »

http://www.irishmilitaryonline.com/board....t132431


The Above is the link posted on Irish Military Online which itself is an extract from article wrote by Don Lavery in Irish Independent.

It also quotes that the IAC were offered second hand jet trainers that could serve in the intercept role for $1 million each by a company, Does anybody have any further information on this or what type of aircraft they were?

11

Irish Air Corps / Recce Pods

« on: August 11, 2006, 01:55:14 am »

Just an extra options for aircraft inventory or a important part of aircrafts capability???

The Marchettis and before them for many years other aircraft that have served with the IAC have had specific Recconaisance "Recce" carrying Infra Red/IR camera's i believe ) Pods or oldeer aircraft carrying special camreas with could gather vital images gathered from litorally, from up top looking down and they are known to have played a important role during the troubles especially along border regions, beng great asset to be utilised by the IAC for itself and other Irish State Intelligence Services  such as An Garda Siochiona,G2 etc...

Do member of the board stilll feel there a need/nesseciaty for such a pod to be carried on the likes of the PC-9M type could possible the recce pods that were used on the Marrcetti's be recycled into the inventory of the Pilatus PC-9Ms or would new system need to be intergrated or is more likely that the IAC/Irish Army operate UAVs in this role from now on???

Oh if possible would anyone have any good shots of the Marrcetti's carrying such pods when they were in service?



 

12

Irish Air Corps / AB139 Pics

« on: August 03, 2006, 04:46:56 pm »

Do you not feel if the IAC utilises to get the two options on the AW139s that they still would possible aquire upto Four AW149s or a Larger (MLH) like the S92 or NH90 would you not feel that DOD would have such large field of heil's such as EC135P2,AW139,AW149/NH90/S92 would this not be viewed as too many types of heli's for IAC to have and maintain??

13

Irish Air Corps / Spitfire 161 to visit Baldonnel?

« on: March 10, 2006, 01:19:03 pm »

Certainly was inspiring sight to see (RTE News had good coverage of it too) also seeing the newly commissioned cadets beside this historical aircraft I taught it was quite poignant image myself! Hopefully this will be the first of amny visit to this isle of this aircraft.

14

Irish Air Corps / AB139 Pics

« on: February 20, 2006, 07:21:35 pm »

Personally im really looking forward to the the deliveries of the AgustaBell AB139s so far they look like they will be a great contribution to Defence Forces in general and not just the IAC but will provide great services to the other key Parthner in the DF.

I would also think along similiar lines that it would be quite simple to upgrade the AB139s to improve the Add-On-Armour to increase the aircraft "Ballistics Tolerance" as there is high level protection add-on systems availible that are light and compact (i think IAI make them or similiar crowd) which will not adversely effect the Helicopters performance etc...

Are Law Enforcement models are cumtomised for the IAC but they have similiar charteristics to the Military Spec one and should only need a little need further a little further capital to upgrade them to this standard.  

15

Irish Air Corps / CASA's pass the 20,000 flight hours mark

« on: February 12, 2006, 07:26:22 am »

Now it begs the question if they are to be away for any extended period of time what will replace of supplement the fleet in the aircraft absence how long could modernastion of the CN235s take weeks or months per aircraft??