Messages

1

Irish Air Corps / Re: IAC Vampires

« on: January 20, 2008, 09:58:35 pm »

Interesting article in January 'Flier' magazine re flight in Vampire T11 in civilian ownership in UK. Apparently heavy on juice and on tyres -- tricky too on start up as risk of fire in engine and spin recovery difficult -- amazing the Air Corps operated them for some twenty years without serious incident ...

2

Irish Air Corps / Air Corps in Hungarian Aviation Magazine

« on: November 19, 2007, 06:05:54 pm »

As a matter of curiosity can anybody identify the bit of landsape road and sea or lakeshore beneath the eight ship Fouga formation photo. At first glance thought Blessington lakes but not sure .... Lovely pictures

3

Irish Air Corps / Alouette retirement

« on: October 02, 2007, 01:31:47 am »

Michael B, there was a TV crew from TV 3 there, not sure  what footage was actually broadcast. As a previous poster said there were letters from An tUachtarain and An Taoiseach prominently displayed at the event. In addition some weeks earlier an AIII had been assigned a MATs tasking, the last to be undertaken by an AIII. By sheer coincidence the Minister in question was Minister O'Cuiv whose grandfather President De Valera had been one of the first Irish public representatives to fly in an AIII in 1964. The Minister posed for some pictures with the crew. These pictures were also on display on the occasion and are now part of the Air Corps archive.

4

Irish Air Corps / Thanks For The Memories

« on: September 24, 2007, 09:44:40 am »

There is a possibility that one of them will fly occassionally in the future at least as long as its next 400 hour major service is due.

5

Irish Air Corps / Alouette retirement

« on: September 21, 2007, 10:20:29 pm »

Whatever about the detail of the colour schemes, it was an awesome sight at Casement today, 9 helis in the air, 6 AIIIs and 3 Agustas, the final maneouvre where the 6 AIIIs 'reversed' into their landing spots simultaneously while the blades were still turning on the three Agustas parked opposite on the apron. The crescendo of sound was stunning and the 'paraffin' type whiff from the AIIIs was so distinctive -- something that even the best photographer could not convey! Great day for all luck enough to be there.

6

Foreign Air Forces / Air Shows (Read Only) / Hurrican  Fatality Shoreham

« on: September 17, 2007, 02:27:33 pm »

Sorry to read of a fatal hurricane crash at Shoreham air display on Saturday. RIP.

7

Irish Aviation History / Rare find of Seafire Pic?

« on: September 17, 2007, 02:24:30 pm »

Where exactly is the backdrop -- spot a double decker on the road below, looks somewhere like Howth Road out of Dublin but cant quite reconcile that big institutional building in the background ...

8

Irish Air Corps / Memorial Service Halifax EB134

« on: August 06, 2007, 03:07:33 pm »

Certainly a bonus for the people in Tuam who might have expected one aircraft at most ... its an ill wind etc!

9

Irish Air Corps / Memorial Service Halifax EB134

« on: August 05, 2007, 11:53:06 pm »

Spotted FIVE Pilatus flying on a South West to North East track (ie heading towards Casement) near Newbridge 1530 this afternoon (Sunday, 5th August). Were they returning from this event in Tuam?

10

Irish Air Corps / Who are the REAL enemy?

« on: July 19, 2007, 02:02:35 pm »

Shooting down is silly Top Gun stuff. Far more effective to shadow them to landing position (they have to land or come ashore at some point) and be ready to intercept. A vast amount of forensic evidence and intelligence from interrogation than then be gathered to help break up networks and interdict other imminent supply operations. Shooting down would only destroy the evidence.

11

Irish Air Shows / Curragh display

« on: May 27, 2007, 03:56:36 pm »

In case it does not get recorded anywhere else there was a good close up view of one of the IAC Europcopters and an Alouette III at the military vehicle show at the Curragh racecourse on 20 May. Dozens of kids clambered through the cockpit of both.  Eurocopter took off first and gave a fine display and high speed pass, then AIII went through its paces and drew as much admiration from the (modest) crowd. Maybe the last time both will be seen together in public?

12

Irish Air Corps / EC135 & AW139 questions

« on: November 23, 2006, 04:53:21 pm »

So what was the story re the extended the ferry trip over? Any formalities to welcome them -- today or later?

LK

13

Irish Air Corps / EC135 & AW139 questions

« on: November 22, 2006, 10:30:42 am »

What's the latest ETA Casement?

14

Irish Air Corps / EC135 & AW139 questions

« on: November 21, 2006, 03:39:37 pm »

What's the suss? Have they arrived yet?

15

Irish Air Corps / Some things never change ...

« on: November 15, 2006, 12:22:17 pm »

It may not be entirely on topic but is not inherently unfair that the Taoiseach can have the use of a State resource for what is a blatantly political mission.

Different story if say he is flying to meet a foreign VIP, or even to clinch a deal on a new factory etc but to be flown around to glorified residents association and school committee meetings is surely a complete abuse of the privilege.