Messages

1

Irish Air Corps / Let's talk about the navy again!

« on: October 22, 2004, 09:14:22 am »

I agree with sealion. Putting a heli back on the Eithne would be a complete waste of time. The new davitts and ribs fitout for the Eithne is probably the most sensible capital investment in the ship in a long time.

Taking the Canadian diesel electric sub rescue as an example and the possible use of a ship-borne heli. I think people need to have experienced a 6-8M sea (conditions at the time) and then comment on the logic of ship-borne heli ops in those conditions.

2

Irish Air Corps / Radar coverage ?

« on: October 13, 2004, 10:05:04 am »

"Civilian radar does not see the aircraft but rather the transponder code and if the transponder is turned off then Shannon would not be able to find the aircraft."

Only true for SSR radars - Ireland has 3 PSR radars in the three airport.

Radar coverage of the airspace, for which the Irish Aviation Authority is responsible, is provided from: seven Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) Sensors and three Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) Sensors, located at Dublin Airport (two co-located MSSR/PSR), Cork Airport (PSR), Mount Gabriel (two  MSSRs), Co. Cork, Shannon Airport (co-located MSSR/PSR), Woodcock Hill (MSSR) Co. Clare, and Dooncarton (MSSR) Co. Mayo. Each MSSR Sensor is equipped with a rotating radar antenna, and dual interrogators, receivers, extractors and trackers. I believe that all MSSR traffic is transmitted over data lines to the Air Traffic Control Centres (Shannon, Dublin, Cork).

3

Irish Air Corps / Let's talk about the navy again!

« on: October 08, 2004, 09:00:32 am »

My .02c

Well you know what, we do spend quite an amount complaining about the lack of capability in a number of key defense areas, but I do think we actually have good SAR cover for a country this size.

We don't need Frigates with EH101s. The 5 Coastguard S-61Ns we have (4 operational plus one spare) actually gives the country a pretty good SAR capability.

4

Irish Air Corps / AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS - SECURITY THREAT

« on: February 09, 2004, 09:22:32 am »

fwiw

Its not just web sites. There is a mailing list that you can join that will give you almost every arrival and dept for irish airports including the don. Joining the mailing list is easy and no checking is done.

5

Irish Air Corps / Cessna Replacement?

« on: February 05, 2004, 08:56:48 am »

I stand corrected. In my limited FRA-150L flying experience I thought that the turbine mgt in the Caravan looked a tad more complicated then flying pistons.

6

Irish Air Corps / Time to set these guys straight

« on: February 05, 2004, 08:54:31 am »

What a bunch of uneducated muppets. I think there was an USNR C-130T in the bal a few days ago belonging to one of their east coast Fleet Logistics Support Squadrons. Its sister ship landed in shannon.

7

Irish Air Corps / Cessna Replacement?

« on: February 02, 2004, 09:21:35 am »

my .02c

Hang onto the C172. A bit underpowered with four on board, but a really reliable aircraft thats very cheap to run. Turbine equipped caravans have more complex engine management (no FADEC remember).

8

Irish Air Corps / Marchetti videos & pictures

« on: January 30, 2004, 03:53:01 pm »

Nice work and very impressive

9

Irish Air Corps / Marchetti's flying CAP over Dublin today

« on: January 22, 2004, 09:22:10 am »

Interesting, I wonder who is doing the GCI control for the CAP SF-260s? Sounds like we're ready for those nasty Stukas.

10

Irish Air Corps / If it was up to you.....

« on: January 21, 2004, 09:33:12 am »

I think c22910 has a point, our troops need organic airlift capability and CAS cover assets rather than air superiority. Its all a question of priorities, I think the PC-9 will provide the AC with FAC and perhaps some CAS capabilities. Other operators of the type have been impressed with its endurance allowing it to stay on FAC station for long periods.

11

Irish Air Corps / PC-9's -

« on: January 19, 2004, 03:50:37 pm »

8 is enough. Time to move on and get more air-mobility assets such as light and medium lift helis. As I have previously posted, a mixed Hawk fleet would provide all the fast jet experience we would need (and afford). For my .02c I would forgo fast jets in lieu of two C-27J spartans (or similar - not sure if they are exactly the right kit) to support our overseas deployments (can carry ARW landrovers, patrols and PIIIs - well their gearboxes at least).

12

Irish Air Corps / Turboprops -

« on: January 15, 2004, 10:22:50 am »

GCI for helicopter intercepts? Hmmm.. not very likely, Eyeball Mk1 would probably be more efficient. Tooling around at 200knots trying to find a heli flying just above the ground at 90knots isn't easy. Just look at how difficult it was for US F-15C to intercept Serb Mi-8/17 in Kosovo and they had proper look down shoot down pulse doppler radar.

13

Irish Air Corps / Air Marshals

« on: January 15, 2004, 10:18:01 am »

This is one of the many relatively new forms of asymetric warfare (well for us it is) that nation states have to tackle. A detailed examination of the special ops requirements of the state wouldn't do any harm, my own .02c is that specially armed and trained Gardai would probably be the right fit.

14

Irish Air Corps / If it was up to you.....

« on: January 06, 2004, 09:16:28 am »

F-16A/MLU/D, Gripen are all too expensive to operate. L-159 is a poor performer and the F-5 is a hanger queen. My own preference would be a mix of Hawk 100s & 200s. Hawk 200s could perform the light attack role whilst the Hawk 100s could be used a lead in fighter trainers.

The Hawk 100s can accommodate additional sensors and avionics systems, including a forward-looking infrared (FLIR). The aircraft has seven hardpoints on the wings for weapon payloads. AIM-9Ls can be mounted on the wingtip missile launchers.

The Hawk 200 is with the Northrop Grumman APG-66H radar (an upgrade of the F-16A's radar with 10 AA modes RWS, TWS etc as well as about the same number of AG modes) coupled with the Sidewinder would be more than adequate for our needs right now.

My 2c.

15

Irish Air Corps / Should the Air Corps get interceptor Jets?

« on: January 09, 2004, 09:20:30 am »

Re: Interceptors, no real need right now.. Purchase a mix of Hawk 100 & 200s and get some GCI practice.

Re: Was listening to Matt Cooper complaining on today FM earlier about the new anti tank missiles,with the sneery remark that "its not like we would have to repel hoards of tanks crossing the border.."
What he says only reflects public opinion. Imagine the response to fighters?

Now thats pretty disappointing coming from someone that I had a bit of respect for. Its going to be an uphill struggle to convince the general public that we need to re-equip the AC for a role in the 21st Century - I can't think of a politican that has the stomach for it unfortunately.