New colours for Air Corps King Air?

[Irish251]

Irish Air Letter magazine reports that King Air serial 240 has been repainted into a scheme similar to the Air Corps Learjet.  Anyone photographed it yet since this occurred?

[Silver]

Interesting !

It seems that 240 will be around for a few years to come !?

[Claudel Hopson]

K240 has not been re-painted yet but I've seen the drawings of the new paint scheme and it is identical to the paint scheme on the Learjet.

[Buran]

What about the Giv?
is that to be repainted? or would that not be approved so the next time bertie floats the BBJ idea he can say:
"sure l..l..look at de.de.de.the Gulfstream, it looks terrible and infacta...it doesnt even match the rest of the fleet"

'> Does this mean the Lear is staying on and not being sold as was discussed recently?

[FiannaFail]

No chance,
The GIV and the Lear Jet are required full time, in fact they are the busiest aircraft in our fleet!!  With the increased travel requirements for Government to travel  to  the EU, North, UK and further afield having the two jets is great value for money. If the truth be known we really should have a third jet in the MATS fleet.
As regards Aer Lingus, isn't going to be privatised shortly and dumbed down as another Ryanair?  When we fly the MATS flights throughout the world we are flying our flag and roundal with pride!!
FiannaFail '>

Fianna Fail,

I agree with your view on MATS - very prestigious work and good experience at international flying for the crews.  And considering the cost seems to be largely picked up by the government vice out of the IAC purse,then carry on.

[P.Doff]

Heard a rumour that their gonna lengthen the runways and widen the taxiways for some new jet thats on the cards....all i could catch as I passed the office was ......A380..mmmmm...intresting!!!!

[Head]

**FAINTS**

Could it be that the paint scheme is for a soon to-be-acquired late-model B200 to replace 240??  That would make sense - improved perfomance, reduced operating costs, modern avionics = better multi-engine trainer and MATS aircraft.  B200's have a finite life in terms of hours before they just have to be parked (probably in the muesum in this case), and I'm guessing 240 probably doesn't have enough usable time left on the airframe to last much longer, let alone to justify new paint.

[Silver]

P.Doff,

Perhaps Bertie is gettin' notions again about having a 'flying jacuzzi'   '>  .......... after all he was heard moaning to Hector about the Learjet being "too small" !


If the KingAir is to be replaced it should be with an additional CN235 (be it an MPA or transport model) !

No question that the IAC's next major requirement is for viable airlift with the range and payload to support training exercises throughout Europe and international operations pretty much world-wide as part of a European Airlift Force - be that C-295, C-130J, A400, etc. But a newer, more modern and more capable B200 is still required for multi-engine training and utility missions, and to occasionally supplement MATS.