AB-139

[pym]

Its too early for people to be going to race meetings in Naas... just watched a Helicopter that looked really like the 139 go overhead very low. Its kind of blunt looking from below, has a white/gray belly, it did a 180 and seemed to be heading back towards Baldonnel. Doesnt sound anything like the current fleet of Heli's.

edit: i know there's one of these topics posted every month or so, but I wouldnt have done this unless I was at least 50% sure it was a 139, it was a white helicopter, normal tail rotor, two wings on the tail, large, and blunt. It could of course be some civilian chopper but perhaps not....

[sealion]

Our AB139 is not due until 2006 and 2007. Check out the link below for the production list. There are not many of them in the world.

http://www.dgualdo.it/prod-ab139.htm

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
There was an EC155 in Weston yesterday, along with a Bell 222.Maybe it was one of those.There was a four-aircraft formation of Alouettes out and about,too,also near Naas.Maybe they're practicing for their second "stand-down" flypast!
regards
GttC

[P.Doff]

Just a point to note. There is a hell of a lot of civvie heli traffic around the don due to it being so close to weston and of course City West hotel and golf club which must be the busiest heli port in the country. We can see their heli pad on the side of the hill from our ramp and can hear all their traffic on our radios as they have to use Bal ATC for permission to land. All civvie traffic (its mostly Helis) that are transiting the south city at low level have to cross or come near Bal airspace so when we're active they need permission and/or guidence from our ATC whether it be to cross the active runway(dont forget that this includes approach and departure paths) or skirt around the base.
Anyway, my point is that a lot of helis that seem to be heading for the don may actually be doing so just to find a safe point to cross the area(a bit like crossing a busy road) which is usually straight across the airfield over the tower at 1000ft then on to where ever under the eye and control of our radar until they hand over to civvie ATC.
Hope this helps.

[Fouga23]

Quote (GoneToTheCanner @ 21 May 2005,03:01)

There was an EC155 in Weston yesterday, along with a Bell 222.

Bell 222  You have one of those  overthere? WOW! -*nostalgic reminders of Airwolf*-  '>

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi there
There are, I think, three of that class of Bell aircraft in Ireland, but not necessarily on our register.You can hear them coming from miles away.I don't think you could sneal up on anybody in a Bell 222.
regards
GttC

[Silver]

Saw an unusual heli over Naas today.
Sounded very loud and it's shape looked like an AB139 (though I know it wasn't from previous posts).

Haven't heard a heli engine noise like this before (and I have a good ear for the different heli engines ).

[pym]

Wonder what it's doing/what type it is Silver.

I thought it may have been the 139 giving a demonstration at the Don, but obviously it wasnt. I'm quite sure it was neither a 222 or ec 155. It was bigger and blunter for starters, didnt have the fenestron of the 155 either. It had two stub wings on the tail and I dont think the undercarriage fairings were too pronounced.

Like silver I know the sounds of the various AC heli's very well at this stage.

It flew lower than civvie choppers go generally and did a tight turn from heading west to go north east in the general direction of baldonnel.

Maybe there's something in the water here silver  

[P.Doff]

I know the Heli your taking about Silver. It flew over the Don a couple of times yesterday and landed at City West. It does look very like the 139 and the tail rotor has a very distingtive sound a bit like a Blackhawk. (Sorry lads for being such an aerosexual, when your around aircraft for years you begin to tell the differences in aircraft noise.!!) Im not well up on helis but it wasnt an A109 and looked very like a shortened S-92??

[Pink Panther]

Possibly an S-76,one has being doing the rounds in the Dublin area recently.