Would PC 9s be Useful Overseas?

[Fouga]

Quote (GoneToTheCanner @ 17 Nov. 2005,12:27)

Could you imagine a PC-9 being allowed to open fire in defence of Irish soldiers in a firefight abroad?

Yes i could that would be their job. They are there to support the Army/Navy in any way possible and visa versa so if need be it would have to be done, i think the families of the Soldiers in said Firefight would rather see their relatives etc being brought home alive rather than bodybag.

[SousaTeuszii]

Here Here Fouga, Well said.
Dublin Spotter. You are correct that the Dept can chosen any of the enterants to a tender competition, the problem is they can only chose from the enterant. Have a look over the past two larger heli competitions, no company offers proven technology if they can shift their new, mostly unteseted and unporven aircraft.

Med Range Project at time of project:

EH101: Serious problems getting into service at that time, still serious problems.
S92: Flying, unproven unknown maintenance.
EC725: Engines not built only one prototype flying.

Utility helicopter projectat time of project:
EC145: Ancient design from cockpit back.
AB139: Flying, no proven maintenance and no full certification.
S70: Yeh right I wish

You cannot choose outside these and therefore are completely at the mercy of the tendering manufacterers.

[Fouga23]

Quote (SousaTeuszii @ 18 Nov. 2005,11:58)

You cannot choose outside these and therefore are completely at the mercy of the tendering manufacterers.

what about the NH90?

[SousaTeuszii]

The NH 90 was never offered to Air Corps during any tender process. As I said the seletion board can only evaluate and select from the aircraft tendered. If its not tendered the Air Corps cannot buy it. It is also likely that the NH 90 never will be offered to the Air Corps as they are too expensive, over 10 Mil more then an S70, and any company will tender as close to the requested spec as possible; Hence the AB139 and not the NH90.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
Helicopters would be more useful as air cover than fixed-wing aircraft in Liberia/East Timor.PC-9s would need decent runways,intense maintenance support and would be less useful against an enemy well used to operating out of the jungle.Now, if they could just rustle up a few Mi-24s or AH-1s, hang a job-lot of rockets and Gatlings off them...you know the rest!
Whatever about allowing Irish soldiers to fire the odd rifle bullet, it would take a bit of a mental leap for the government to allow AC aircraft to go out strafing somebody.
regards
GttC

[pilatus]

they would only be allowed to do strafing runs if UN troops were under fire or civvies were also under attack or abviously aswell if someone fired at the chopper itself they could return fire in self defense!

[davephelan]

FAC does not usually involve the aircraft performing an attack it self, rather the pilot and observer wuld mark targets for ' fast jets ' or adjust artilery / mortar fire to suit the requiements of the ground troops

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi Dave
That's true,but most FAC aircraft are armed well enough to retaliate against antiaircraft fire and modern Fast FAC types are able to fend off all sorts of enemies.
regards
GttC