AIII

[Dublin Spotter]

I was just looking and a topic on the IMO website, and there was a shot of 3 AIII operating at RDF exercises Would there be a possibility that the AIII are kept flying so as they are used for these type of exercises freeing up the AB's for PDF use.

[pym]

That's a great shot isnt it?

I would reckon the A3 will stay in service until at least 6 139's are available to the Air Corps. I'd love them to be then placed in storage in case they were needed for some kind of an emergency situation - but that's probably an impossibility given the kind of resources the Air Corps work with.

[Fouga]

Can you post the link for us all to see? Please? '>

[Orion]

Quote (Fouga @ 11 Nov. 2005,20:35)

Can you post the link for us all to see? Please? '>

yes

http://www.irishmilitaryonline.com/board....id=1127

[clan]

Brilliant photo, keep them in service until we have enough new machines to replace them.

[Irish251]

I'd love to see them fly on for a long time yet, but the practicalities and costs in relation to crewing, maintenance and other operational issues are likely to make that impractical.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
My 2d worth: ground them when they come due for their next 400hr.After that, store them and sell them off as a going concern when the first pair of AB139s enter service.The Dauphin survivors and the ECs can cover for them in the mean time.Let them go out with dignity.
regards
GttC

[Tech Crew]

Agree with GTTC. There is no way 400hr or 800hr inspection are going to happen due to expense and the time involved. Let them finish out their maintenance cycle of 25hr and 100hr inspections and then ground them. They were a great ac but its time to move on modernise proparly. I worked on them for a good few years but its time to forget about sentimentality and stop dragging out the inevitable

[Silver]

Welcome to the forum Tech Crew!

Do you guys think that perhaps one AIII might be kept operational, and could become part of a future AC 'Historic Flight' ?

[Fouga23]

I think it's sometimes harder to keep an old  helicopter flying then an old aircraft. more expensive, things like vibrations, rotorblades,..

[Fouga]

Great picture i thought they were in foreign tropical lands for a second...ah well

[sealion]

Quote (Fouga @ 12 Nov. 2005,21:21)

Great picture i thought they were in foreign tropical lands for a second...ah well

Its Kilworth.

Thats in a unique microclimate that can be Artic,tropical arid and monsoon in one day.

Plus the local dialect is impossible to understand..

so you are correct in a way..

[Tech Crew]

Silver

It depends on what "future" means. A historic flight is not going to happen for a long time. As to whether an A111 could be kept operational I would say no. It would however be possible to keep one flyable using parts already in stock and canniblising. it would not be used operationally but put in correct storage and started and flown just to feep servicable.

I cannot however see a furure historic flight happening

[pilatus]

a few will be kept on but not all7!they still look pretty good,old but good!