Dauphin & Gazelle retired by Irish Air Corps

[Frank]

Hi Guys,

On the 31st December 2005 the Irish Air Corps retired it's last Gazelle and Dauphin helicopters. 1 Gazelle and 4 Dauphins were withdrawn from service although 2 of the Dauphin's were "unserviceable" and had not flown for some time.

To commemorate the occasion a special formation flight was put up in late December, this flight consisted of a Gazelle, Dauphin, Alouette & EC135. This was the last time all 4 helicopter types flew together.

Some of the pictures from this formation flight are posted below, for the full lot of about 30 pictures (and larger versions of same) click on this link:

Last Dauphin / Gazelle formation flight pictures

I personally will miss the Dauphin, I really loved the sound of it and it looked beautiful, I'm sure pilots and crews will have other things to say about it but I for one will miss it.

Not all the pictures are air to air, I spent some time on the ramp after the formation flight snapping pictures.

Enjoy the pictures,


Regards,

Frank.






















Click for more pictures

[Silver]

Great pics Frank !

I too will be sad to see the Dauphin go - it always looked/sounded so 'cool' flying overhead  

Here's hopin' the AB139's can live up to the AS365's ?!

[Silver]

BTW, I don't suppose a Dauphin will be added to the museum collection ?

[Snapper]

Frank, well done on a great collection of photos.
Out of interest what was your aerial platform?

[Irish251]

It's interesting to reflect too that the Alouette III is still soldiering on (for the moment), with a much longer record in Irish service.  It will be an even sadder day when the last of these shuts down at Baldonnel.

[The Blue Max]

Excellent Photos Frank, PURE CLASS!!!! It sad and memourable day across the Air Corps as we move forward to more modern replacements we also say good bye to the Dauphins And Gazelles and also the machines that served us so well and that Four Of Our Comerades who lost their lives in Serving The State. We all remember were we were when we heard this stragic news. We will remember with fondness these Two Beautiful Aircraft types that both flew with pride wearing the Roundels Of the Irish Air Corps...

[Frank]

Hi Guys,

Here is some additional picture info:

Heli's in formation:

Gazelle '241'
Alouette '197'
Dauphin '247'
EC135 '270'


Photo Ship:

Alouette '196'

Before I forget, forgive me for not saying this earlier, thank you to everyone who made it possible for me to take part in this event, thank you to the crews who flew the formation, they did their best to accommodate positioning requests and thanks also to crew of the photo ship for their help and for putting up with me!


Regards,

Frank.

[Spook]

As ever Frank great pics...I have to say I'll miss the sound of the dauphin's..seems like only yesterday they arrived ..must be getting old... fond memories of the gazelles with smoke granades tied to a bar between the skids at shows,very diy..but did the job  
      Happy new year all   '>

[futurepilot]

Sad day indeed. Loved the Dauphin and am certainly not looking forward to the day the AIIIs are retired.

[John K]

Great photos, Frank. Great to see the Air Corps moving forward with a NEW helicopter as it has always done, the Alouettes, Gazelles and Dauphins were all more or less state of the art when they were bought. PC9s-state of the art, what about a couple of Eurofighter Typhoons!

[pilatus]

i saw 247 over letterkenny 2days before she was to be retired on her last ever trip to the town on air ambulance duty.i drove past her and took a picture with my phone..as soon as i got home i grabbed my camera and the telescope and sat out in the cold for 2hours just looking at her through the telescope.i watched her starting up which for me was the last time id ever see it and watched her come right over my house.i took some photos but there is something wrong with the memory card on my camera so they didnt come out right,but il try to get them and post them.i even recorded the sound of the engine with a dictaphone as she passed overhead!il miss them and the gazelle as well!havent seen it in a bout a year now!

[clan]

Major shame, should have kept them going until the AB139's arrived

[pilatus]

have any potential buyers been found by the corps for these helis yet?or what is the offical plan for them?any chance of seeing one of the Dauphins ending up in the museam?

[P.Doff]

All is not lost for you Dauphin fans!! They may be "officially" retired but one of them is still to be used,, I dont know which tail number, for "neo-natal" air ambulance flights should the need arise!!!

[Fouga]

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