New Helis at Baldonnel

[Tony Kearns]

The Minister for Defence was at Baldonnel today to see the new Helis. Image shows new 139,s with an old friend A196 looking pristine.

[Tony Kearns]

Armament fitted to 274

[Shamrock145]

Looks very purposeful with the gun sticking out the side window ... one question though ... where does the tanoy hook up to play Wager ...?  

Seriously though, the first pic looks great. What date will the Alouettes offically retire? Do we know yet if the new machines will inherit the "Alpha" call sign too?

...145

[Tony Kearns]

Lt.Col. JP Kelly retd. with A196 which he delivered to Baldonnel on 26 November 1963.

[Snapper]

Callsigns being used by the AW-139s are:-

"Alpha 274"
"Alpha 275"

 

[Old Redeye]

A real breakthrough event for the IAC.  The 139's will permit a tremendous leap forward in capability and professionalism.  Well done!  Now, let's think about ordering four AW-149's to support international deployments - for delivery from 2009.

[Lude]

Again, Great pics guys,
I know this is a bit off topic but I saw one of the new        AW-139's around Galway around 11:30 today interupting my valuable study time! Great noise off it alright.
They're wasting no time getting out and about anyway,
great to see.

[Old Redeye]

By the way, what was the delivery routing after Marseilles?

[SARMAN]

I have to say looking at the pics on this thread the Air corps have done it right this time, 139 is the dogs fair play to all involved  
 
196 is looking very well sad day to see that go what sort of cash would I have to put up to get my hands on it, its a classic.. (not sure the bank manager would agree)

Sorry if I was OTT on the previous thread and to answer ST, I am a very very happy SARMAN!!!
Peace ST  

Don't mind ST, he's got reason to be a git. He was born one! Thanks for the comments, I think it's about perception and foresight rather than instinctive attitudes and hindsight. Come and see the progress in two years time!!

[Old Redeye]

Hear! Hear! Scorpy

[pym]

And the great news, the options have been exercised  

According a poster on IMO:

Quote

in todays sunday indo the minister for defence stated the option for the next two helis has been approved by gov bringing total of AB139's to 6 for AC.

http://forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthr....t142964

Hopefully this is part of a concerted development plan for the Air Corps, and not the last purchase of new helicopters for some time.

[Old Redeye]

Indeed Pym!  The optimum force is eight 139's/149's in order to have a deployable four-ship detachment.  But there is no rush, other than fears of the government changing and/or losing interest.  It will take the next several years to fully absorb the new capbilities of the 139's and grow fully qualified tactical helo crews.  They don't even have FLIR systems installed yet.  

Two more orderd early in 2007 will be for delivery in 2009, maybe even late 2008 unless they are 149's, in which case delivery is probably not likely before later in 2009 or even into 2010.  A final two ordered in 2008 would be delivered in 2010 or early 2011.  Probably about the right rate of build-up for the IAC from this point, and the right spread of expenditure.

[SousaTeuszii]

Hey Scorpy

Tee Hee Hee!

[pym]

Quote (Old Redeye @ 03 Dec. 2006,23:43)

Indeed Pym!  The optimum force is eight 139's/149's in order to have a deployable four-ship detachment.  But there is no rush, other than fears of the government changing and/or losing interest.  It will take the next several years to fully absorb the new capbilities of the 139's and grow fully qualified tactical helo crews.  They don't even have FLIR systems installed yet.   Two more orderd early in 2007 will be for delivery in 2009, maybe even late 2008 unless they are 149's, in which case delivery is probably not likely before later in 2009 or even into 2010.  A final two ordered in 2008 would be delivered in 2010 or early 2011.  Probably about the right rate of build-up for the IAC from this point, and the right spread of expenditure.

There's actually an interesting discussion on deployment on the IMO site. I think the general consensus is that these 139's should be retained for the internal security role and training.

They are powerful, capable heli's but are at their heart a civilian helicopter and thus don't have alot of the features of a specific military type - ala the 149.

I'd love to know what the lads who work/worked in the Don think would need to be done to make deployment possible, i.e. whether extra bodies would be required etc.