Cessna's - Time to replace?

[Claudel Hopson]

The Pc9 as far as we are told will be the sole primary trainer as the SF260 will be put out to pasture when the current wings course finishes. They have started on the SF260 and will change over to the PC9 when they arrive. The next 2004 Wings course will start on the PC9 only.

The Cessn'a are doing circuits here with the last wings course graduates to build up their flying experience and hours, no differently than when the Cessna's were in Gormanstown.

[n-e-foo]

Thanks for clearing that up '>

[FiannaFail]

That was me Silver! In a cpy of An Cosantoir from the mid 1970s.
FiannaFail '>

[FiannaFail]

Scrap the 172s? Never, they are the work horses of our Air corps - they are our B-52s.  They will have a big role for the years to come!
FiannaFail    

[Fouga]

4 of the PC-9's will also be a Display team and will appear at Salthill 04 if all is going well.

[Turkey]

The 172's are paid for, and in fairly good condition, but despite the rantings of that pillock, ff, they are a fairly limited aircraft, a half dozen PC-12's or Caravans would make more sense, IMHO
But , also, some of the 172 role could have been taken by PC-9's if sufficent had been bought, but I feel once again fainna fail[ure] have let us down. '>

[Silver]

FiannaFail,
Any chance you could send that pic to Frank for his gallery - so we all can see it  '>

[Silver]

Nice one Turkey (fianna fail[ure]) !  '>

BTW Taj, where did you get that photo ?
It looks like something out of the A-Team  '>
(and south american in origin if I'm not mistaken!)


Would it not be better to purchase twin-engined aircraft (e.g. Islander, CASA 212, etc) ?
This would allow pilots gain twin rating rather than use the CASA's for more training than necessary.
After all, pilots will get prior training on the PC-9's.

Fouga,

will this be the "new"Silver Swallows team?

Guinness

[Silver]

From what I understand the PC-9's will be used for Basic through to Advanced training.
Don't forget that they will have a simulator now aswell.

Silver,  it just depends on the use of the planes.

I know the Swis "special forces" use PC-6 single prop for their "work".
A twin prop might have some +'s over a country like Ireland but the costs are higher as well ( something the Dail doesn't like)

Guinness

[n-e-foo]

No Silver I'm talking about primary training, its a stage before basic training, other air forces use civilian type planes such as the Bulldog for it '>

Taj I totally agree with you Re: the Caravan for the Army Co-Op role, its just I think I'd die of shock if the government were to okay 3 new aircraft contracts within 5 years. I would love to see the air corps equiped with the caravan though.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/tutor.html

theres a link to the RAF's primary trainer. The aircraft are owned & maintained by civilians.. maybe thats an idea for the IAC '>

[Silver]

I agree Guinness.
However, unless the King Air is retained (or replaced with another twin prop) more of the CASA's time will be spent  training pilots rather than on actual missions.

[Silver]

I understand n-e-foo, but doesn't the Marchetti cover all training duties at present - and it's not exactly a 'shrinking violet' of a plane for a novice  '>

From what I have read, the PC-9 has many flight settings available according to the pilots experience - or lack thereof.

[Taj]

Sorry bout the delay Silver, was away doing my xmas shopping in Limerick-apparantly the Squirrel is almost resident down there these days.
Back to the picture-I got it from the Cessna web site www.cessna.com.See what you mean about the A-Team I think I can see Col. Decker in one of those jeeps!
I see what you mean regarding the twin engine type but money is a problem.Operating costs must be considered.2 x engines = twice as much maintenance and fuel.
For a general purpose aircraft-the basic role of Army Co-op sqdn the Caravan is ideal,rugged,reliable cheap to operate and cheap to buy.In one of my reference books it says that they can be fitted with a FLIR and six hardpoints for special forces operations (with AIM-92 Stinger missles among the armaments).
It also has a detatchable cargo pod beneath the fuselage for limited cargo uses.
Morale is a major issue in the corps,and new types go a long way towards improving it.These aircraft can be purchased for the cost of one medium lift helicopter, and are a major step up from the 172.