Alouette III; First Anniversary of their retirement.

[Blue Monday]

Today, the 21st of September 2008, marks the first anniversary of the official retirement of the Alouette III helicopter from Irish Air Corps service. It's the one aircraft that single-handedly inspired my life-long interest in aviation and I'm sure inspired plenty of others as well. Probably the most significant aircraft to serve with the IAC, the whine of the Artouste engine is sadly missed and Baldonnel is probably a considerably quieter place now that they're gone. Here is a photo of A196 landing for the final time at Baldonnel last year at the end of the Retirement Flypast.



If you have any photos of the Alouette, recent or historical, please post them to salute this great helicopter. It looks like a buyer has been found for six of the helicopters with A195 being retained for the IAC Museum, possibly in "ground-running condition".

Blue Monday.
 

[Irish251]

Here is one from that final day:

[Joe McDermott]

Another one.

[Blue Monday]

Here are a few more Alouette photos; first up is A213.



Can anyone explain the connection between the IAC Alouette IIIs and the Pink Panther? I have heard two different stories from my friends in Baldonnel.

The first one is that Sud Est/Aerospatiale released some promotional literature for the Alouette III back in the early sixties which was adorned with a Pink Panther cartoon figure and that it was adopted by the IAC crews as their unofficial squadron emblem.

The other story is that the first of the Pink Panther films was released around the same time that the Alouette first arrived in Ireland, was very popular and that the Pink Panther character was adopted by the helicopter crews of the time as a result. Can anyone confirm which version of this story is true?



Here is A214 during the IAC Family Day, 2007.



A poster from the Helicopter Wing Hangar on Retirement Day.



Six of the best in close formation.



Alpha 195 is ceremonially towed away to officially bring the career of the Alouette III to a close.

Blue Monday.
 

[Fouga]

The BEST picture i have ever taken

[R.P.Y.]

Papa 242 may be able to shed some light on the Pink Panther connection, think it started to appear on the Allouette's  in the early 70's.

[Shamrock145]

Hmm, Not wishing to sound like a kill joy, but I wonder what the legal position is for an arm of the State to use a copyright item, such as a cartoon character, on state vehicles such as air craft and naval vessels ....



...145

[Blue Monday]

Shamrock145, you may be correct. It is probably a slight breach of copyright but given that No.3 Squadron haven't (as far as I know) produced or sold any merchandising bearing the image of the Pink Panther, the holders of the copyright are happy to overlook the use of the image. They probably aren't even aware of the breach in any case.

This is a potential problem for decal manufacturers but given the tiny size of the actual image used for scale models, many are happy to consent to the use of the copyrighted image as there is no other possible use for the decal. I came across this problem recently when researching markings for an aircraft carrying the badge of a state body. There was a copyright issue but when the actual size of the badge was shown to the head of the state department, they were happy to give the go-ahead.

Blue Monday.
 

[fto]

Beautiful in an ugly kind of way! 

[Turkey]

Rumour has it that the AIII's will be leaving Bal' in the middle of october, partly dismantled so as to be trucked out, Some avaition company based in Paris is believed to be the purchaser. . . .


This post will also appear on IMO.

[Whiskey Section]

Is one of them due to take up residence in the National Museum Collins Barracks?  I'll never forget as a kid being out my back garden and Alpha 202 flew over my house. The side door was open and one of crew members was standing at it.  I waved up and he waved back. I thought it was brill! Then several years later I got the same feeling as I sat in my office in the city centre.  I could hear that familiar sound multiplied by six, I looked out my window as a wonderful formation (minus 202) of Alouettes performed a final flypast over the city centre.

[Blue Monday]

Is one of them going to Collins Barracks?

From what I have heard, six of the Alouettes are up for sale and it looks like this sale is near completion. No-one at Baldonnel is being told where exactly the helicopters are going. The sale is being handled by the Civil Service so it's out of Air Corps hands. It was previously mentioned that they might be going back to France to a civilian company for refurbishment before going on to a new owner (or owners), probably in a similar manner to the sale of the Dauphins, which now appear destined for the Chilean Navy. A195 is going to the Irish Air Corps Museum to replace A202. Alpha202 is currently undergoing refurbishment at Baldonnel and it looks like it is destined for the Ulster Aviation Society. I took a few photos in Baldonnel last Friday and I'll post some soon.   

Blue Monday.
 

[Irish251]

The six that have been sold may be of more value to the purchaser as spares sources than as fliers, I have heard.