Historic Flight Squadron

[Turkey]

There should be no problem for many a pilot to fly the Chippy out of Gormo', I expect there is more to this story then we have heard so far.
It is possable that there is something wrong with this aircraft, and if this is the case would it not make sense to ask a favor of those chaps across the ditch, with their Chinooks, hey Silver, think of the photo op!!! '>

[Silver]

Yeah, that would be cool - Chipmunk 168 hanging under a Chinook !

Seriously, what are the chances of IAC command asking the RAF to do this ?!!
They would dismantle her rather than ask for 'across the ditch' assistance.

Turkey, are there any AC pilots with 'tail dragger' experience/rating (other than the NCO with private licence) ?
 

Sadly, it seems at-the-end-of-the-day, we simply do not have the foresight in AC command to set up an Historic Flight at this point in time.

[Silver]

Very interesting alpha.
Cadet C7 is the only surviving ex-Air Corps Avro Cadet (that we know of) so it must be the aircraft pictured above that he owns.
Did he happen to mention what the asking price was/is ?
(PM me if you don't want to post details)

It is incidents like this that highlights how much we need an Aviation Museum in Ireland - in any other country, every effort would be made to secure such an important piece of aviation history  

[Turkey]

As far as I know there is no real problem, with a tail dragger, she even adopts the same attuide for landing as a tricycle undercarrige. They are a bit of a pain for taxieing thou'.
They were in use for training in the late '70's,and even later, so the present boss should be able to drive one, no bother, which is why I suspect that there is something else wrong wit the aircraft in question.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

the guy said that it was the only one left flying in the world, he didn't go into prices but considering the a/c it was probally alot

[John K]

Very true, Silver. It just goes to show how amateurish the top brass are in Baldonnel. Whatever happened to the Celtic Tiger? Where did all that money go?

[FiannaFail]

Silver and friends,
This talk of the great Chipmunks remind me of the time when all Aer Lingus trainee pilots used to get their basic flight training from  the IAC in Gormonston in the Chipmunks!! This would have been in the late 1950s and early 1960s. ( Before my time may I add!!) Perhaps some you guys may have stories about this time!!

FiannaFail

[p.diddy.cool]

Hi everyone,

While working my new position in the Don i came accross a car full of lads in from Gormo and of course i had to ask the burning question about 168! this is what he said! I'M STAYING OUT OF THAT ARGUEMENT, THE AIRCRAFT IS RUNNING NO PROBLEM AND THAT'S TRUE IF WE TAKE IT APART IT WONT FLY AGAIN I THINK, RALF JAMES (goc ac) WANTS TO FLY IT HOME TO THE DON, BUT NO TECHNITION WILL PUT HIS NAME TO THE RELEASE FORMS FOR FLIGHT AND THAT RALF IS NOT RATED (Current) ON THIS OLD HORSE!....


And with that they drove off with a puff of smoke from the guys pipe in his mouth!....

So just thought id pass this on for the board to offer any opionons and changes,,, ha ha

regards P.D.C.

[p.diddy.cool]

Lear Jet, Taxi's for goverment ppl, Brown envelope Parade... Elections are coming...

DO you know the cost of running a tribunal these days!....

Regards P.D.C

[Smity]

From what I can see of the Air Corps it is a Historic Flight.

[Silver]

Thanks for the update p.diddy.

Well thats a good start, at least the GOC has the right idea (i.e. fly it to Bal)  '>

So it may well actually happen......he who must be obeyed and all that  '>

[Silver]

Welcome to the board, Smithy - some might agree with you on that point.

[Imshi-Yallah]

Id rather see a few more IAC operational flights first.

[Silver]

Another couple of photos of former Air Corps Cadet C7, attending a New Zealand airshow in recent times -

[Bailer]

I've photo's of two pte's from my unit who were on camp last year in Gormo being pushed around the runway in 168 by an airman. Obviously it's not thought it's going to fly agan if they let a couple of infantry pte's in and play with it!!