Alouette III's

[Guinness]

Guy's ( and FF ofcourse !!!)

We all know where they will end.
1 or 2 in the museum at Don.
1 or 2 in museums elsewhere and the rest will be scrapped.

What's new ?

Guinness

[FiannaFail]

I would be very careful there Guinness if I were you or you might make Turkey very angry!  I think you may have a point though!!
FiannaFail

[Turkey]

ff , obviously the A111's must retire, they should have done years ago.
But even a thickhead nuttin like you must realise that they have to be replaced first.
I do not get angry with Guinness as he, unlike you, knows what he is talking about.

[FiannaFail]

So Turkey now that you seemed to have calm down perhaps you could read over all that I wrote and tell me where I said that the AIIIs would be withdrawn before the new helicopters arrive?  All I said was that the new helicopters WOULD REPLACE THE AIIIs! Just what you now seem to be suggesting yourself!!!!!!!
Stay cool and try not to loose the rag all the time.
FiannaFail

[Guinness]

Thanks Turkey,

I , as all of you with me, would like to see it otherwise but I see what has happend with the planes in IAC history it'll make you cry just thinking of it.

I would call it nearly a miracle if you look what IS preserved at the Don but most of your history is gone though the scrapyard.
Ofcourse no offence to the people who do their utmost to save this history.
To them I would say.............please keep up the good work !!
Future generations of aircraft fanatics ( and us )will be thankfull !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Guinness

[Turkey]

ff, perhaps you can explain how 6 helicopters can replace 15'>
Or is this another alternative universe theory '>

[Guinness]

Turkey,

ofcourse there is !!!

What else did you think of this long-legged IAC beauty?
That she is making up a story?
Or that something is wrong with her math's.
The new helicopter can carry 4-6 persons so every pilot can make his/her "airtime hours"  

Who give's a **** that it's not at the controls '>

Guinness

[FiannaFail]

Turkey,
As I said before it is a start nothing more nothing less.  We have to start somewhere don't we?  We started with three AIIIs and we prgressed from there.  There is an option for 2 further LU helicopters. Start canvassing on that subject for starters.
What is the value of our current fleet?  I doubt it is anywhere near the €40 million value of the new helicopters?  If we join the ERRF or Battlegroups I would suggest we will need to invest ineven more helicopters that will be able to transport more troops to where they may be required. Would you have difficulties with that prospect?
FiannaFail :'>

[clan]

If, and it seems this is the case the purchase of the new 6 helicopters has been taken out of last years defence budget. And as they are not been delivered until 2007, surely, it would be a good idea to order the other 2 now at 2004 prices using the money from this years and next years and 2007's budget which when it comes down to it is only 25m, spread over three year is only 8 million a year. Not a lot of money.

[John K]

Why should the Allouettes be retired? If they're still airworthy keep them flying! D'you ever notice after an avalanche or fire in one of the tunnels through the Alps, there's always an A111 in the background doing what they do best, light utility work. They're reliable, have got great visibility and they're ideal for Ireland. (Unless the Ballyvalley gap gets snowed in and you're stuck in Finner for a few more days!)

[Silver]

I recall reading that the French 'Civil Defence' actually prefer flying the AIII on rescue missions - rather than their EC-135's !!!

[FiannaFail]

So what is the moral her? Should we not replace the AIIIs?  There are a great aircraft but like all aircraft they are time limited.  Are all the other AIIIs we see around the world 40 years old?

We are getting good new aircraft which for the first time will have a military role.  Isn't that what we are susposed to be about?  Now that the Coast Guard is in place surely we are better focused on our military role with the potential, when required to be a support to the civil power?
FiannaFail

[John K]

Hey FF, give us the privelidge of your superior knowledge as a pilot of the G4 as to why the A111s are 'time limited'.

[Turkey]

ff ,helicopters like the A111 are modular in nature and can have major parts replaced without effecting the rest of the airframe, in theory they can go on until the first of forever, but then as a seasoned IAC pilot, you knew that did'ent you?? '>
Seriously, the A111 is superior to many other types in the mountains including the Dauphin,[ask anyone who has flown them both, an IAC pilot perhaps, if you can find one??]

[Buran]

Joke: Ive had the same sweeping brush for the last 25 years. Ive only replaced the head 7 times and the handle 5 times.

Would anyone like to explain how the AIII is better in conditions like mountains than the dauphin. I dont doubt it, i just dont know.