Alouette III's

[matt_k]

Will the reduction in the number of helicopters being operated by the Air Corps mean they will require less pilots from now on??

[FiannaFail]

All very true folks but if we take this position as a priority at this point in time, as a military air wing perhaps we should have retained bi-planes don't you think?  Personally I would love to think that we still flew the D/H Vampires.  All good things have to come to an end some time and painful as it may seem the AIII will not last forever.  I am very fond of the AIIIs but new times and new roles make change necessary.  I am only being consistent here - look through all my old threads - right through the old website included - I recommended that we concentrate on our military roles and therefore new more purposeful helicopters are required.  Great as they were, the AIIIs have a very small role to play in this area - what arms, usage at night and longer distances do they provide us with?  This is not to take away the great role the AIIIs and their crews performed down the years especially SAR but even here the Coast Guard has taken over that role.  Do you think a sailor fighting for his life out in the Atlantic would turn away a Coast Guard crew because he wanted an IAC AIII instead?  

We have retired many great aircraft down the years - always a sad occasion but I would hope to think that our Corps in say 5/6 years time would be unrecognisable to what we have today.  That is what is important and not that we should have, as a priority, AIIIs in 10/20 years time!!

I do recognise that change can be very painful for some people but it is possible to work through that and feel comfortable with change.  Our Corps, like all public  services in this country, face great changes in the years to come – just look at the Health Boards, Aer Lingus, Aer Rianta, Telecom Eireann, decentralisation of the Civil Service as examples. We will not be immune to this change process.  It is my true hope that whatever change comes our way it will be positive and lead to an increased military role for the IAC in Ireland, Europe and perhaps other international peace missions outside our region!
These are just some of my thoughts on this situation. I know some of you, including Turkey, do not consider I have a right to air my views but perhaps that is their problem not mine.  In the mean time perhaps we can have an intelligent discussion without loosing our heads?
Regards and best wishes,
FiannaFail '>

[Silver]

Buran,

I believe the bubble/all glass front is what mountain rescue pilots like about the A3.
I read that French Civil Defence pilots will literally walk past their EC-135's and take an A3 instead !

FF,
I, for one, didn't say that we should keep the A3's "as a priority" - just that I reckon they will probably be around for quite a while to come. However, I could be proved wrong on this   '>

Regards,
Silver.

Naah, it's the lack of a great big sail called a fenestron on the tail that causes havoc with your power when in gusting and downdraughting conditions. The A3 has greater flexibility in those situations, in addition to better visability and a smaller rotor diameter which allows you to get that bit closer to the cliffs. Pity about the short winch cable tho. Really makes it kind of up close and personal for everyone.